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In Reply to: Re: Upgrade to Audio Note System posted by UtilityMan on October 25, 2006 at 11:52:18:
Agree 100%.Yes, I forgot to mention I/C's. The upgrade in my system from Lexus I/C's to AN-V's was very notable. More clear and dynamic sound. The Lexus sounds wooly by comparison. This is a very cost effective upgrade, especially if you can get away with 18 inch I/C's.
I still have copper speaker cables though, as I can't justify the cost of 10 foot silver biwire. I've also heard that the combination of silver IC's and copper speaker cable is a good balance. (Maybe said to console myself).
Follow Ups:
AN-V is superb cable. I use it as standard and also have inside my amp, phono stage, and DAC. Also use it as a digital cable.When I first tried it, it made a huge difference to the tonality of my then system.
How would you compare AN-V to Vx? would the cost jump be justified?
The AN-Vx sounded noticably thinner in my system. This thinness isn't necessarily bad since AN's gear (particular speakers) sound naturally very full and "rounded" to my ears. However, I was not a fan of the AN-Vx and sold it after only a short period. I actually preferred a non-AN cable in my AN system, but I know you true AN junkies think such mixed marraiges are blasphemy ;-)
Not at all but I've never heard that particular criticism of Vx. I should ask compared to what? Cardas perhaps? There is no absolute thinness or thickness, but Vx is thicker than V, thicker than JMR's cable, thicker than Audience Au 24. Thinner (or rather more open sounding and radiant) than Lexus and definitely thinner than any and every cable George Cardas ever dreamed of making, etc. Within the context of Audio Note cable, it is about normal in thickness to my ears, which is why I find the V a bit thin.And to keep this relativity thing going, I wonder how many people find Audio Note speakers full and rounded? Not compared with Spendors or Harbeths or Reynauds certainly. But probably compared with Thiels, B&W Nautilae, Triangles, and maybe even Merlins.
Hmm. I find the Au24 sounds much fuller then the Vx.I know it's all relative; I find AN speakers err on the side of warmth and roundness relative to the speakers I've experienced as well as my personal definition of "neutral." It makes beautiful music, but IMO it's far from "neutral." This is not to diminish what AN speakers does exceedly well, which is to convey music in a very pleasing manner.
To my ears, while the AN-V gets some openness into the equation, the Vx, with more strands of silver, brings in some (needed?) fullness, especially if you're used to the fullness of Lexus. I think, beyond the run from the transport to the dac which "should" be Sogon, Vx is as good as your interconnects ever need to be.
Bob, My minds made up, I'll go for the latest Dac 3.1 Balanced, Sogon from Dac to Trans and AN-Vx from Dac to oto. Should do for the time being and come within budget. (I may try and squeeze and Arm 3 in also - my Arm 2 is old version based on RB300)Thanks again for your input
Regards
The bottom line is that there are a number of ways you can approach the upgrade to your system.So long as you keep with AN equipment, and don't jump too far ahead up the levels with any one piece of equipment, you are onto a winner which ever way you go about it and the upgrade process should keep you happy for years to come.
Just make sure that you don't leave any one area of the system too far behind.
The "latest Dac 3.1 Balanced" isn't due out until "early December," and it should be a beaut. Big improvement in your analogue front end would be the move to the moving coil Io1 cartridge with the AN-S4 step up. You're in for some good fun, U-Man.
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