Audio Note is another company whose gear I’ve enjoyed for more than years. We’re talking decades.
I still remember talking to Audio Note’s Peter Qvortrup at CES 2008 where he shared, at least as far as my memory recollected, “Your system is only as good as its ability to play your worst recording.”
The funny thing is I don’t have much review experience with AN products except for their Cobra EL34-based integrated amp, which I enjoyed (a lot), and a very fun date with a vintage (c.2002) DAC 4 Signature (DAC). But all that’s going to change soon(ish). Stay tuned.
For Axpona 2025, Audio Note brought their AN-E/SPx Ltd Field Coil speakers which, like all Audio Note speakers, appreciate corner placement for the bass reinforcement, driven by the beauty of a beast Meishu Phono Konzertmeister integrated that hides a pair of 300Bs inside its stout chassis, delivering 8 Watts of full color wonder. More than enough power for a reasonable load.
Peter was playing, more like cranking!, Charlotte de Witte’s Sanctum, a wild bass heavy sci-fi techno EP if ever there was one, and the room seemed to flex to the beat and blasts as I sat and smiled along, fearing any dancing would break the spell and the greater point being made that low tube-based power can boogie with the best ‘FETs. Bravo!
The Audio Note system:
CDT Four CD Transport $21,119
DAC 5.1x Ladder DAC (new prototype): $TBA
TT Two Turntable $4,287
Arm Three/II Tonearm $2,465.52
IO I Moving Coil Cartridge $5,028.48
AN-S5 Step Up Transformer $10,685
Meishu Konzertmeister 300B Integrated Amplifier $65,000
AN-E/SPx Ltd Field Coil Loudspeakers $65,000
Audio Note UK Speaker Cables and Interconnects