Audio Note UK Ongaku Kensei 211 valve Single Ended Triode balanced amplifier now up & running!

Will do Steve - I am not sure my last uploaded photo of it sitting at the AN Soak worked so will add again here...

 

What does "Soak" mean, please, in this context^?

 

My understanding is that the soak area is a place finished amps go at the AN factory to be tested before shipping. Mine has been on 1 day in 7 for quite awhile as I have been waiting for the opportunity to arrange a handover...

 

Glad to see you are getting a replacement for your Ongaku. It served me well until I, too, upgraded to a Kensei

 

Thanks John - I missed the ONGAKU and although the KEGON's where also great fun, somehow the 211 tube is more emotional to my ears...

 

wait 'till you hear the Kensei with the new AN 4242e tubes. Do you still have your SEC Sigs? I suggest you complete your equipment profile.

 

No I moved to Marten Coltrane's that I had the factory heavily modify to work well with Audio Note tube amplifiers. Neli and Mike at Audio Federation used to use a similar set-up to great effect some years back with unmodified Coltrane's and an ONGAKU.

 

I heard them at their place when they were in Boulder. I don't remember what amps they were running though, but was not the Ongaku. I saw them weekend before last at the Cal. Audio Show.

 

It may have been Mike's KEGON's that your heard - I used mine with the Coltrane's and they had plenty of power to handle them! Thanks for reminding me to update my equipment profile - now done.

 

You are going to love it Paul. Definitely a stand out colour!

 

For best results throw in an M9 (pre-soak).

 

As long as you soak it in 30 year old single malt, it will mature the sound

 

Thanks Rob - I am thinking copper coloured badges too ...

 

I have the copper badges on a copper top, understated but tasteful. They look good on the transformer covers as well.

 

Perfect. I plan to own an Ongaku Kensei before the end of the year. Great as the Tomei is in all level 5 set up the Ongaku is soooo clean and natural without sounding ‘thin’ or ‘pinched’ in any way. Let us know how you get on with it Paul...

 

I believe the current Kingko Pro version is $900 shipped so the mark up to $1195 is reasonable. Some Chinese brands that sell in the US are 300% to 500% over their price in Hong Kong. The Kingko is around 35%

 

I believe it is a reply intended for this thread on Kingko reputation, distribution and pricing (also, it's an amplifier ).

 

It looks like that is the standard brass/gold one. I will try to take a side-by-side picture of both types and post tomorrow