Audio Note UK factory tour & life in the fast lane with Peter Qvortrup, article by Rafe Arnott

Nice to see Mr.Q enjoys Finnish vodka!

 

Really fantastic article. Thanks for sharing! I love seeing a listening room like Qvortrups: overflowing with music and a general feeling of vitality that many listening rooms lack.

 

Good work, Rafe. An excellent article and masses of photos.

 

Those cabinets certainly look stout! Cool video with lots of people who seem to look pretty happy working for AN.

 

Nice work, Rafe!

AN seems like a team of people genuinely dedicated to the goal -- the best goal -- of making music come to life.

The fact that good coffee is readily available at all times, makes me consider seeking employment with them!

 

I really enjoyed seeing the video and article as well. Really nice photographic work by Rafe. I think that my favourite part was when the Austrian factory and people were discussed. Very little known about them and it looks like a cool place to work!

 

Thanks Rafe. Great article.

 

This makes me want the M6Phono and AN CD replay even more.

I just got back from CAS and the best two rooms had Audio Note digital front ends.

I quite liked seeing the speaker manufacturing - wish I could see more.

 

Great article and video... I particularly enjoyed the Wes Anderson-esque intro at the beginning of the video.

 

Excellent Rafa. PQ is a great guy with his customers listening satisfaction always upper most in his mind!

 

Steve,

Thanks so much for the very kind words, and I'm honoured by the positive response here on the forums to my writing, photographic, and film efforts.

Spending time with Peter is such a treat, and he is such an affable, intelligent, and hilarious gentleman I hoped my little movie would capture some of that spirit.

Everything at Audio Note UK is in service to the music, and as Steve said it is refreshing in this industry to be amongst a manufacturer who focuses so clearly – like a laser really – on the music, and sound rather than the gear. Having spent the time that I have in this business (which relatively speaking to many is not much), I can say that while measurements are important in a certain sense, ultimately they do not tell the whole story when it comes to the musicality of gear (far from it usually), and that I'm learning to trust my ears, and emotions during playback, and not what the spec sheet says.

Thanks again to everyone for the good vibes, and for checking out our website, it's the grassroots support of those on forums like Steve's that make what I do possible.

Cheers,

–Rafe Arnott
Editor/Creative Director
Part-Time Audiophile
Part-Time Audiophile

 

Glad you enjoyed the AN room! Of course, I guess it goes without saying that I am prejudiced...

One of the points we were trying to make was the beauty and synergy of an all Audio Note system (well except for the Technics tape deck).

 

Hi John. My CAS show reports have all been submitted and now just waiting for them to come on the website.

I think some rooms would benefit from people understanding that quality sources and amplifiers actually matter. There are some speakers where you have to make a leap of faith that they might sound better IF they had quality amplifiers and redbook or turntable. And some of these rooms are using very very expensive gear and getting poor results. UHF magazine always touted the source first approach. The best speaker can't fix the passage of time. Speakers can't fix garbage in.

 

Nice job. I really enjoyed it.

 

I have to say that I have been teased on some audio forums because my system is all Audio Note. I didn't choose an all Audio Note system for any other reason other than the fact that the music sounded better every time I added another AN component.

Other than that, the upside is amazing service. I have just emailed Peter/Emily Qvortrup. I was changing my cartridge and accidentally damaged a lead to my Io Gold cartridge. I sent an email to AN on Saturday from Vancouver on Saturday afternoon and received a response from Peter a few hours later!

I received some straight forward but excellent advice from Peter in the middle of the weekend! I am impressed! I'm shipping in my tonearm to fix my issue. Peter cares. Even if you prefer a different sound, it's hard not to be impressed!

 

Rafe, one person I missed in your excellent video footage, Andy Grove, was he on holiday?

 

Finnish Liquorice Vodka no less! Peter

 

As I think Rafe can tell you there was not enough time to cram in time with Andy and the rest of the technical team, they have a great to say as you can imagine!
I may invite Rafe over for a second installment next year in time fore the 2018 Munich show, who knows? Peter

 

Thank you very much for this invaluable report, Rafe!
Especially the report on the speaker production/facility in Austria was completely new and very informative to me.

Big thanks from Germany,
Matthias

 

That sounds like a plan.

 

Anybody in the Seattle area have an all-AN system with a digital source (CDP or DAC) ...?

 

I would suggest making the trip to Soundhounds in Victoria BC. There is a ferry that goes from Seattle directly to Victoria and back. Phone or email ahead for opening hours and to have them setup what you want to hear. The only thing is if you stay overnight hotels are getting ridiculous.