Click
an image to enlarge.
‘The Electrocompaniet Nemo
(AW600) monaural power amplifier is our ultimate achievement in
amplifier design and sound reproduction. How this amplifier can
make your music collection live, breathe and be three-dimensionally
and musically present in your listening room has to be heard to
be believed.’
‘It really sets a standard
for reproduction of music.’
‘That is how good it is.
Now, find a chance to hear it for yourself!’
Electrocompaniet
Leading on from my last experience review regarding
the ‘boxing
up’ and moving on from the Musical Fidelity M8s 700m monoblocs,the
Electrocompaniet Nemo (AW600) Mono Blocks and 4.8 MKII Reference
Preamplifier were speedily redirected by Electrocompaniet (thank
you) from their original destination and delivered kerbside to
my South London abode on a sturdy pallet. (Yes I did say kerbside).
Unfortunately UK delivery driver service was not on offer as the
driver pointed towards the mountainous 4cm high kerb and drove
off quicker than a London parking attendant can issue a ticket.
I was left to carry these carefully boxed 41kg hi-fi monoliths
from the roadside into my listening room. No need for a gym visit
on that day!
I developed a healthy respect for Electrocompaniet
after a brief encounter and even briefer listening session to
one of their earlier integrated amplifiers at the 2007 London
Sound & Vision Show. Back then I was not only impressed with
what I heard from one of their integrated amplifiers, I was also
impressed with the attitude and manner of the Electrocompaniet
representative. I promised to revisit Electrocompaniet that year,
but life got in the way.
Thirteen years later, Electrocompaniet came to
the rescue when my search for compatible amplification to drive
my MartinLogan Scenario electrostatic speakers led me to their
door, and their Nemo (AW600) Mono Blocks, 4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier
being delivered ‘kerbside.’
Listening
cr.jpg) |
Once I regained my strength, unpacked and marveled at the
sleek exteriors, I began making notes regarding my listening
experience while the components were running in (bad habit).
It took approximately two weeks for these components to reach
their full potential.
The Electrocompaniet Nemo (AW600)
Mono Blocks combined with the 4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier
provided a relaxed and warm (almost valve like presentation)
to my ears. I have heard some music lovers describe the Nemo
presentation as slightly dark in tonality? The Nemo (AW600)
and Reference Preamplifer combination also provided a very
good level of grip and control of instruments across the soundstage
(especially the mid and lower octaves). Of course, I would
expect nothing less from hi-fi components at this level (and
price). However this very good level of grip and control did
appear to come at a price. I noticed I was not waving my arms
in a crazy mimicking fashion, or maneuvering my foot to engage
my invisible kick drum pedal when listening to Jack Dejohnette’s
ferocious drum solos on Keith Jarrett’s “Tribute”
vinyl album. For some reason my usual emotional engagement
with this recording (and musicians) just did not happen this
time around. I also noticed the soundstage was ‘very
nice,’ but I really wanted to feel a greater sense of
pinpoint precession (curved panel permitting) within the soundstage.
I was used to Dejohnette’s drum licks dancing sprightly
across the whole soundstage between the speakers (all the
way to the very edge of the mylar panels) with my previous
amplification. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the tonal
accuracy (all be it with a slightly warmer presentation) and
I appreciated the ease at which the music was delivered, but
I felt that ‘tight grip’ on instrumentation was
just a tad too tight for my liking.
Midway through
this listening experience I upgraded my beloved MartinLogan
Scenario electrostatic speakers to the MartinLogan Impression
ESL11a electrostatic speakers.
A huge thank you to Soundcraft HI-FI in kent for their super
old school five star service
and speedy delivery.
The above speaker upgrade
did not change my thoughts in respect of what I was hearing.
My twenty year experience with my Scenario’s was a reliable
and trusted twenty years. (Panel replacements permitting)!
The newer, higher spec ESL11a’s do have the benefit
of incorporating ARC (Anthem Room Correction) or MartinLogan
PBK (Perfect Bass Kit). Once I was confident I had the speaker
placement and angles correct, I concentrated on implementing
this software and carried out room correction. I continued
listening and reveled again in the superb mid – bass
control, however, this time I specifically focused on the
renowned MartinLogan ESL three dimensionality. Thankfully
this trait was evident with the Nemo (AW600) Mono Blocks (and
even deeper with my new ES11a’s as it should be) but
I still yearned for that pinpoint precision within the soundstage.
Open invitation?
.jpg) |
As with most listening experience demonstrations,
I normally invited various musicians and other music lovers
to sit in and share their thoughts on new components,
or cables. Due to the current lockdown situation, such
open invitations were not permitted. However, thanks to
a recent photographic order of a very special ‘guitar
amplifier’, I was able to share a socially distanced
Nemo (AW600) & Martinlogan experience with one multi-instrumentalist,
composer and producer ‘Marcus Cliffe.’ Marcus
brought his beloved Telecaster guitar (possible jam session
afterwards) as well as a few of his own recordings on
CD,“Heard” by Marcus Cliffe and “The
Snow In The Street” by Lucinda Drayton & Marcus
Cliffe. I always commended Marcus for the stunningly natural
quality of his own recordings, so this was an opportunity
for us both to indulge and explore.
Though Marcus had already
experienced Quad electrostatic speakers, this was his
introduction to The MartinLogan Experience…
and he loved it!
“…There
is just a naturalness about the sound source..!
“… They are very well balanced…”
“…These speakers are beautifully open
and fill the room with sound…”
Marcus clearly enjoyed
the overall listening experience. When asked to describe
his experience in respect of the Nemo (AW600) presentation
(considering other home amplification he has heard previously)
he described the presentation as “polite”
and continued to explain the word “polite”
was not a negative by any stretch of the imagination.
We continued to draw comparisons to what ‘he’
would personally expect to hear in his studio and concluded
‘his’ expectation would 'be different.'
Conclusion
It was a relief to be
able to sit back and fully absorb all that the Electrocompaniet
(AW600) Mono Blocks had to offer my electrostatic speakers
without fear of dynamic loss. I was assured by Electrocompaniet
that the Nemo (AW600) Mono Blocks would do the job, and
they were right.
With the Electrocompaniet
(AW600) Mono Blocks and 4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier
in-line, my musical experience was less of the ‘live
concert performance feel’ (that I was used to with
my previous Musical Fidelity M8 500s, or M8s 700m monoblocs
when they functioned normally) but more akin to a very
pleasant slightly analytical experience. Now, I am not
suggesting the Electrocompaniet experience is one of immense
analytical detail, however, I felt less emotionally connected
to my favorite recordings overall. It is also important
to highlight that my analytical conclusion is not a criticism
in any way. This might be exactly what you are looking
for?
I spent over three very
enjoyable weeks with the Electrocompaniet Nemo (AW600)
Mono Blocks and EC 4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier. However,
I decided not to keep these beautifully designed components,
but, I do strongly recommend you take them for a test
listen yourself (if you can lift them). Especially if
you are looking for amplification that will drive your
MartinLogan electrostatic speakers with ease!
Electrocompaniet
Nemo (AW600) Mono Block Power Amplifier £7499.00
Electrocompaniet 4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier £3499.00
Electrocompaniet
Nemo (AW600) Mono Bloc Power Amplifier specifications
Please visit Electrocompaniet
website for full specifications
Rated output power
8 ohms 600 W
4 ohms Input 1200 W
Power consumption (no load or signal) 230 W
The NEMO is DC coupled from input to output
Dimensions
Width 465 mm / 18.3 inches
Depth 450 mm / 17.7 inches
Height 288 mm / 11.3 inches
Weight 41 kg. / 90.2 lbs.
Complete system
details & configuration
Turntable
AMG Viella V12 turntable with AMG Teatro MC & AMG reference
tonearm cable
Phono stage & interconnect cables. Whest PS.40RDT Special
Edition phono stage
with Kimber Select KS-1116 XLR interconnect cable
CD player
Musical Fidelity A3 CD player (internally upgraded)
Van Den Hul The Second Analogue Interconnect cables
Amplification
Electrocompaniet Nemo (AW600) Mono Blocks and
4.8 MKII Reference Preamplifier
Luminist Revision Poseidon XLR balanced cables
Speakers
MartinLogan Scenaro & MartinLogan Impression
ES11a hybrid electrostatic speakers
with Kimber 12TC speaker cable
Table
Quadraspire Q4 EVO turntable wall bracket. Quadraspire Q4 EVO
4 tier shelf
Power & mains cables
Russ Andrews BMU 3000 for preamplifer, CD player & phonostage
Powerkord 300 mains cables for BMU, amplifiers & preamplifier
Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio
October - November 2020
Further
Recommended
Viewing
|
Use the links below to read the Muscial Fidelity
M8s 700m monobloc power amplifier Exerience 2,
or the Muscial Fidelity M8s 700m monobloc power amplifier Exerience
1...
.jpg)
.jpg)
_150preb.jpg)
_150prev.jpg)