Musical joy - The complete system from the listening chair

Here at Audio T Oxford, we are very pleased to announce that we are the latest official Audio Note dealer within Audio T. We prefaced this by making a visit to the Audio Note factory earlier in the year and being totally impressed by their quality ethos, the company’s technical and engineering capabilities, and the dedication of its staff to producing “Music’s Finest Conductor”.

Audio Note definitely plough their own furrow, one that seemingly goes against current mainstream ideas, creating products such as low- powered single-ended tube amplifiers, CD players with no over-sampling or digital filters, the belief in turntable superiority in the digital era, and loudspeakers which go against most all currently accepted speaker design principles. But there is a good reason for this, it is a calculated engineering and highly reasoned approach that produces a thoroughly musical and insightful outcome that serves all kinds of music.

Additionally, Audio Note have a continuous research and development programme into outstanding musical reproduction, and to this end have recently introduced such innovations as field coil loudspeakers and idler drive CD players.

The System

Audio Note products are terrific in their own right, but they really start coming into their own as part of a complete Audio Note system. So, we have now decided to maintain a permanent set up in our demonstration room, which at present comprises:

CD3.1xII compact disc player (2) dedicated modified Phillips Red Book mechanism, with analogue output stages served by two dual triode valves and custom designed capacitors
Otto Phono SE Signature integrated amp (2) driven by pure Class A Single Ended Pentode valves.
TT2 Deluxe turntable with external PSU, Arm 3/ll and IQ3 mm cartridge (2)
AN-J SPe Hemp high efficiency speakers and matching stands (3)
AN Isis interconnects (3) and AN – SPe (3) loudspeaker leads

The tt2 on top, with power supply oN THE LOWEST shelf, The CD3.1xII and OtTo amp in between.

As pictured, this is a Level 2/3 system in the Audio Note product hierarchy and majors on vinyl and CD reproduction. CD is still considered to be a viable digital medium by Audio Note and when they bring their special talents to CD replay, you will understand why!

You will have noticed that the AN-J SPe speakers are sited in the room corners. Like their bigger brother, the AN-E, the J is designed, ideally, for corner loading. The idea with Audio Note speakers is to place them as close to the corners as possible and angled in. If it is impractical to place them so, then close to a rear wall. So, overall, these speakers are designed to work in unison with near room boundaries.

So how does it sound?

Preface

We thought it appropriate having set up an all-Audio Note system, that we should review it as a unified whole, rather than a collection of individual units. That is not to say the Audio Note products cannot sound great in a variety of sympathetic mixed make systems, because in that environment they can and do sound excellent.

The Audio Note System listening notes:

A glorious combination of leading-edge attack and full-bodied decay with astonishing bass depth and a grain-free open treble reproduction; beautiful tone, timbre, and a full-bodied enveloping sound that makes it difficult to resist on any type of music programme. That is a key indicator of Audio Note systems that they will sound real and impressive, with any genre of music.

In their side wall-loaded positions, the AN-J’s in combination with the Otto opened up the soundscape considerably becoming more three-dimensional, almost holographic. The lowest frequencies of the Audio Note UK AN-J weren’t overbearing in the least, but tuneful and precisely focused in space, with a steady and unerring sense of control.

With this system the midrange (voice) is present, articulate and expressive. This is a real litmus test in that the human voice is the final and conclusive standard by which to judge the ‘accuracy’ of high-definition sound reproduction.

This expressive sound is provided regardless of format. The CD3 contributing quite superbly with its quality, untampered data stream revealing tons of transparency and information, as well as fine musical tonality that you may have missed listening previously to your best CDs. With the TT-Two, as soon as you put on your favourite record, it immediately makes a very persuasive case for itself. The two motors allow the platter to spin up to speed almost instantly and pitch stability is rock solid.

Sonically, both the CD3 and TT-Two are muscular and powerful performers. Fast paced recordings are delivered with real urgency, underpinned with a tight and potent bass that has shape, insight and just the right amount of depth. Music sounds dynamic, full, natural and layered, starting and stopping with real poise.

Music Used

We threw all types of musical genres via CD and vinyl to see if we could trip it up:

Vinyl (please not vinyls!)

Horace Andy – Midnight Scorchers. A great mix of Massive Attack and dub-like sonics.
Lamb – The Secret of Letting Go. High dynamic range recording, drum and bass blended with downbeat bliss, excellent vocals.
Yello – Zebra. Well recorded 1980’s dance, with a sense of fun.
Sibelius Symphony No1 – BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Sargent. The symphony is characterised by its use of string and woodwind solos.

CD’s

Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Nights Dream/Neville Mariner. A clear and natural recording.
Alice Coltrane – Journey to Satchidananda. A classic bit of mystical 70s jazz feat. Pharoah Sanders
Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet. Rock/Prog underpinned by a fearsome bass and drum rhythm section and unusual keyboard arrangements.
Jeff Buckley – Grace. Classic inventive rock and melody with astounding vocals.

Summary

This system provides organic musicality in spades. It will make you keen to rediscover your music collection and give you insight into the musicians’ intent, whatever the genre. A real joy with long listening sessions guaranteed!

Available for demonstration now, come and experience the magic of Audio Note!

Thanks for reading.

Rob & Jon - Audio T Oxford

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