Audio Note:Fact and Fiction

[Talk2me]

Anyone care to talk about the mysterious and fabled Audio Note? In this thread, I would love to her about the M1 to M8 preamps. Any stories or even a haiku to share?

[Jerome W]

I have listened to the 300B monoblocks and I don't remember which AN preamp was used. Speakers were from AN also, and ahigh end TT with 2 or 3 motors.
Sound was the typical high efficiency type. Very fast, clear and detailed but too forward and "in your face" for me.
Definitely a different sound from Mc, ARC and so on. Don't look there if you want a sound on the warm side : they don't sound tubey at all. JC VERDIER told me that AN and him sell a lot of products in Asia, where people are looking for a sound that " vrille les tympans " ( burn the tympans ! ). He voices his amps differently for European and US customers.
I could probably get used to this sense of ease and immediacy...

[TommyC]

I'm guessing you're referring to Audio Note UK, and not Japan?

[Still-One]

The only time I listened to the Audio Note's was in a pretty pricey set-up
Audio Note - Ongaku $95k
Marten Coltrane - $70k
Norost Odin cabling - ~$47k
EMM XDS1 - $25k

[two dot]

I don't think this is what you are looking for but...

I owned an AN (England) Oto SE Phone EL-84 based integrated amp.

It IS NOT the Shindo but for a "one box" solution I could live very happily live with this gear again. The AN speakers that I had were amazing at their price point and except for not loving the vinyl veneer, they were one of the best speakers that I have owned.

Also, Bob Neill, one of the main dealers in the USA is a great, stand up, guy to deal with. Very pleasant association with AN gear for me.

[AndyPandy]

I 've heard the Neiro (2a3) and Ongaku 300B Mono's with an M7 Pre amp driving Trio's. Exceptional in every way.

[Talk2me]

Thank-you for your feed back, and yes AN/UK and not AN-Kondo. But, have settled on a little known Japanese designer-Masatka Tsuda's Concert Fidelitity CF-080 LS/X preamp. He is known for his DSPT- Direct Signal Path Technology. Let's see, maybe someday I will be a proud NA owner. I have always been a fan of SS amp with tube(hybrid) preamp.

[Kevinkwan]

Originally Posted by Talk2me

?..have settled on a little known Japanese designer-Masatka Tsuda's Concert Fidelitity CF-080 LS/X preamp.

How is the LS/X version of the CF-080 different than the original?

[Talk2me]

Quote from Mr Tsuda,"I believe that audio technology, even, to a great extent, digital technology, is largely perfected; speaker and amplifier technology have been largely perfected for a long time. With each new wave of products, the already perfected technology is just recycled. The audio engineer's job should be to serve the music, rather than to try to push our technical frontiers."

In the same manner as AN, it is in the quality of the basic design, rather than the newest 24 /900+ resolution specs.

[Still-One]

If you wanted to try something different the Doshi Alaap pre might have served your purpose. This unit is highly regarded. I believe Peter McGrath is trying one out at this time after hearing it at RMAF last year.