Electrocompaniet ECI 3 vs Primare A30.1/I30

I had a Primare I-30, I really liked its clean clear strong sound, driving my Vandersteen 3A Signatures. Quite a wonderful unit. It needed one repair and the Primare authorized repair center handled it nicely; they are in Washington state as I recall.

Naim is also excellent. I have a Nait XS2 currently. Also excellent sound, built to very high quality even though it is a pretty unassuming looking component.

Yep

(1) REGA and ROKSAN would be my first choice on your list price point.

(2) If you stretch your budget then a wide host of options open up, starting with move-up models in the above. Intuitively, you only get what you pay for in this crazy hobby.

If so, Other pre-owned OEM options on AGON, CANUCKAUDIOMART et al etc. that are high current quality builds that are every bit the peer or and better options to your AYRE and ELECTROCOMPANIET choices include , inter Alia,

SIMAUDIO
YBA
PLINIUS
NAIM
LINN
MUSICAL FIDELITY
and on and on

- They all have their bespoke signature sounds.
- Audio System Synergy is an alchemy of: speakers, source, electronics, cables ( .... ALL of ICs, speaker, and power) , and your bespoke listening arena warts.

The missing link in your post is the absence of this detail. I would strongly integrate these in your decision matrix and not distill this down to the integrated amp alone as any silver bullet.

At your stated price point, an upgraded audio source and bespoke room treatments to smooth out acoustics (with their inherent warts), will have a greater immediate effect in your audio performance satisfaction then ruminating over the A - B integrated amp choices in your stated price point strata.

Thanks for your replay @akg_ca
I understand your concerns for spare parts and reliability but in my country the choices for a new amplifier are very limited, here are several
- Roksan K3 Integrated 1500$
- Arcam SA20 1200$
- Rega Elex-R 1300$
- Cambride Audio CX-81 1100$
- NAD C275 1200$
- AUDIOLAB 8300A 1200$
- VINCENT SV-227MK 1500$
Do you think any of these can compete with the mentioned amplifiers from the original post? What would be your choice under 1500$ apart from this list?

Electrocompaniet website has a small Canadian outfit as its exclusive Canadian and US distributor

https://electrocompaniet.com/pages/store-locator
Red Leaf Audio Distribution

24 Pearl Street South, Hamilton, ON, Canada

+1 (905) 746-9333

http://www.redleafaudiomarketing.ca

With the Norwegian company filing for bankruptcy in 2018, its discontinued / legacy component parts availability will be impaired ,

Caveat emptor 

You are limiting yourself to old / discontinued brand models . The $400 spread is immaterial in your decision tree IMO.

MY TAKE ON CHOICE

- because they are old / discontinued models, what’s the inevitable repairs and parts availability pathway?
it
ELECTROCOMPANIET AS filed for bankruptcy today 19-06-2018???

Norwegian link https://w2.brreg.no/kunngjoring/hent_en.jsp?kid=20180000356018&sokeverdi=987470445&spraak=nb


- Neither has / had a broad distribution network on this side of the pond and resulting lack of awareness and limited appeal to the NA hobbyist. That has a direct reduction effect on any future resale price and in my experiences, an avoidance of dealer favourable trade-ins.

- the Electrocompaniet ECI 3 is described in the reviews and Euro Forums as being much more a potential synergy match problem with speakers . ( for example, ok with MLs and Harbeths but lousy with Thiels ,,,) Hence unless you have actually auditioned them with Sonus Fabers, that’s a high risk gamble that I would never make blindly.

- there are various audio forum posts that suggest the reliability of the ECI as lousy. That makes the first point a key item.

eg AGON : Serious problem with Electrocompaniet ECI-3

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/serious-problem-with-electrocompaniet-eci-3

FYI AGONer post Electrocompaniet ECI-3 vs Classe CAP-101
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/electrocompaniet-eci-3-vs-classe-cap-101
SFs apparently like power so the extra grunt (100 vs 70) in the PRIMARE that may steer you toward them
MY TAKE

There are many other just as good or better brand options out there for a decision in suitable good synergy match / budget matrix, especially if you are unable to actually audition them with your speakers.