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REVIEW: Audio Note M-One Preamplifier (Tube)

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Model: M-One
Category: Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $1050
Description: Tube pre-amplifier
Manufacturer URL: Audio Note
Manufacturer URL: Audio Note

Review by Joel_Waterman ( A ) on March 18, 2002 at 13:16:08
IP Address: 212.198.0.93
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for the M-One


Inspired by the sonic improvements brought about by SACD I am on a quest to improve my system - not that I needed much incentive anyway... I am now leaning towards introducing tubes and perhaps electrostats. I decided to try a tubed pre-amp - the Audio Note M-One line pre-amplifier. At a later stage I will test the M-2 to find out whether the law of diminishing returns applies or not :-) The M-2 also more or less represents my financial ceiling for this exercise.

The One
The M-One is a remote controlled, pure class A pre-amp with a single 6111WA triode tube output stage, Black Gate Graphite electrolytic cap, Audio Note paper in oil signal caps, RCA inputs for CD, tuner, AV and aux, RCA tape input/output, 2 x RCA outputs. It measures 22x12x30cm and weighs 4kg's. Input impedance is 100K line in and input sensitivity is 92Mv @ 0dB. Output impedance is 2K and output noise <0.5Mv . The tubes are said to be good for about 100.000 hours (about 11 years of 24 hr listening). Volume and Balance are controlled by two mid-size knobs on either side of the aluminum face plate. The Balance knob's action is not smooth - it seems to touch the chassis making a chafing sound when you move it. Reason I mention this is that I have noticed it with my -new- unit and with an older one in the shop. The RCA's around the back are tightly spaced. There is just enough room to accept my Neutrik connectors. The inputs are indicated by five red LED's on the front and they are only switcheable via the remote. That means that you better not loose it or run out of batteries! The unit looks the part. Sadly the remote is a cheap affair.

The Dealer
I got a silver one on short term loan from Triode et Compagnie on the Boulevard d'Ysèr in Paris' 17th arrondissement (http://www.audio-note.com). This is a great outfit btw. The owner is Monsieur Philippe Heitz and he has created a listening environment that is inviting and friendly. Walk in, sit down, listen to music and talk to folks browsing through thousands of used LP's lining the walls. He has all Audio Note gear plus the Avantgarde horn speakers. I saw a Duo and the Trio (it is HUGE!) - unfortunately not hooked up this time. I spent about an hour on a comfy leather sofa listening in amazement to an all analog rig, consisting out of Audio Note M2 pre-amp and phono stage and AN TT3 reference turntable, all hooked up to AN-E speakers. Would you believe this was my first exposure to a truly high end analog system !! The entire set-up had a fifties look and completely captivated me. Mr. Heitz played classical and jazz LP's. It was truly an epiphany. Beautiful, flowing, detailed sound without a hint of digital attributes. I can hear some of you think....'told you so' ! Tempting it may be, but I just cannot bring myself to investing in another format. However, I won't forget this experience. But I am digressing...

The Review
I have the AN unit only for a few days. Here are some listening notes during that period. Remember my reference is a modest Rotel RC972 (See Inmate systems). As I said the AN was new and my notes are taken over a period of about three days in which the pre-amp has been playing almost constantly in order to give at least a bit of burn-in (or 'bedding in' as Audio Note prefers to call it in the manual :-)

The Rotel RC972 is a very good pre-amp considering its $300 price tag. But the M-one, at $1050 (1200 Euro's), is in a different league. Is the difference night and day? Not at all, but an important difference. When listening to Pat Barber's Companion, track 5 'Touch of Trash' in an A/B/A test (B=Rotel), the AN sounds more natural and fluid. It lets more of the music through. Voice sounds more real. This track is a real treble and sibilance test. I use it in every review. With the AN in my system it has sounded the best I've ever heard it in my room to date. There is still some harshness, but I am beginning to come to the conclusion that this may be more my system/room than the recording. The AN removes another few layers between me and the recording, introducing more resolution, air, three dimensionality and body. Clapping by the audience for example was much more natural with the AN than with the Rotel. The AN was able to remove so much 'grunge' that the clapping in the song 'Black Magic Woman' sounded distinct - you could almost count hands so to speak. The Rotel did not manage this. Clapping sounded much more homogeneous. The Rotel is flatter and sounds harder. It also has more difficulties with the more orchestral passages.

On DSOTM (the remastered 20th anniversary edition)this became clear as the AN was able to render 'Us and Them' pretty good whilst the Rotel struggled a bit more with the chorus parts. What happened was that the AN was able to put some more space between the Floyd's voices and the chorus. And there was also less glare. Regardless I think this track can sound better -assuming the recording is up to it - and I may have hit source limitations here.

The Max Bruch piece on Pieter Wispelwey's hybrid SACD became more involving through the AN. Bigger soundstage. Better rendition of the orchestral pieces and the tension and emotion in the playing. On the Rotel it does not sound bad at all, but the AN let's me connect to the music better and that's what it is all about isn't it?

Similar effects I noticed doing an A/B/A comparison with track 5 "Easy Living" of Paul Desmond's CD by the same name. On the Dire Straits remastered Brothers In Arms CD one of my favorite tracks is 'The Man's Too Strong'. Let me express the differences between the two pre-amps here once more: the AN was able to portray a picture which contained a more clearly defined space around the artist and the guitar. The guitar also had more body and there was more timbre than with the Rotel. The orchestral part was rendered well and I did not, like with the Rotel, feel the need to turn down the volume a notch. I level matched the pre-amps with my Radio Shack Sound Level Meter btw.

The Conclusion
So how big is the difference? Well, let me do a 'Clinton' on ya - it depends on what you think the meaning of "big" is ;-). We all have a different vocabulary and value system so I can't speak for you, but let me try to give you an idea. The Rotel is not put to shame by the Audio Note M-One - not a mean feat I would say, comparing the manufacturers and price points - but the AN is undoubtedly the better pre-amp and worth the extra Euro's for me because of its ability to lift more veils, restore more timbre and add more space. I think though that this effect is only apparent to a critical listener - we audiophiles are a breed apart :-)

That said, I am looking for a larger leap in quality than the M-One gives me at the moment. Especially given the fact that this review was done 'sans' SACD (modded player not back yet!). SACD gives me a higher resolution source and my system should then benefit from a better pre-amp. I guess with further 'bedding in' (gotta love those Brits) the differences will become more apparent, but I am looking forward to a meeting with the M-2 (+/-1650 Euro) before reaching for my check book. This will also reveal whether I have judged the M-One correctly or whether I hit a ceiling with regard to my digital front-end.

This 'review' basically tells you what happened when I inserted the M-One in my system without changing anything else. Oh yes, I would have liked more steps on the volume control.

The Music
I listened to much more music over the three days, but these are the review-discs:

Paul Desmond, Easy Living, on Columbia
Pink Floyd, Dark Side Of The Moon, 20th ann. edition remaster on EMI
Pieter Wispelwey, Tchaikovsky/Saint Saens/Bruch, on Channel Classics
Patricia Barber, Premonition, on Blue Note
Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms, on Warner

Regards,
Jw


Product Weakness: Remote is cheap, Balance/Volume knob construction is not great, Volume pot needs more steps, RCA's at the back tightly spaced
Product Strengths: Space, detail, neutrality, looks, high quality internal parts, brand name, enthusiastic dealer with great service


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: See Inmate Systems
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): See Inmate Systems
Sources (CDP/Turntable): See Inmate Systems
Speakers: See Inmate Systems
Cables/Interconnects: See Inmate Systems
Music Used (Genre/Selections): See review
Room Size (LxWxH): x x
Room Comments/Treatments: See Inmate Systems
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): See Inmate Systems
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Note M-One Preamplifier (Tube) - Joel_Waterman 13:16:08 03/18/02 ( 2)