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Amplifier for AN-E

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Posted on September 16, 2014 at 23:29:04
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014



Hello Jack Roberts (jnr),

One quick question ,,, :

I have a pair of AN-E Spe Signature speakers (black cone high efficiency version) that I purchased after reading your online review for them :)
(I´m glad I did)´

I was thinking of trying a single ended amplifier at home , as AN-UK themselves believe this is the best route to follow in order to extract all the magic the AN-E speakers are capable of doing ...


I am not interested in hifi, only in music, and my reference is the small bar downstairs where small bands play music almost on a daily basis. What I am interested in is that presence and emotion that takes place when a musician is playing or singing live.
Most hifi in my experience fails dramatically at this.

I am currently thinking in a few amps, and I was hoping you could give me a hand. Two of the options that keep ringing my mind as good options are:

- Audio Note Jinro > >
I have heard good, but not mind-blowing feedback for it

- Wavac EC 300b stereo amp + AN M3 preamp or SJS Arcadia preamp > >
I have the impression that you are personally in love with the EC300B, but I am a bit afraid it might not have enough juice to Rock my room together with my AN-E HE Spe Signature speakers.

Local auditions are out of the question, as there are no local AN/Wavac dealers around, and for obvious reasons, any AN dealer will not stock Wavac and vice versa...

I would trully appreciate it if you could get back to me in some way, provide me some quick advice via AA, or send me a PM I could reply to...

Many thanks again for your help (and for your AN-E review!, as it was very accurate to the point I would use your same words if someone asked me about them)

Best regards,
More music !

 

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RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 17, 2014 at 00:03:37
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
Well I'm not Jack --- who is? right Jack ;)

I think it's going to come down to how loud and what you listen to. Personally I much prefer the 211s or 300B in Parallel with the AN speakers. The Jinro has one maybe two better SET amplifiers (the Ongaku (UK version) and the Tomei). All three are the exact same design with different parts.

The 8 watt 300B probably has enough power most of the time. Indeed, I currently run a Line Magnetic 219IA which is a 24 watt per channel 845 with 310a and 300B driver tubes. I have yet to get the meter to 2 watts on my E/Lexus (review coming for dagogo eventually as well) and I have the non HE version of the speakers. That said my room is considerably smaller than yours.

The Jinro can be used as a power amp or you can buy the power amp version of it. So it has an upgrade path. This is what sold me on the Line Magnetic 219IA - the weaker link in integrateds tends to be the preamp.

An Audio Note M6 and LM 219IA versus a Jinro would cost about the same. And the M6 is a much better preamp than a standalone Jinro. Then in a few years perhaps a pair of Kegons or Conquest Silvers.

(Note I have not heard the 2A3 parallel amps from Audio Note which some find to be their best sounding amps out of everything they make). If that is so you could consider them as they offer very high power (for a 2A3).

Also some people are not big fans of AN preamps - though I have been very impressed with the M3 and M6. Perhaps not hi-fi sounding enough for some tastes. But what they do they do supremely well.

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 17, 2014 at 07:57:38
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
- Room size is probably the most important part of the equation here, as it is the only piece of the system that is not upgradeable right now,,, :)

- If I understand correctly, the Jinro integrated is a capacitor coupled integrated amplifier, and can only be used as such. The power amp version is called the Jinro Schohu and is a transformer coupled design and doesn´t have a built in amplifier inside. So its not really upgradeable into a power amplifier.

-Perhaps not hi-fi sounding enough for some tastes. But what they do they do supremely well.
Im not interested at all in hifi or the usual hifi tickboxes. I now what a life performance is: I would never discuss with my mates the "soundstaging" of a band playing or the "air" in a concert hall :)

- My initial interest was for a pair of AN-UK Neiro monoblocks, but a telephone conversation with AN-UK steered me towards their 211 integrated, as they felt the room could be a bit large for them.



More music !

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 17, 2014 at 10:23:52
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2229
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
I have heard the AN-E with a variety of different amplifiers, although not a Jinro or the Wavac 300b. It appears to be a very easy speaker to match with amps and will sound quite good with a wide range of gear (very much unlike lean and analytical speakers that must be carefully matched to amps that do not go overboard in that direction). At a local dealer, I've heard it with the Audionte Kageki (an amp that I also own and like), and with other pushpull tube amps. The very best sound, to me, was when it was matched to a custom-built OTL amp (not a commercial product).

I know it does not help you in your search to say that the speaker should be tried with a wide range of alternatives, but, I think it is comforting to hear that whatever you choose, the system will probably sound nice. While I own, and like, SET amps, I certainly would not limit a search to just that type of amp. A lot goes into the sound of any amp and I don't think SET amps are inherently superior even when the subject speaker is easy to drive and can be used with such amps (the AN-E is NOT that efficient, but, it is an easy amp to drive and sounds quite good with the 6.5 watt Kageki).

I like the AN-E's very musical and warm sound. But, when it is used in a room corner as recommended, it can be a bit excessive in the upper bass range. This, to me, is also the case with the 300b tube (bit heavy and sloppy in the upper bass) so there might be some concern with using a 300b amp. I have not heard the Jinro, but, I have heard the Gaku On, and other 211 amps, such as the Wyetech 211 SET amp, and I suspect that this type of amp would work well with the AN-E. Based on hearing the AN-E with the custom OTL amp, I would suggest you consider an OTL as well; the AN-E sounded incredibly vibrant and alive with the OTL amp (Atmasphere makes a 30 watt amp that probably would work nicely).

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 17, 2014 at 14:16:52
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
First choice for Amp is the Wavac EC 300B

Tie for second is either the Audio Note Empress parallel single-ended 2A3 mono-blocks or the First Watt SIT One mono blocks. Please read my review of these.

Third would be the Wavac MD300B if you use Western Electric 300B and the Mullard tube I talk about in the review.

I'm not a fan of Audio Note preamps. If you are using a vinyl setup I would suggest the best Shindo preamp you can afford.

If you are using only digital then the Music First Transformer based passive is as good as it gets.
theaudiobeatnik.com

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 17, 2014 at 19:18:13
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
It's a tough call - you may want to check with AN on the Jinro because I am pretty sure you can run a preamp into it and run it as a power amp.

Peaople have their preferences here so it's kind of important to do the listening for yourself.

I loved the Shindo Petrus with Kegon monoblocks. But the M6 did win preamp of the year here and sounds really good every time I hear it at their HK dealer. I like the green Shindo in terms of looks though but one concern might be that Ken Shindo passed away. So what will new Shindo units be and how will old Shindo be repaired? Something to consider. You'd really want to spend the time auditioning - with the kind of cash you intend to drop - a flight to a dedicated good shop might be worth the expenditure.


 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 18, 2014 at 11:12:04
Br3098
Audiophile

Posts: 255
Location: Southern California
Joined: December 23, 2009
You can use virtually any good tube amp with your AN-Es and they will sound great. Personally, I am not a fan of the 300B or 211 tubes but that is just me. I have owned several wonderful tube amps but keep coming back to the Audio Note OTO SE. It is a very reasonably priced integrated SET amp using EL84 output tubes and has a very seductive sound. It's not the most detailed, not the most musical, nor the most powerful amp. But I enjoy the sound more than any other tube amp I have owned.

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 20, 2014 at 18:56:33
fjn04
Audiophile

Posts: 59
Location: Upstate, NY
Joined: January 11, 2011
I was also going to suggest the Oto Sig, as it's been on my radar as well. I thought it sounded great in Montreal this year. I didn't mention it, only because it was so inexpensive in comparison to the others mentioned. Another EL84 amp that may prove interesting is the Leben 300XS. Again, much less expensive that the others....

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 24, 2014 at 07:45:59
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
The Hi-B OPTs always add something special to the level 3 AN amps. Peter Qvortrup often recommends AN-E speakers for the OTO line, although I think this may be to get beginners on the AN Merry-go-Round addicted.

I have ordered a version of the AN Conqueror (300B) power amp that uses the new, smaller Hi-B Opts and previously owned a 300B AN Meishu integrated amp with the original, larger version of these OPTs.

The standard OTO SE or P-2 SE are both lively and refined. The Sig version amplifies the refinement in a very complementary fashion. Call it elegant liveliness.

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on September 29, 2014 at 05:25:10
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
I would also add the new AudioNoteKits L5: The Mentor preamp kit for your consideration. Looks like the kit to beat all kits.

Parts influence the sound and it's tough to argue that Audio Note loses (to anyone) on parts quality here. This thing looks beastly even against their double the price production models. $5k for a kit is a lot but...

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 10, 2014 at 07:53:16
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
Thanks very much to everybody...

The EC300B has arrived home.
I will wait for a few days before critical judgement.

What output impedance setting have you used to better drive your AN-E speakers Jack ? (4,8 or 16 ohm ?)

Many thanks again...
I will post back in a few days and let you know my impression.


More music !

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 12, 2014 at 08:06:36
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
Hi jack (and everybody),

I am starting my honeymoon with my EC-300B amp right now (I have it wired for 16 ohm loads, which is maybe not ideal for my An-E spe sigs)

So far, this is insane. I have music at home: live music, natural presence, raw emotion.




More music !

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 12, 2014 at 16:00:26
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
The AN E has a minimum impedance of 3.6 ohms - use the 4-8 ohm tap makes more sense.

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 12, 2014 at 16:19:21
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
I know, but I'm still waiting for Wavac Japan to write back with instructions on how to have it rewired for 8 or 4 ohms.
The dealer has no idea on how to have it done, and there is no information on the manual.
More music !

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:55:32
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
The amp doesn't have 4 and 8 ohm taps on the back?

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on October 19, 2014 at 10:18:53
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
So far so good...
I have the impression the Ec300b is only limited by the quality and character of the source feeding the signal.
Tonal balance is spot on: it is very natural. Not a hint of artificial valve tone or sand grain. Dynamics are natural as well. it has inner detail in spades, very natural again. And I am getting very often the same adrenalin rush I get in a live performance.

Communicating with Wavac is proving bit more difficult than usual due to the language barrier, but I am in the process of arranging a date with wavac to have the amps rewired for an 8 ohm load, as I have the impression my AN-E speakers will be happier. I imagine the bass response will improve a bit as well.

I don't want to anticipate things, but I have the impression this could well be my last amplifier purchase.
More music !

 

RE: Amplifier for AN-E , posted on November 4, 2014 at 13:47:30
b_online
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Joined: September 16, 2014
Thank you Jack :)
This little wavac is a trully special rollercoaster.
Please send me a Pm with your work address so I can post some wine and iberian ham. I need to say thanks the proper way .


More music !

 

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