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Well, I just finished my DAC 2.1C Sig and I have to say it's just fabulous. It pulls off the truly amazing trick of being ultra-highly-resolving, extended, and dynamic whilst still being about as sublimely musical as possible - perhaps what Audio Note's all about? Anyway, it's far & away the best digital source I've had here and I've had many all the way up to $7500 cost-wise.Anyway, I also run the Kit 3 AN/Es and am now really thinking hard about doing the pre & the phono pre. I don't really read a lot here, it seems, about the L3 in terms of reviews, etc. Now, I know exactly what fellow audiophile's words are worth (no offense :)) but would any care to comment on what your L3/M3 (and/or phono pre) replaced and what it does better?
Could be an interesting thread if it takes off anyway.
Edits: 02/03/09
bump
Sure would like to see more reports.
My L3 will be done shortly.
Paul,
I run my L3 with the kit monos. I've only had a few preamps, and none for extended comparison as when I make the move I tend to just stay with it. But, I do have 2 years of listening to my L3 and memories of others, so here goes!
Prior, I had a Counterpoint 3.1 that had been modded by altavista, and this is what I moved from to the L3. They are very different. The 3.1 was livelier and tipped up a bit, possibly also having more prominent low end. Clearly, the L3 is more neutral, however, and ultimately more satisfying. But I will say that the 3.1 was exciting sounding.
I owned a Bryston for awhile and never compared it to the L3, as the Counterpoint was so much better sounding. Also have tried (passive) attenuators, but they lacked gonads. Clear and incisive, to be sure, but no drive or flesh in the lower mids down. The Kit1 input stage on it's own has way more boogie than did the same system trimmed with attenuators. I've run my Kit1 both with and without the L3, and like the attenuators, I get more drive with the L3.
What I'd like to hear is the remote L3 and compare to my non-remote--that would be interesting!
Doug
I built the L3 phono stage almost a year ago and I find it extremely satisfying and don't contemplate changing it for a long long time to come. It replaced the previous AN phono kit (the old Kit1 phono stage) that was based on the M7 - the L3 was a huge improvement in dynamics an linearity and overall musical satisfaction. Before that I was using (or rather tried) the phono stage that was in my Linn integrated - that was pretty awful and sterile in comparison and just wasn’t up to the rest of the system.
I am also hoping to build the L3 Remote preamp soon, which I’m pretty excited about. I will be documenting the build on my website as usual.
The pre-amp will open up a new upgrade route for me - allowing me to either upgrade my PQ Kit1 to low gain power-only or replace it altogether with the interstage mono’s.
I also have the Kit3 speakers, which I love.
What amplifier(s) are you using at the moment?
Hi Professor,
I have read your reviews & builds, actually - you've contributed quite a bit to the A-N Kits community!
I am using a pair of custom (Tube Audio Labs) 300B monos based on the WE91A circuit. They are very nice amps, have very good synergy with the AN/Es, and since the circuit is two-stage (pentode driver), they like an active gain stage. The L3 should mesh quite well.
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