Anyone here have experience with Audio Note???

[PHC1]

I can certainly relate. There have been more than one periods of my audio journey where larger systems were dismantled and replaced by much simpler, lower powered tube systems, including a period of a total simplicity submersion of nothing but tube powered headphone listening.

If bigger is always better then why do I have such fond memories of those simple days? Ah yes, because those listening sessions often lasted for hours on end and it was all about music and nothing more. Sure there were systems in my home that did many things better but not always as enjoyable overall. I found that the larger systems needed to be fed recordings that were nothing less than stellar if there was to be some satisfaction derived from a listening session.

One way to look at it is if we compare audio to photography, it is nice to have a very sharp and crisp lens when photographing perfect subjects with no blemishes. Often a soft focus filter goes a long way to hide the blemishes and reality and makes a photograph that much more pleasing to the eye....

The simpler tube powered systems were simply more forgiving even if they didn't or couldn't match the reality and brutal honesty of the larger systems.

This question has been brought up many times by many, has your audio system changed your listening habbits? Does it serve the music or does it serve traditional hi-fi goals?

I guess if we lived in a perfect world where all the music was recorded and mastered with impeccable skill and talent, the question above would be a moot point... As it stands, much of the musical content is far from optimal.

No wonder then that some find bliss in a less revealing system that simply sounds more pleasing to the ear. I know I did many times before. Took me many years to get where I am right now with my current system with which I derrive much listening satisfaction although I can still hear the difference in recording qualities rather easily but they are not as offending to the ear as they ofen were before. I attribute this to the Class A amps, tubed preamp, innovative digital front end and VINYL!

No doubt if space, budget or other reasons forced me to downsize, I would take a very similar approach and come back to the days of low powered tubes and higher efficiency/tube friendly speakers.

Enjoy your new system and the listening pleasure it brings you!

[AudioNut]

I am very sorry Stephen, but 9 watts is not quite enough to power the SF Guarneri Mementos that I know you still want - and they do work in small rooms!!!!!

I am happy that you are happy though. What about your Barzalay cabinet?

[two dot]

Julian, So true..

Thanks for the kind comments guys...

I hope that you all know how much I miss those big blue meters...

I should add here that I gave some very serious thought to a MA7000 integrated and pair of Sonus Fabers either GM's or Auditors.

I know that I would have been very happy with that combo. At this level, all of the systems that we have are wonderful... it is the music, that I love!

In the end I finally decided that I really wanted to dip my toes in what many believe is ... sonic nirvana... Class A baby.

My new Audio Note is the only "A" I have ever gotten... wasn't much in school...

[PHC1]

Yeah, Looking at your avatar, I noticed we are now both Class A Blissed...

[KMC45]

Stephen,

Sounds like great stuff.