Strictly for fans of Audio Note UK (all things Audio Note UK)

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Richard Austen, Mar 19, 2015.

  1. Chris.p.l

    Chris.p.l Forum Resident

    Location:
    Switzerland
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  2. BettisDad

    BettisDad Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester, UK
    [​IMG]

    Annoying watermark but you get the idea! A little bit different than most. I wanted it to have a look of the old Olympus Om-1.
    I took the plunge and upgraded the stylus to an Iq3 too, 24 into the break in period and it’s just amazing! I just need to finish my music room and move back in there.
     
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  3. jonwoody

    jonwoody Tragically Unhip

    Location:
    Washington DC
    Gorgeous table congrats! :cheers: FYI if you use Imgur you won't get watermarks, probably some other sites too.
     
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  4. BettisDad

    BettisDad Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manchester, UK
    Thanks, I’ll check imgur out.
     
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  5. Anjo

    Anjo Active Member

    Location:
    Nederland
    I have one iam waiting for it to come back from True-point.audio after a full modification new POM Platter carbon fiber top plate carbon fibre Sub-Chassis tri-drive upgrade c fibre armboard new suspension parts balancing the armboard to my Mission Mechanic iam curious what it wil bring to the table
     
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  6. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Always a pleasure never a chore

    Location:
    England
    Can you report back?:)
     
  7. Encore

    Encore Forum Resident

    Didn’t know about True Point Audio, thanks for pointing my attention to them :righton: I love my rosewood PT Too, and it’s good to know that it can be serviced if needed. In fact it does have a loose connection but I don’t it’s bad enough that it warrants shipping it to the UK.
     
  8. Anjo

    Anjo Active Member

    Location:
    Nederland
    Yes I will with some pictures
     
    Andy Saunders likes this.
  9. Anjo

    Anjo Active Member

    Location:
    Nederland
    Yes and Charles from True Point A turns out a great guy despite I was nagging and questioning for many months before I decided to take the plunge and sending my Anni his way...nice to hear you have a PT too:)
     
    Don Parkhurst likes this.
  10. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque
    Finally received my IO rebuild back from Viscount House. I am being told that AN is now using a different kind of dampening material which may be more viscous and less prone to drying out as the old ones were. Whatever the case, the IO definitely sounds better than it did from the last rebuild with the old dampers. This could be my brain making me think it is better because I have been without the IO for so long. I sent it in last fall. That is when I was informed that a new kind of damper was being sourced and they were awaiting the shipment from the manufacturer. I said go ahead and wait until the new dampers arrive before rebuilding. 6 months later I got it back and definitely no regrets. Others who heard the system before have commented that it sounds even better now compared to when I received the last rebuild several years ago. If your IO is getting a bit worn from use, I would say this is a great time to get it rebuilt. In the 6 months that I waited, I organized my records and redid the layout of my listening room with some needed new window treatments and artwork. Time well spent.



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  11. james

    james Summon The Queen

    Location:
    Annapolis
    nice.

    you seem like a good person to ask. I've read about some reliability issues with some AN electronics. You can always find people with some sort of problem on the internet, but what has been your experience?
     
  12. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque

    I have had some issues over the years of various types. Most of the time it has been things like a bad power tube taking out a cathode resistor which is not the fault of the equipment or the design. I have never had a transformer that failed. A long time ago I did have a coupling capacitor in one of my power amps that leaked due to a design issue with the capacitor. The power tubes were spared. The company acknowledged the issue and redesigned the capacitors with rubber seals so they won't leak. Audio note sent me replacement copper foil capacitors at no charge. That was back in 2008 and the power amps have been trouble free since then. I have never had an issue with my preamp which is from 2008. Have never had an issue with my speakers that are from 2011. I did have a Phillips Pro II CD drive in my transport that broke down a long time ago. This is not an AN manufactured part. I replaced it and it has been good for >6 years.

    I think anytime you are using gear that uses complex tube power supplies and tube input and output stages, that there is plenty that can go wrong regardless of the manufacturer. Before Audio Note I had tube gear from Conrad Johnson, Audio Research, Music Reference, Audible Illusions, McIntosh and Dynaco. I can tell you that I had more issues with that equipment than I have had with my Audio Note gear. I think Audio Note gear is easily as reliable as any other choices you have. If you decide to go the all tube all the way route, there will inevitably be some issues that will happen regardless of manufacturer. If ultimate reliability is what you seek, buy solid state Accuphase and you will have something that will likely never fail in your lifetime. Unfortunately Accuphase does not sound anything like Audio Note.
     
  13. james

    james Summon The Queen

    Location:
    Annapolis
    i appreciate that thorough reply. thanks!
     
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  14. NapaBob

    NapaBob Forum Resident

    Location:
    Napa Valley CA USA
    I also have more AN boxes than any sensible person should have. In over 10 years I've a power supply in a DAC fail and one 4300E valve fail in the first week. Better than any other manufacturer I've owned.
     
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  15. james

    james Summon The Queen

    Location:
    Annapolis
    great to hear. I'll put them back on the to-check-out list.

    now if they'd only offer a damn grill option. I'll be sticking with my Snells for speakers
     
  16. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque


    There is something I just realized. There are a lot of DIY minded guys out there who start with the AN kits and eventually work their way to the finished products. Whereas most who experience a failure of other tube equipment will quietly pack it up and send it in for service, not so for a lot of AN enthusiasts. These guys, myself included, are typically members of various tube forums and will try to troubleshoot the issues themselves. So they are not quiet about it and their visibility may make it appear that AN gear has more then it's fair share of failures
     
  17. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque

    Nothing wrong with sticking with your Snells!
     
    james likes this.
  18. NapaBob

    NapaBob Forum Resident

    Location:
    Napa Valley CA USA
    If you look back through this thread, you'll see some pictures of some very nice grill covers that people have made for their Es.
     
    james likes this.
  19. james

    james Summon The Queen

    Location:
    Annapolis
    I recall those but can’t picture them. If anyone knows a post number I’d appreciate it.

    is it just me that finds it odd to not include them? The Devore solution on the Orangutans looks like a tidy package. Those tweeters would last a day with my 2 year old
     
  20. roole

    roole Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vilnius
    Incredible AN system. Does the preamp sound better without the cover? It's quite frequent practice to use AN preamps and DACs without the lid.
     
  21. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque

    Thank you kindly! I have no idea if it sounds better without the cover. I did not notice a difference, but I really have never critically listened to the difference. I keep the cover off my preamp and DAC because they ventilate better. Cooler running tubes last longer. That is my only motivation. I am sure opinions on this will vary.
     
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  22. Donivey

    Donivey Forum Resident

    Location:
    NC
    One other reason to leave the covers off is it looks like Audio Porn. I just love the tube glow and all the components and those bigass transformers. Of course, I don't have any little kids or animals that might get in there.
     
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  23. Larry I

    Larry I Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington, D.C.
    I would remove the cover if that improves cooling. I personally don't care at all about looks. I once went to the Audio Note dealer in my area and he had the AN-E SEP speakers set up. I asked him about the amplifiers he was using in the setup and he frowned because I did not recognize the pair of Kageki amplifiers he was using and I own Kagekis. I had no idea what they look like facing in the correct direction because I've always used them ass-forward because that is more convenient (the power switch is on the back of the amp so facing the amp backwards puts the switch in front); I suppose they look better the other way around. I also did not know , at first, that I was listening to the SEP because it sort of looked like the AN-Es that were usually in that spot. Yes, it was shinier with its high gloss lacquer finish, but, a wood box is a wood box to me.
     
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  24. NapaBob

    NapaBob Forum Resident

    Location:
    Napa Valley CA USA
    I have a Jinro that sits sideways in the rack so I can easily get to both the volume control and power switch. Doesn't seem to keep guests from looking at me strangely...
     
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  25. Footsurg

    Footsurg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Albuquerque
    I look like I graduated from a school for the blind when it is time to power up or power down all my gear. Even in the dark my fingers go right onto those hidden switches as if by pure instinct. The only thing I have that has a front mounted switch is the Voyd PSU.
     

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