Yeah, I just like that kind of long term wisdom and context. The more I get in to this hobby the less inherent value I place on things like specifications and 'latest' or indeed award-winning designs. Not that great new products aren't still being made - far from it - but it's the marketing-driven BS behind a lot of it.
I had a binding post issue with my Tomei so arranged to have it addressed yesterday at the factory. I drove down with a friend and fellow AN system user and PQ was kind enough to invite us both to his home for a brief listen to his system. This was my second sitting and first time hearing the E Sogon's and a prototype of the new the TT3. I was very impressed with the TT3. Not being a huge fan of the TT2 the 3 is a big improvement to these ears and at £7k retail with arm its got to be an attractive buy. First production examples out in April. The Sogon's are fantastic although sadly out of my financial reach. The sense of realism was staggering at times. To those who describe all 'silver' type systems as having a thin or 'pingy' character they should here PQ's set up. 'Copper' has that unaturally thick and grainy character in comparison........
My friendly local dealer has leant me an M3 Phono whilst my Manley Labs Jumbo Shrimp is out of action. I've only had it in the system for a day or so and bloody hell its like night and day. The Audio Note is just amazing. I never realized before just how much difference the preamp makes. Well I do now. I am currently on my 8th LP of the day. I have some Audio Note in my system - looks like I may end up with some more. I may have to find a way to keep this wonderful pre...
[QUOTE="I have some Audio Note in my system - looks like I may end up with some more. I may have to find a way to keep this wonderful pre...[/QUOTE] You already have AN speakers/ cables. All you need is this M3 to complete it I have ordered mine and waiting impatiently!
You already have AN speakers/ cables. All you need is this M3 to complete it I have ordered mine and waiting impatiently![/QUOTE] Yep I'm already figuring out the financial logistics! To me all the elements of a system make-up are important, good source, wonderful speakers etc., but I am coming around to the view that the single most important element might just be the pre-amp. Anyway very happy with the Audio Note that I do have and also happy with the support and service that I get from my local dealer - it helps to be living very close to the Audio Note HQ
You'd notice a similar improvement if you changed your Icon Audio stuff for AN as well................
Wonderful, isn't it? That's a lesson I recently learned. The phono stage makes such a gigantic difference in the sound, it's crazy. Glad you're enjoying listening to your LPs even more.
Well you never know - but one change per year is how I like to do things... gives me time to settle it in and understand fully what that change has done.
Richard - how's the IQ-1 going, and did you manage to hear it against an IQ-3 yet? Pretty close to having to decide where to go, cartridge-wise.
No not yet. Unfortunately, my landlord is forcing me to move out so I will now have to deal with moving and here in Hong Kong you have to come up with 2.5 months rent as a down payment/deposit plus stamp duty on a new flat which is going to run me over $42,000HKD so I have to hold off on audio purchases for a little bit. The only good news is that I am happy not to have my LM 219IA amp because I could not lift that thing.
I should be receiving my Nottingham space deck fitted with Arm 3/IQ3 very soon. Looking forward to it.
So for the last while I have been using el cheapo cables with my Audio Note system. Largely because their cables can be pricey. I have been using AN V silver from the CD player to the DAC but from the DAC to the preamp I was using no names and from the preamp to the Kingko Integrated (used as a power amp). But today I bought AN Lexus II (the copper version of Sogon wires - 50 strand Litz 99.9999%). From the first bar BAM - huge deep bass - I was a about to write in my review of the DAC 0.1x that it was a biot lean in the bass - not now. To tell the truth I've not been much of a cable guy because in most of my comparisons the pricey ones either sounded no better or so little better it didn't justify the price OR in some cases worse than the cheapo cables. I am actually quite surprised by how big the difference is right off the bat is especially in the low bass and decay and I'm only 3 songs in. Big tone on piano. Big Body. Maybe there is something to age annealing wires and some of the other processes in making their cables. I'm going to do my best never to audition Sogon/Soota I don't really want to know what I'll be missing.
For info. I managed to get some used AN-E/D speakers, with matching stands. Bought them a few weeks ago*, but only been able to try recently as the house is being renovated. In a freshly-plastered, bare, echoey lounge they still sound rather wonderful with all the traits I was hoping for. Proper sense of scale, body, depth, and timbre. Clear but non-glaring highs. Invigoratingly dynamic yet non-fatiguing. Can't wait to hear them more as the room develops/softens. These are very much the bottom end of the E range but just a joy. *a bit of a punt but a good price and demoed well at the seller's house
I would strongly discourage you from trying either the Sogon or SOOTTO cables. After all, why would you want deeper, more detailed bass, more “air” around your music and shimmering highs. Doesn’t everybody want muffled, indistinct and boomy bass, shrill highs and one-dimensional sound from an anechoic chamber Seriously, if you are coming to the California Show this summer, we can talk about what you can expect from either of these cables...
In the grand scheme of AN pricing the Lexus cables do seem excellent value, my dealer left some when I first had the Oto SE sig on demo and there’s been no going back. I put their IS*S cable between CDT2 & DAC 2.1x sig as it was all my dealer had with him when he set up the new DAC. I only recently tried some other digital interconnects out of curiosity but the IS*S still came out best by a good margin. Good to hear your getting as much from the Lexus as I am. On the subject of not chancing a demo on something you can’t afford, that’s how I ended up with an AN system. I happened to be picking up some speaker cable and there was an AN level 4 dem about to start and I was invited to sit in. It changed everything and I’ve since sacrificed house & Car upgrades to get to a sound I’m now happy with. I more recently had my ears around the CDT6/DAC5 Fifth Element and all accompanying kit & cables and WOW! but that was just ear porn, I know when I’m out of my depth!
What settings are folks using with IQ cartridges? Found any optimal ones? Have ordered an IQ1. Specs: < 200 pF total capacitance. Pretty low, but am under (phono stage alone is only 47!) 6.5 mV output. Pretty high, and would imagine it a bit overblown on a higher gain 'stage/setting? (mine 36 dB). Good tonearm resonance calc too (10.3). So it seems like it should work well...
I think he was talking about cost. Because once you hear one of these cables, all other financial responsibilties tend to fall by the wayside. You may start ignoring car maintenence, rent payments, alimony, etc. But if you CAN easily afford all of the above, then you probably don't need to "try" these cables, because you already have them.
IQ3 (with IQ3 & 2 stylii). Have tried 100, 220 & 320pF - 100 has the most accurate sound reproduction in my system. Output gives me no issues & this is an exceptional sounding MM cartridge.
I was being facetious. Sorry if it missed the mark... I absolutely agree with Warren... I have never heard a better cable than the SOOTTO
Hey John, aren't you in California? Why haven't you visited The Audio Home? How about the next evening after the LA Show? This particular thread should put together a Fullerton audio party. Maybe Steve will come too.