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Poor man's Audio Note?

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Posted on March 6, 2023 at 15:40:25
oldngrumpy
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: August 12, 2016
 Looking for a speaker with similar sound characteristics to Audio Note speakers but for under $2500. I've heard the K and the E.

Tonal realism, musical, balanced, cohesive,open and naturally detailed. Easy to drive in terms of impedance characteristics, but don't need high efficiency because I don't listen above 70dB.

Listen to Classical & Jazz. Listen at low levels. No head banging. Small room, near field setup, 7-feet. 10Wpc integrated Leben with EL84s and 12AX7.

No DIY.

Thanks
OldnGrumpy

 

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RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 6, 2023 at 16:16:29
hesson11
Audiophile

Posts: 2223
Location: Florida
Joined: December 8, 2005
 I've never heard Audio Notes, but the sound qualities you describe remind me of my beloved Harbeths. And the closest inexpensive speakers I've heard that are at least reminiscent of Harbeths are the Triangle Borea BR02. There may be others that come closer, but they are not within my listening experience.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 6, 2023 at 16:47:43
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1377
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since: August 3, 2002
 Find a nice used pair of PMC FB1+ or FB1i.
I use a pair in a 12×10 room and they are perfect. Bought them new 14 years ago and still love them.
Small footprint, transmission line with good bass, great imaging.
Their other models are also good, but may blow your budget.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 7, 2023 at 00:44:11
fstein
Audiophile

Posts: 2788
Location: fstein
Joined: May 18, 2006
 SNELL!!!!

 

Maybe wharfedale NT, posted on March 7, 2023 at 05:56:36
Scholl
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 1302
Joined: March 8, 2001
 NT

 

Bingo ...., posted on March 7, 2023 at 06:10:33
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 12698
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010
 The original Snell E/III will get you a nice chunk of that sound for around $300.

Dean.









reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

Wharfedale Heritage Series, to be exact !, posted on March 7, 2023 at 08:31:43
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 1590
Joined: February 19, 2021
 ...

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 7, 2023 at 16:48:59
rodge827
Audiophile

Posts: 337
Location: South Jersey
Joined: October 1, 2004
 Snell K series you can find them used. Peter Qvortrip contacted Peter Snell to help him with his speakers. Peter Q was having trouble with the sq and Snell straightened them out.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 7, 2023 at 21:52:12
Budrew
Audiophile

Posts: 2066
Joined: April 4, 2002
 Harbeth P3ESRs.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 8, 2023 at 00:37:29
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15107
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

The AN K can be had secondhand for $2,500 US - fortunately, the AN K has been selling continuously since 1992.

But you would want to try for one of the more current models (within 12 years or so) with scan speak woofer and tweeter with foam surrounds over the older ones with rubber.

Audio Note has re-released this month I think, the AX Two standmount with the same quality finish as the AN K - it is worth your time.

 

RE: Wharfedale Heritage Series, to be exact !, posted on March 8, 2023 at 10:15:24
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1304
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000
 I'm a floorstanding speaker guy, and I have no idea what the speakers sound like, but they sure look good on these beautiful stands.

 

The stands look the part, for sure ..., posted on March 9, 2023 at 04:42:58
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 12698
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010
 I had the Heritage Lintons for a bit, and while good and without glaring faults, they never got my toes tapping.

Dean.




reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

Audio Note AZ2 or AZ3 ? , posted on March 9, 2023 at 09:00:48
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 1590
Joined: February 19, 2021
 The two "budget" Audio Note floorstanding speakers.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 9, 2023 at 10:24:53
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2207
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 Are you looking only a similar sound or do you also want something that is designed for corner placement like the Audio Note speakers?

I like them too for their warm, relaxed, yet not murky or overly polite sound. I don't know of many alternatives, particularly in your stated price range. I am tempted to suggest used Harbeth 30 speakers, but, at a local dealership that has both brands, by quite a margin, more listeners prefer the Audio Note speakers to Harbeth speakers. Perhaps something used from ProAc--another brand with a rich and natural sound.

Perhaps the closest I have heard is the very tiny Falcon LS3/5A clone. It is surprisingly good sounding for a small speaker and it has a similar tonal balance to the Audio Note line.

I know it is not quite the same kind of sound, and it is a little out of your range, but if I were shopping anywhere near this price range, the Tekton Double Impact speakers would be under consideration. I would also be looking at Rethm Bhaava--a quite lively sounding speaker.

 

They are soon releasing a new AX-Three standmount, posted on March 9, 2023 at 17:15:15
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15107
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

Which might be the best route.

I think the AX Two still retains the AN sound signature more than LS-3/5a variants like the Harbeth P3 Or Rogers LS 3/5a or Falcon. And the AX Two to me sounds better for considerably less money - $1k $2.5 - $4k for the LS 3/5a variants. Albeit the AX Two is quite a bit bigger and uglier.

I'd just get a used AN K - if you like a speaker that you have directly auditioned that's the speaker to get.

The Rogers LS 5/9 is closer in sound to the AN K (I reviewed both) but the problem is the Rogers is $2,000 more.

The New Tannoy Eaton ($5k new) is a speaker I would consider as well - it all depends on how your ear takes the Tannoy treble. I am fine with it because I feel it is a little more open and exciting than some speakers but some may find it too bright. Still, if I didn't already own the AN K I'd probably own the Eaton. But then for the price of the Eaton, you could pay a bit more and get AN J so...

Regardless, second-hand or dealer demo is the way to go IMV.
I would also suggest the op talk to any local dealer and let them know you want an AN-K. Some people are looking to move up the chain and buy something else and let the dealer know they need to move their AN K. You might get a terrific deal - the dealer wants to sell the $20k AN J and is happy to serve as a broker to help that guy move his AN K

I did that. I got the AN K/SPe for a good deal paying cash along with trading my KEF LS-50 in for it. The AN K owner needed the money to help buy the top-of-the-line AN J/SEC Signature.

My AN K and AX Two speakers (photos above)

 

RE: They are soon releasing a new AX-Three standmount, posted on March 9, 2023 at 19:09:46
chocolate_lover
Audiophile

Posts: 1546
Location: South Central Coast, California
Joined: October 12, 2003
 Hi Richard...have you heard any Devore speakers such as the Orangutan
O/Baby speakers and, if so, how do they compare sonically to an Audio Note?

 

RE: They are soon releasing a new AX-Three standmount, posted on March 9, 2023 at 21:17:18
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15107
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 I thought the O/96 was good but I liked the AN E/Lx at $5800 more and so I while I liked the o/96 I could not see the value in it. It is a fair bit easier to drive with an easier impedance but I think the AN E is more seamless in the midrange. DeVore also seems to follow the Peter Snell approach - I would try to audition the 0.93 and 0/96 models more as they appear to follow the Type E mold but DeVore is not sold here in Hong Kong and with the pandemic and the brutal re-entry requirements I have been stuck here since February 2020.

I didn't like the 3XL or Gibbon 88 speakers. Along with the 0/96 - these are the only three models I have auditioned.

 

RE: They are soon releasing a new AX-Three standmount, posted on March 10, 2023 at 07:35:14
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2207
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 I like the Devore O93 and O96--they do have a similar warmth and natural (relaxed) sound. But, they were not at the same shop, so the attached gear was different and placement of the speakers varied. The Devores were placed well away from the corners of the room so they imaged better than did the AN-Es that I hear at another shop. If imaging is your thing, stick with speakers that are placed well away from the back and side walls. But, overall, I like the AN-Es for reasons that are hard to describe--they sound "musical"--one gets engaged with the music and the specifics of speaker performance--depth and tightness of bass, detail, etc., don't seem to matter as much. Audio Note speakers make music and that counts most to me.

 

So I asked my first grade teacher..., posted on March 11, 2023 at 22:46:35
chuck55
Audiophile

Posts: 583
Joined: February 10, 2003
 what's the use of learning the alphabet?

Little did I know at the time I would grow up to be an audiophile and learning all those letters would be of vital importance in buying speakers.

 

RE: So I asked my first grade teacher..., posted on March 11, 2023 at 22:51:29
chuck55
Audiophile

Posts: 583
Joined: February 10, 2003
 "Audio letter and number" speakers might be a more appropriate name than "Audio Note".

"Audio Note" speakers should be called "B flat", "Middle C", and so on.

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 16, 2023 at 09:22:20
oldngrumpy
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: August 12, 2016
 Thanks to all for your help. My short list will be:

Audio Note AX-One, Spendor Classic 4/5 and ProAc Tablette 10.
OldnGrumpy

 

RE: Poor man's Audio Note?, posted on March 17, 2023 at 09:20:17
tubav
Audiophile

Posts: 543
Joined: March 21, 2009
 https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/snell-type-e-and-type-j-iii.10044/

 

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