![]() With Audio Note speakers we hear everything but are often aware of how pure and beautiful the music sounds. Their sound is more refined and less overtly physical than that of Reynauds. Considered by many to be the perfection of the British sound, AN speakers make friends easily and tend to keep them. With an SET based, no feedback system, we hear the slightest flutter of low level sound, especially on Audio Note’s new HE speakers with hemp woofers. Audio Note and Gilbert Yeung/JMR approaches are both extremely effective, and with most listeners the choice comes down to differences in priorities and taste.Īudio Note speakers provide an interesting alternative to Reynauds. Together they can do extremely musical things.Īudio Note electronics may be the key to the Audio Note sound. Most of them are, predictably, low powered and are usually paired with efficient speakers like Audio Note’s own. Audio Note single-ended triode amplifiers are especially remarkable for the wholeness of their presentation. AN electronics and speakers have all of the eloquence of their tubed dacs but generally prefer to work with each other, or at least with other single ended tubed gear. The CD players, digital transports, and dacs match up extremely well with all other lines of equipment I have heard, adding an attractive analogue flavor to them. Though they tend to sound best in all-Audio Note systems, some AN equipment travels very well. Qvortrup’s eloquent and complete line of audio equipment makes his fans feel that the competition is missing the real beauty of music. By working with established designs significantly predating current high end equipment, his company has designed single-ended tube electronics filterless and non-oversampling dacs turntables with several motors and lightweight platters and broad-fronted, two-way speakers designed to sit in corners, all of which together can seem to take us closer to the essence of music. Peter Qvortrup believes that most technological ‘advances’ in audio for the past couple of decades have served to put more between us and the essential beauty of music. The 300B, EL 84, and 2A3 amps sound distinctly different from one another, though you would never mistake any of them for anyone else’s product. The Audio Note sound is not dependent on triode tubes, single-endedness, or silver cabling but it draws on all of them. No one has ever called any other British speaker irresistible. Like the the body and natural warmth of Gilbert Yeung/JMR based systems, Audio Note beauty (there really is no better name for it) can be deeply and permanently addictive, irresistible. It is the only audio line I have ever heard referred to as beautiful. Audio Note clarity has a humane glow to it. Again, edges through Audio Note speakers are clear but tastefully attenuated, less so the more silver used in their wiring. ![]() Audio Note speakers are more transparent and less overtly charming than Classic Spendors, more present and less restrained than Harbeths, to cite their principal British brethren. Audio Note systems can make their competition sound…unfinished. This has to do with (1) resisting the temptation to lead with leading edges and (2) with refinement - a subtle refinement applied with consummate tact that only becomes evident in contrast with other gear. The secret is tact: understanding that analogue does not mean warm and cozy, it means beautiful the way live music can be beautiful. ![]() There are audio companies who more or less agree with Audio Notes approach but none I’ve heard do it as well. Those are also attributes of live music, equally essential to some listeners. ‘Analogue’ is not as transparent, fast, or present as the best digital when coupled with the best solid state electronics. Analogue prioritizes beauty, which is an essential attribute of live music, some would say the most important one. I can think of no other word that serves as well. ![]() ![]() People who characterize the sound of Audio Note gear as ‘analogue’ are not wrong. ![]()
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