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Alternative to AudioNote

64.212.90.254
Posted on July 18, 2008 at 13:54:47
fstein
Audiophile

Posts: 2997
Location: fstein
Joined: May 18, 2006
 I have AudioNote
AN-E speakers and CD 3.1X player, wonder about reasonably priced alternatives to Expen$ive Audio note and Kondo Amps, tube or otherwise. For now, have Innersound and Naim Nait 3 kicking around the house.

 

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Shindo Montille, Wavac MD300B, Shindo Cortese, posted on July 18, 2008 at 15:16:14
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I have heard all of these on the Es. The Wavac MD300B used is the best bang for the buck if you put Western Electric tubes in it without the WEs the Motille is the best bang for the buck. If you can swing it the Cortese will hold its own with any amp made. By the way I use a Wavac EC300B, but that's as expensive as the amps you mentioned.

 

Have you tried any of the various chip amps?, posted on July 18, 2008 at 15:24:37
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Gainclone, Tripath, UCD, Ice-Power or otherwise?

I first heard a 47 Labs system on AN-Es and the synergy was fabulous. Great coherence, tone and bass dynamics.

Developing an ultra-fi system for an editig suite (been playing with other digital options before this) and am now trying (or waiting for) out a high power (4100A) Tripath system, having listened to a humble 2024 amp. Will use a high current switching psu to start with to get 24A capacity with thoughts of battery power later. Speakers are MHI Evidence - similar in concept to the AMR LS-77 (although entirely different in scale and execution) and the fabled Decca Volt system of yore.

I like Audio Note a lot, BTW.

big j

"Spread this message every way that you know how: the Age of Saviours is past."

"...a time will come when the past and not the future will be veiled from humanity..."

 

That reminds me. . ., posted on July 18, 2008 at 15:53:04
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Yoshi not only imports the 47Labs stuff but he also sells direct the Kore-Eda LLA-1 Control Amplifier $1,850 and the PLA-1 Power Amplifier $2,150.

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on July 18, 2008 at 15:59:30
LFDS


 
I replied to your query re: AN-E and Naim, but didn't know you have a Nait3 (which has a different character to the Nait2 - or Nait5). In a word, No. Basing it on Nait3 and AN-J combination.

If you want to stay with solid-state, look no further than the Sugden A21. HTH

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on July 18, 2008 at 16:07:59
Budrew
Audiophile

Posts: 2081
Joined: April 4, 2002
 Leben or Resolution Audio's DNM-based amp

 

Sugden A-21SE Integrated and CD-21SE CDP, posted on July 18, 2008 at 16:57:02
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 Both are SS, both are closer to AN than most tube amps - same type of refinement, elegance and grace with a bit more body.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose

 

I second the Leben*, posted on July 18, 2008 at 19:09:47
MMasztal
Audiophile

Posts: 6998
Location: The no state tax state!!!
Joined: August 13, 2001
 *

 

I second the DNM, posted on July 18, 2008 at 23:08:41
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Although it can tend toward the 'dry' side of tonal expression. Rhythmic though and an exotic build, if one can say that.

big j

"Spread this message every way that you know how: the Age of Saviours is past."

"...a time will come when the past and not the future will be veiled from humanity..."

 

might try and Audiopax, posted on July 20, 2008 at 17:47:46
chris e.
Audiophile

Posts: 170
Location: Colorado
Joined: July 12, 2000
 I had an Audionote M7 preamp matched with an Audiopax 98 stereo amp and it was a really nice combination. The Audiopax does very well with the AN and it is a really great match with horn speakers (if you get one, plan on putting the extra money into some GEC NOS KT88's).

 

How "reasonably-priced", posted on July 21, 2008 at 10:41:49
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2229
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 Given how extremely pricey Audionote can be (I know, I own a Kageki), it is pretty hard to get an idea of what price range you are looking into and whether the choice would be a permanent choice or a stop gap prior to a better upgrade.

Given how relatively easy it is to drive AN-Es, and their relaxed, non-hyper detailed or edgy sound, they could probably match with a wide range of gear. I've heard them sound very good with all-Naim electronics: CDS3, 252 preamp, and 300 amp. The Naim house sound would seem, at least to me, quite different from the Audionote camp, so, the fact that this system worked so well together either attests to the "easiness" of the speaker or the unpredictable nature of system matching.

In tube gear, I generally prefer low-powered triode stuff to high-powered pentode gear with massive amounts of tubes. I've heard pushpull 45, 300b, and 2a3 amps with the AN-E. They all sounded decent. So lower-powered pentode amps, such as the Manley Stingray or Synthesis (Italian company) would probably work well too.

This is purely speculation on my part, but, I would be tempted to try a decent, low-powered OTL amp (e.g., an Atmasphere) with this speaker. The extra kick-in-the-ass dynamics of OTL amps (liveliness, vividness) would help these speakers, and they may also lean out the upper bass a touch, which again would not hurt the AN-Es.

In the fairly cheap solid state camp, I would look into Sugden, Lavardin, and Naim. A little further up the chain, an Ayre integrated.

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on July 22, 2008 at 08:28:57
BadgerDMS
Audiophile

Posts: 768
Location: WDC
Joined: November 27, 2002
 For way cheap look into the Synthesis Ensemble (30 watts, pentode EL-84) that goes for about $1,900 new, but can be found on the Canadian Audio Mart for about $800 (mine was less than 16 months old when I bought it). I'm using it with AN-JLxs and it's a very nice combo.

 

Yup, good amp., posted on July 22, 2008 at 10:12:52
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2229
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 I like that amp -- nice and lively sounding without being unduly harsh or brittle sounding. It is nice looking too. My only issue is with the hard to adjust dual volume control knobs with no clear markings.

 

RE: Yup, good amp., posted on July 22, 2008 at 18:44:38
BadgerDMS
Audiophile

Posts: 768
Location: WDC
Joined: November 27, 2002
 Yeah, you find yourself counting clicks to be consistent.

 

Curious - The OTO is as affordable as some listed here..., posted on July 26, 2008 at 16:06:57
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 And it's an exceptionally good amp. The OTO LINE SE is around $2800 and the Phono version is ~$3500. You'll be paying around that for the A21SE which is a great amp as well but specifically for the AN speakers the OTO is a natural match.

On the used market you'd pay less - the OTO has been selling now for 16 years so you're bound to find an affordable used one someplace. Or build a kit 1 for under 2 grand. The OTO and SORO are seriously underrated amps.

I don't think Audio Note is particularly expensive - they can be but they offer a lot of affordable exceptionally good alternatives at the low priced end and in kit form.

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on July 31, 2008 at 18:22:21
Nolitan777@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 187
Location: N. California
Joined: April 28, 2005
 3rd the Leben cs600

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on August 7, 2008 at 20:06:05
Rael
Audiophile

Posts: 50
Location: Ontario
Joined: January 28, 2004
 Mastersound, from Italy.
I've had both their 300B and 845-based amps in my system and they are wonderful.
I have a Kondo M7 but feel no need to upgrade from my Mastersound 300B monoblocks to Kondo.

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on September 16, 2014 at 07:55:01
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014



More music !

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on September 16, 2014 at 15:57:29
fjn04
Audiophile

Posts: 59
Location: Upstate, NY
Joined: January 11, 2011
 Wow, an awful lot of Leben recommendations. I am using LM 211 with the J/LX.
It's very nice, but I am looking at other alternatives. I would think an Oto SE would be wonderful. I heard this only at shows, and it was excellent.

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on October 5, 2014 at 14:09:18
catsimone
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: New York City
Joined: November 26, 2004
 +1 on the OTO SE. I just heard it at the New York Audio Show and it sounded excellent on their "entry level" J's...

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on October 5, 2014 at 14:50:09
catsimone
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: New York City
Joined: November 26, 2004
 Ooops. That was the OTO SE SIGNATURE, which is an update to the aforementioned OTO SE...

 

RE: Alternative to AudioNote, posted on October 5, 2014 at 15:10:41
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I would like to read about owners of AudioNet cd/sacd player offered by GTT Audio/Video.

 

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