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Some thoughts

Hi Richard. Like yourself, I'm still working on improvements to my Audio Note system. In the process I've discovered a few things that might be useful to you regarding your concerns. Of course your kit is more upscale than mine and should be even stronger in some areas, but I think one or more of the following points may still be helpful.

1. What make of 5U4G do you have? I installed a nice NOS tube in my regular Kit 1 (with some upgrades) and the sound dynamics improved significantly - more solid, faster bass and richer tones - it just seems like the amp has become generally more powerful.

2. I don't know what IECsocket/fuseholder assembly is used in the pq sig kit 1, but the one in my regular Kit 1 is very light duty and flimsy. At one point it seemed like the sound was deteriorating over time and in my investigations I found that the fuse isn't held very tight in the standard fuseholder. I bent the jaws of the fuseholder to increase the grip on the fuse and . . . it suddenly sounded like a different amplifier - better in every respect. Before that the sound was becoming like the amp had a resistor in series with it . . . which is exactly what was happening. I have ordered a new heavy duty silver plated IEC socket and separate fuseholder which hopefully will permanently solve that problem. The power switch looks fairly flimsy as well and will be changed out WIGATI.

3. One of the cartridges I have is the Goldring 1022GX and I don't find it to be a very dynamic cart. It does some things nicely, but I prefer the Denons and Grados for dynamics. The Audio Note IQ1/2/3 carts are built by Goldring for AN and they sound to me like a much richer, more dynamic cart - nicely balanced. I'd buy one, but am overstocked at present. I think it's usually a question of differing taste in sound (and I don't mean good/bad) that causes different people to prefer different carts.

4. The Audio Note Preamp kit V2.0 increased the dynamics in my system for both CD and LP playback. Apparently it is due to increasing the overall gain of the system. Perhaps the gain in your system is less than optimum due to your use of the passive stage.

My Audio Note system is very dynamic with strong bass and good attack & decay. It is certainly as good or better than other vacuum tube gear I've heard over quite a number of years. I suspect you may achieve some improvement by attending to one or more of the items which I've listed above in order of increasing cost/effort, and likely in order of increasing degree of improvement.

Best regards.


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  • Some thoughts - Frank E 17:30:55 12/03/05 (0)


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