Where' s RGA? Check out this AN

[magictooth]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....onv&1085902719

I'm waiting for the DAC 1.1x to arrive and see how it sounds. It'll be the first AN product that I've tried. Maybe I should've saved up a bit more coin and gotten this one instead.

[magictooth]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....onv&1085902719

I'm waiting for the DAC 1.1x to arrive and see how it sounds. It'll be the first AN product that I've tried. Maybe I should've saved up a bit more coin and gotten this one instead.

Mods, if you're out there, you can move this thread to the right place.

[RGA]

Actually that link goes to an Audio Japan DAC. Peter Qvortrup and Kondo an ex Sony Corp chief designer formed Audio note as a partnership - had a falling out and parted ways. Even thoughboth companies have the same name they are now totally separate companies...and both have their die-hard supporters. Audio Note UK began making more affordable pieces.

I may be wrong but you have to be very careful with the impedance matching of the DAC 1.1 with the preamp you connect it to.

"Yet, the DAC 1.1's design isn't entirely without vices. For starters, the output impedance from that tiny triode is a staggering 6.3kOhms, according to the manual (3.2kOhms according to Peter Qvortrup, which still is high). Further, the output coupling capacitor is a mere 0.47uF. Together these characteristics demand that the DAC always see an input impedance of over 100kOhms. Go too low with impedance, and curtailed bass, excess phase shift in the lower registers, squashed dynamics, and distortion are your share. So careful system matching will be your part, if you want to make the most of this convertor. Tube preamps tend to be fine, but many transistor inputs can go as low as 10kOhms, which would mean murder in this case!

system matching come into play. Yet, as I heard it, I would give the edge to the Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1: it sounds lively, is well-built, and offers the jaded DIYer enough room for further experiments!"

This sounds scarier than it is because people are using this DAC with Solid state amplifiers - but SOME solid state amplifiers no doubt wouldn't like it.http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/audionote11kit_e.html

I would post your system on the tube or digital forum at audioasylum. If you have a tube amp then chances are you have nothing to worry about. http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/bbs.html

[RGA]

BTW
I'm looking at this unit myself but it's a down the road item. I'm looking at their preamps and integrateds - so I'm working from speakers backwards.

[magictooth]

BTW
I'm looking at this unit myself but it's a down the road item. I'm looking at their preamps and integrateds - so I'm working from speakers backwards.

I'm going to be using it with an Audiomat Solfege Reference integrated. This is a 40W tube amp. Maybe I'll give it a try through my HT setup as well to see if there's any major difference (SS Audio Refinement by YBA amp).

BTW, have you heard the direct comparison of Tannoy to AN? I've only heard them in separate places and rooms which I know is an unfair comparison, but I prefered the Tannoy for violin music - which is my especial concern.

[RGA]

I'm not a huge fan of Tannoy...but it would depend on which model from both companies we're talking about. I did not do a direct comparison because Tannoy didn't make my final cut. Tannoy is using metal tweeter on some speakers now I believe and are not their concentric designs.

Audio Note speakers are designed around classical music dynamic reproduction. That's not to say people won't like another speaker better. It's not like Tannoy doesn't know how to build speakers.

THough I did extensive listening to the Platoon theme(barber no?) and the K's produced the violin as good as it's been done imo. The seeling point was on the cello...you can here the cello box itself not just the strings like almost all slim line speakers that have the attack but not the decay.

I actually used the Audio refinement Complete for my initial tests because I needed something that wold drive the B&W N805 - and I wanted the same equipment in the same room to keep things fair - even the the AR would not be the best match for the AN's...still a damn nice match because YBA has a more than a clue what their doing.

The Audio Note's highs are less exagerated without a trace of grain - in a short A/b test I would surmise the B&W 805 would score higher because of the zing factor. After 20 minutes it was clear to me who was king.

[Debbi]

...audio note speakers....are they strictly mail order?

[92135011]

I'm not RGA..but I can probably answer the question.
AN are not mail order. You can, however, buy kits from them to make your own speaker. (AN/E) Keep in mind though, that they do not include parts for the cabinet. Onlly a blueprint of the box design will be given to you. The kits can be bought over mail order.
Otherwise, you must go to a dealer. The AN website, www.audionote.co.uk, has a list of North American dealers. However, the list is small. There isnt even an average of one dealer a state.
Of course, it is always better to go have a listen to them before you attempt the kit. You can purchase the kits at www.audionotekits.com. Keep in mind, however, that these kits are shipped from the UK. So the price you see will have taxes and duties added on, and these can range from 20% all the way up to 50%, so be careful. If you can wait, www.partsconnexion.com will soon sell these kits to the public. Once again, this is not a US site. The company resides in Canada, so taxes and duties might once again be applied. Be careful.