For over 25 years the Sussex based Hi-Fi manufacturers have been at the forefront of audio systems development - from wall plug to speaker. There aren't many who could also claim to have such a rarefied fan base and near cult status when it comes to highly ambitious Hi-Fi enthusiasts.

Proper rack needed, as the meishu weighs in at 20KG & measures 50CM(d) X 40CM(w) X 20CM(h)

The Philosophy

Just like fans of the brand, Audio Note remain committed to obsessively focused engineering, circuitry and material science designs that converge in the best possible jaw-dropping sound reproduction. From the tip of the turntable’s cartridge, through to cables and amplification, right down to the drive units in the loudspeakers, everything is designed and produced by Audio Note (UK) in their factories in the UK and Europe.

Central to this philosophy is the Audio Note Level system that runs from -2, -1, Zero, 1-5. The minus categories are reserved for anything that's transistor type amplification. I won't enter into the conjecture that surrounds such opinion - religious wars have started based on much less! If you would like to know more check it out - "Are you on the Road to Audio Hell?” by Leonard Norwitz and Peter Qvortrup of Audio Note is well worth a read.

According to Audio Note, the majority of the high-end audio marketplace is occupied by ill-conceived low efficiency loudspeaker systems. Audio Note believe their designers are blinded by the dogmatic quest for high sound pressure levels and flat response. They say, what of the other factors which are essential for emotionally involving music reproduction? What about coherence, full natural micro - as well as macro - dynamics, inner detail?

4 inputs, tape loop, outputs for 4 ohm & 8 ohm speakers

The MEISHU Tonmeister Line is specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note (UK) Level 3 criteria: - Pure Class A operation, Zero Negative Feedback, Single Ended Output Stage, Valve Rectification, Directly Heated Triode operation, high quality materials and components.

The valve compliment consists of 1 x 5U4G, 2 x 300B, 2 x 6X5, 2 x 5687,2 x ECC83, 2 x ECC82, and 1 x 6SN7

The circuitry is elegant - a pure Class A design with zero feedback and a single-ended output stage, using one directly-heated 300B triode valve per channel to produce a power output of 8W per channel into 4 or 8ohm loads.

System & Listening

Highly efficient speakers, anything above 90dB, are an absolute must with a low wattage valve system. We chose the Audio Note An-E Speakers. But, also experimented with Audio Note An-Ks and Spendor Classic 3/1. We fed the Tonmeister from an Audio Note DAC 0.1x, though the DAC 2.1x signature would be even better, and, using an Innuos Zen Mini MkIII in Roon mode. Also, on occasion we hooked up the Linn Akurate LP12 with a Rega Aria phono stage. The Audition room measures 7m x 4.5 x 3m high. We found that positioning the speakers wider apart, nearer the wall and corners provided the best listening experience.

You can have a listen to the music we demoed on the Audio-T Bristol Qobuz Playlist - here.

Fabio Biondi Vivaldi Four Seasons has an openness of sound stage, exquisite timing, layer upon layer of detail with an amazing sense of timing. Moving to Bob Marley’s Exodus vocals soar, supported with rich & solid base. The effervescent sound of the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim is incredible on his album Sotho Blue.

The Tonmeister leaves you with an emotion - no matter what you’re listening to. Music is reproduced to a different level of expression. This is the single malt equivalent of Hi-Fi.

Suffice to say that the proof is in the listening - no amount of waxing lyrical is going to describe an Audio Note system experience. Note also, there is a treasure trove of Audio Note's Hi-Fi knowledge and expertise that can be read here.

Book an Audio Note demo at the Audio-T Bristol store.

Max, James & Justin - Audio T Bristol

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Audio Note can be found at the following Audio-T stores: