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AN-J or AN-E with Meishu

I am using an Audio Note Meishu with AN-K speakers. I'm planning to upgrade to AN-J or AN-E to get a better sense of space (soundstage and image).

The difficulty is the size of the room and its dimensions. The room is 4.5 meters wide and 4.2 meters long (3 meters tall). That's almost a quadrangle. (I might be able to move the stereo to another room in the apartment, which is 5.1 meters long and 3.3 meters wide).

My question is this: Is the roughly 17 m2 of the current room too small for the AN-E? I was planning to go with the AN-J because of the general recommendations from the company but I heard that the Meishu works particularly well with AN-E. I'm moving up from AN-K to get a better sense of space (image and soundstage).

Does anyone have experience in using the Meishu with AN-J and AN-E? In a small rooms?

Thanks,
Fred
fabsound

Showing 1 response by br3098

br3098
1,000 posts
 
Fred, in my opinion, your (almost) square room is the most limiting factor. If you are going to remain in that room I would advise keeping the AN-Ks, because they will pump the least amount of energy into the room.

If you were going to move into the larger rectangular room, either the AN-J or the AN-E should work. As you now, these speakers both share the same driver complement (basically) but differ in cabinet dimensions and upgrade options. They sound alike, but also quite different. Personally I would probably lean towards the Js, but that;s just me.

There is an inexpensive way to test which will sound better: find a pair each of used Snell J/IIs and E/IIs in good shape and try them out. While these are not the same as the AN speakers, they are the speakers that Audio Note based the AN-series on and they share similar sonic qualities; just not as much of it as the better (and more expensive) AN speakers. But this test shouldn't cost you more than $500 USD and would be money well spent if it guides you in the right direction. I imagine that you would be able to resell the Snells for what you paid for them or very close.

Good luck
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