A wiseman once said: Luck is preparation meeting opportunity. So, there I was, prepared to buy a Sony SCD-1, a machine I just new would stir my tea. Thing was, my local dealer didn't have an SCD-1, he didn't even sell the brand.
Well, what do you have? I asked.
Alot of my clients like Audio Note. You should take this DAC home for the weekend. He smiled wryly.
Let me tell you that that DAC Zero (the bottom of the AN line, mind you) struck me upside the head as if to say "Here I am! The one you've been looking for!"
Well, I brought back the borrowed DAC, and ordered the most expensive version up the line that I could afford.
Nuff said, I suppose. Since that "lucky" day, I've been climbing the Audio Note ladder. Even tried my hand a building a couple of pieces. They sound great and provide quite a bit of fun and enlightenment, too. Check 'em out:
http://audionotekits.espyderweb.net/
So why did I go with Cain & Cain instead of AN speakers? Mostly 'cause I don't have the required corners for the Audio Note speakers to sound their best. The curse of the modern tract home--all open spaces and not a symetrical cornered room in sight. Oh well; the room sounds good as it stands.
Thoughts on room treatment and other upgrades welcome.
I'm enjoying my journey as I hope you are yours.
April 06 Update: replaced the AN copper caps in the Balanced Line Pre with AN Silver caps. Stunning! The difference is not subtle. Almost frightening in it's resolving power. I'd take a picture, but, well, you know, they're caps! Ok, they look kinda cool, but this neurosis goes a bit far when you start looking at caps and lusting. Right?
CDT-2/II, wasn't too sure how much difference a transport would make. No second-guessing now. This thing is amazing. Physicality and sense of space are it's calling cards.
Audio Note M-2 line
Balanced Pre kit, uses M2 power supply and M3 (pre 2006) amplifier section which drives HiB core output transformers. With copper AN caps and AN-V along with some Black Gates for good measure--this thing is quite impressive.
Audio Note DAC-4
Audio Note DAC 4.1x Balanced
Audio Note Meishu P-3
Kit1, this was my first Audio Note kit I built. After hearing what the DAC did, I just had to try this. 300B, set, no neg feedback. Upgraded with Black Gates, silver wire, tantalum resistors and plenty of good tubes--red base 5692 RCA and Western Electrics are are glorious combination! This is an amp to hold onto for life.
Audio Note Kit Interstate Monos
All blackgates, AN HiB Ccore output tx, and Ultra HiB Ccore interstage tx. WE300b. Big and beautiful!
Audio Note AN-E/Spe HE
High eff, hemp coned in very nice madrone burl on Sound Anchor stands
Audio Concepts Titan
One nice thing about big, open tract homes is the lack of standing waves. That's about the only nice thing that can be said from an audio viewpoint. With my huge volume room *see pic*, a single Titan does a good job taking the baton from the Cains. A pair would do more, for sure, but with test discs I get solid 27Hz response. Better yet, I like the way it plays music, and it matches the Cain's finish nicely.
Clos, thanks for the well wishes with the Altecs, but sadly the grills were gone before I bought the speakers. Sigh. Well, I have them with someone being reveneered and hope to have them back soon. Seems the project is larger than the hobbyist thought it would be!
Hi Jet, I only had the sound anchor stands at home, so I can't really compare. A friend with ANE went from the audio note stands to the Sistum which he likes much more. I can't see how it'd make too much difference although I've been surprised by the impact of seemingly smaller changes so who knows?!
One thing the sound anchor stands are is stable. They are wider based than the ANE and seem "planted" both visually and physically. Again, I've to no real experience comparing stands, just some casual observations.
I'd think your granite would be plenty solid, but how does it sound?
Hello, I believe your Snell are the genesis of audio note speaker design. And while I have heard the J all AN speakers I've heard do share a house sound. However, the J is a smaller volume cabinet than the E and so doesn't reach as deep. Better for some rooms, I'd bet!
Ok, so the ANE were undoubtedly the best all around speakers I've ever had (maybe ever even heard?), but I was bitten by the vintage bug and currently have Altec Flamencos in system. Different, but really nice.
System edited: Over the last year I have made a number of changes, and just realized that I didn't post those here! So, here's what I've done--new speakers: replaced Cain BEN with ANE Spe HE. Much more neutral, although lacking in the jump that the BEN had. Overall, a better fit with my all AN rig. New DAC: 4.1xBal, a better player overall than the 2.1x sig. New cables: all Sogon ic, and biwire Lexus sc. Oh, and I recapped my L3 Kit pre with Mundorfs and then replaced those with Blackgate! The L3 is now fully blackgated and is a beautiful performer. Overall, it's a sound that's very enjoyable. Sometimes, even remarkable.
The fi monos with hovland pre will be an excellent combo. I have not heard them on the BEN when I had them, but I did try my 2a3 integrated and there was plenty of control of the fostex driver. Frankly, I think I missed the boat by not running vinyl on the BEN, but with small(ish) kids at home I simply couldn't justify another source...
As for Abby vs BEN, they are a bit of different animals. The Abby punches way above it's league, and can fill a room quite nearly as large as the BEN can. That said, I'd bet with your rather large room that the BEN will fill it better. The horn can make itself known from close range, but if you can sit at least 8-10' back I don't expect you will find it noticeable. The newer T900 tweeter is supposed to be better than the T90 that I had.
The BEN is really a great speaker. In many ways I'm sad that I don't still have them. The way they breathed life into certain recordings was intoxicating. Alas, I couldn't justify 2 sets of speakers at one time...
The speakers cables are routed funny in the picture, but that's been a temporary thing as I try out the AN Lexus. Normally, the cables are not routed the long way around the speaker...I have the Auditorium23 still in place going the other way, but they are not hooked up.
As for Cain vs ANE, yes, each is better on some material. But the synergy of AN gear is such that the ANE is better balanced and smoother. The Cain is livelier and has more effortless quality. Plus, I like the taller soundstage that the Cains provide. They really are very different speakers--the ANE being quite nearly purpose-built to go with AN amps and electronics.
I recently modded my preamp--we'll have to talk soon. Will have to have a gathering soon as well.
Lapierre, I'd grade the sound as excellent without the sub. With the sub, the sound can be better or worse, depending on recording. Uncompressed discs with plenty of bass do better without the sub. On most discs, the sub adds heft and expands the soundstage.
One more change since previous pics and update--My prior amp, the kit1, sits on top but is not used. Instead, I am listening to the kit interstage monos that are on the bottom shelf. These have been fully BlackGated, with WE300b and NOS Mullard rectifiers. The tx are HiB output and UltraHiB interstage. Frankly, they are fantastic.
System edited: System edited: new rack--Ikea lyte I built with spikes from madisound. Very light and stiff. Sounds more lively than my previous flexy using mdf. new speakers--AN-E Spe HE in madrone burl. And in the pic I've got it connected with Lexus XL80 sc, but I also run Auditorium 23 and am trying to decide between them now. The synergy of AN gear is truly astonishing!
Thanks, Glen. There have been enough changes recently that I really should take new pics. Overall the presentation is different because I've moved the orientation of the room by 90 degrees so that the speakers are along the long wall. I've also built Audio Note kit interstage monos that I've done a bunch of tweaking on...these amps can be continually modded (I think it's part of the fun)!
Right on, Vince. Looking forward to hearing the new Fire melt the old ICE.
In my rig, haven't yet replaced components in the dac, but seems like I have in everything else! Funny, though, the digital board (I think that's the one) in the dac is labelled "DAC 4/5", so I suppose I could pump up the other components and not need to replace that one part. Hmmm. Thanks for getting me thinking.
Replaced Copper caps in pre with AN silver caps. This is my first experience with the silver AN caps, having tried the other AN foil caps: aluminum and copper. Each has it's own sound, no doubt. But the difference between the second-best copper, and these silver is quite stunning. Resolution would be a good summary term. Just that resolution doesn't go far enough in describing the revealing nature of the texture that is exposed with these caps.
Based on your experience, Glider, sounds like the HDLs perform differently than do other Zoebels. Right now I'm settling in my new pre, but when I get it figured out I am going to investigate this more deeply--Grant, I will be in touch!
Glider, what tube rolling have you done on your DAC? I've tried the Bendix 6x5 but prefer the stock Philips. I have about 6 more NOS 6x5 to swap in my pre and the DAC. Funny, I've got about 12 different pair of 6922 and none sounds better than the stock Philips. I even just bought and tried a pair of Siemens pinched waist NOS from the late 60's. Although they cost about 20x what the stock tubes do, in this application I prefer the stock. What've you tried and found?
Grant, good to hear from you. Appreciate your kind words and the Zoebel tryout offer. Maybe if you're up here again we could have a listen at my place and you could bring them. From your explaination, however, it sounds like my tube amp with output transformers make it not necessary.
Is that from the natural low-pass charachteristics of the transformers, or something else? Curious.
Glider, appreciate the tip on the IsoClean. I have since checked out their site and familiarlized myself with it. Boa tells me that he's heard a similar effect with the Sound Applications models, and they appear to be in the same price range. Have you had the chance to hear one of these? Thoughts?
The Walker HDL have been on my radar as well. You're description makes them appealing to me. I've read that any "Zoebel" (are they one?) will be more difficult to drive for low powered set amps. From what I can tell, they say that there will be tonal imbalances, etc. Not at all what you have found. Since you're running the Audion PX25, I'd think this issue would affect you if it were true. What do you make of it?
Thanks for the responses Vince, Howard, and Glider. Glider, I have looked at your system before and also thought we were on a similar path. Funny how we both started our AN affairs with the Zero. Your description of coherence and wholeness is spot on, and I will add that texture and color are particularly appealing to me as well. Appreciate your tip on IsoClean and I will check it out--any particular model? I am using something you may want to check out--Harmonic Resolution Systems Nimbus couplers and spacers under the transport. Doesn't drain the life away like others have.
I'm open to any other suggestions, please!
Howard and Vince (and Glider if you're in the Sacramento area anytime) looking forward to the next chance to get together.
