I recently heard at great length the very pair of AN speakers that Art had on review in his home at the Audio Karma Fest this spring in the Detroit area. First off, both Art and I have been long time Linn Sondek Lp12 owners (mine since 1982) and I agree with him on far to many issues concerning Hifi, source, and more importantly music. So it would come as no surprise that I am considering the Audio Notes on my short list because they do so many things right in their portrayal of live acoustic music. To my ear, this is more important and satisfying than a majority of other incomplete audiophile attributes associated with some of the current best of speakers being reviewed today.
A couple of problems though with AN. My listening session at AK Fest did not come from a vinyl source, due to the fact that ANs turntable was on the frits, the digital sound was good but, not an excellent source. There are few venues in the U.S., if any, to audition the expensive variants of this speaker. That is a huge issue. IMHO I must have the opportunity to hear speakers matched to amps of my choice, or I wouldn't even consider such a purchase. AudioGon and our Hifi community is riddled with the mistakes of folks not pairing speakers with amps before purchase. I for one cannot afford to be so arbitrary, some can. Time has taught me that synergy in a system creates a greater result musically than having just the "best" component for each individual need, obviously. I also have concerns given that I have never found a smallish two-way that has ever satisfied my need for authentic bottom end dynamics in the overall balance of sound. The AN though comes closer than anything I can recall for such a compact, room friendly, high efficiency, speaker.
In my pursuit for very high efficiency speakers and smaller wattage, simpler circuit, power amplification, Audio Note AN-E SPe HE is looking better and better. LOL
Happy Listening!
A couple of problems though with AN. My listening session at AK Fest did not come from a vinyl source, due to the fact that ANs turntable was on the frits, the digital sound was good but, not an excellent source. There are few venues in the U.S., if any, to audition the expensive variants of this speaker. That is a huge issue. IMHO I must have the opportunity to hear speakers matched to amps of my choice, or I wouldn't even consider such a purchase. AudioGon and our Hifi community is riddled with the mistakes of folks not pairing speakers with amps before purchase. I for one cannot afford to be so arbitrary, some can. Time has taught me that synergy in a system creates a greater result musically than having just the "best" component for each individual need, obviously. I also have concerns given that I have never found a smallish two-way that has ever satisfied my need for authentic bottom end dynamics in the overall balance of sound. The AN though comes closer than anything I can recall for such a compact, room friendly, high efficiency, speaker.
In my pursuit for very high efficiency speakers and smaller wattage, simpler circuit, power amplification, Audio Note AN-E SPe HE is looking better and better. LOL
Happy Listening!