Reference pre-amplifier of the Norwegian firm Electrocompaniet.
The device has a fully balanced path with a "double mono" topology, each channel has its own power source, made according to the company's FTT technology (floating transformer technology). The Electrocompaniet EC 4.8 is equipped with two toroidal transformers of 80 VA each and a separate transformer for the control circuits and the display with a capacity of 10 VA. The power circuit contains 16 Nippon Chemicon capacitors with a total capacity of more than 25 thousand μF. Amplifier stages are built on high-class discrete elements and work in class A.
The preamplifier is equipped with two balanced (XLR) and one unbalanced (RCA) inputs, an unbalanced output for a recording device, and a balanced output for connection to a power amplifier. In addition, there is a mini USB connector for programming the control system, USB for recharging the EST2 remote control, and an interface of the proprietary SPAC system (3 RJ11 connectors), which allows you to receive information from power amplifiers (about temperature modes, output power and etc. ).
There are only 5 golden buttons on the front panel made of darkened acrylic. Additional functions and settings of the amplifier can be accessed through the menu. For example, adjust the balance, view information about the bias current, change the name of the source and even enter the service menu.
EC 4.8 is built entirely on high-quality discrete elements from the input to the final stages. Operation mode of class A transistors. The power supply system is organized according to the proprietary FTT technology, based on an output voltage stabilizer with a low level of inherent noise.

Technical characteristics

Input resistance, kΩ 47
Output resistance, Ohm 100
Band of reproducible frequencies, Hz 0.5 - 200000
Gain, dB from -111 to +6
Distortion coefficient, % 0.002
Signal-to-noise ratio (at 0 dB amplification), dB 130
Channel separation, dB 120
Maximum output level, V 30
Dimensions, mm 483 x 76 x 385
Mass, kg 9