Audio Note Power Amps

I would think as long as there isn’t an impedance mismatch,there shouldn’t be a problem.  However,I have never heard the equipment in question,so it’s purely speculation.   You have some nice gear,by the way. 

I have an Audio Note Kageki amp that I’ve used with a number of other brands of linestages with good result.  The idea of insisting an all Audio Note probably comes from the fact that they make almost every kind of component, so one can do it.  There is also a bit of a cult surrounding this brand that promotes this idea.

Still, I like their integrated amps, so that would not be a bad way to go. I am not that familiar with their integrated SET amps.  I have heard the Tonemeister, but, it was not a favorite of mine.

 

 

Get a Wavac and never look back

 

@wenhaw "he straight out told me that based on his experience with a myriad of AN equipment, if I’m getting an AN power-amp then I should pair it with an AN pre or just get an AN integrated and that AN equipment doesn’t mix well with other brands."

yeah, your friend is trying to save you a couple years of time. He’s been there done that. Once you get the AN amp(s) and listen for a while, the next realization phase that unfolds is getting the AN preamp. It does not discount your current gear, yet there is a synergy between all AN gear by design. That’s where the last bit of magical-musical sound comes from. It can be pure bliss with hours listening when its set up and matched properly.

My dealer friend sells AN, one of the longest carrying dealers in the US. Been in business 56 years. I’ve heard it there (salivating) many times over the past two decades, watching people come back, all giddy, buying the rest of the matching stuff. The sound can be intoxicating when its all matching. You’ll get there one way or another if you buy the AN amp. Shortest distance between two points is a straight line. ;) Best of luck on that. Staying away from the store is how I deal with it .

Get a Wavac and never look back

ooh you are naughty……

@wenhaw 

I suspect that your friend's advice was well intentioned but I do not support it at all. @larryi is offering good insight and counsel. Most SET amplifiers will have high input impedance (usually 50,000 ohms and often 100k ohms and higher). This benefits you as tube preamplifiers tend to have (Generally speaking) higher output impedance than transistor preamplifiers. 

I have never heard your particular Supratek  but am aware of their reputation for very good sound quality.  SET is a distinct niche in High End audio yet there are a plethora of terrific choices available.  No doubt that Audio Note has some fine options but you certainly have numerous other excellent choices out there as well.

I have absolutely no reservations with pairing your Supratek with a high quality SET amplifier.  Are you seeking a certain power range or output tube (300b,845,211,2A3 etc.)?  Indisputably many potentially wonderful possibilities for you. Have you defined a budget range and and what speakers will be driven?

Charles 

+100 your friend is not that well informed. A DHT Supratek would not be disgraced by anything in the AN range and uses the 5881 in shunt (as opposed to AN series) regulation.

I compared a SIT 3 with my Yamamoto A-06-3. The SIT is impressive, it separated information precisely, neutrally, and powerfully. The Yamamoto is very close to all of that, yet it also communicates a rich soul that kept —and keeps— me listening to music. I use late model Audio Note copper mylar caps in the output stage of the Yammy (and previous preamp) ; so AN caps highly recommended! I have not heard their amplifiers. Enjoy your search.

The Yamamoto is very close to all of that, yet it also communicates a rich soul that kept —and keeps— me listening to music. 

So vitally important and completely understood. You can't objectively measure how this is so, yet undeniably present if you listen. 

Charles 

(a friend)... straight out told me that based on his experience with a myriad of AN equipment, if I’m getting an AN power-amp then I should pair it with an AN pre or just get an AN integrated and that AN equipment doesn’t mix well with other brands

Hi @wenhaw,  your friend was probably referring to AN amps' low input impedance which makes them unusual & difficult loads. It's not the end of the world, and the matter can be addressed by the pre's designer. You look like you already have an excellent pre (Cabernet?) so before you ditch it why not just contact its designer -- if you settle for AN, that is.

The Yamamoto is very good but I don't know if it, or any mid-range AN amp, can outperform your SIT-2.

 

The Yamamoto is very good but I don't know if it, or any mid-range AN amp, can outperform your SIT-2.

Undoubtedly a case by case scenario dependent on the specific listener and their sonic preferences and audio system make up. Could easily tilt in either direction. 

Charles 

 

minor correction; it was a J2 not later model SIT 3 that I compared with my Yamamoto A-06-3.......the J2 was borrowed, from a composer / studio producer friend, who also has a Yamamoto! 

 

As far as I am aware the Cabarnet‘s output transformers run the standard 600 ohms output which would mate perfectly with 600 ohm transformer input of the Ankoru and its ilk.

Thanks everyone for the replies and my apologies for not replying earlier as I have been busy with work.

Give me some time to digest all the replies :D

Thanks everyone again for the replies.

I love my Supratek DHT pre-amp running 45 tubes hence my reluctance to change it. It improves every single piece of gear I have tried and when I try running DAC to Amp direct, it sounds good but there’s just something lacking without the Supratek. The sense of space, rhythm & emotion is reduced.

 

Plus I just want to keep things a bit simple by just adding a power amp. And changing everything to AN brand is definitely not what I want to do as it feels a bit boring to me, haha.

 

My speakers are a DIY Open-back baffle with single driver full range drivers with a sensitivity of 94db. Looking to get more drivers in the 96-98 db range to play around with.

 

My current plan is to purchase the Yamamoto A-03S since it doesn’t cost too much. Then later arrange a home demo of some AN amps with the local dealer here to compare. Do note I live in South East Asia so unfortunately the concept of "buy, try, don’t like then return" doesn’t exist.

 

The Yamamoto is very close to all of that, yet it also communicates a rich soul that kept —and keeps— me listening to music.

This is what I have gleaned from reviews and other Yamamoto owners and is exactly what I’m looking for. Plus the A-03S looks real unique and seems to be very good value for money. What’s not to like.

 

Hi @wenhaw, your friend was probably referring to AN amps’ low input impedance which makes them unusual & difficult loads. It’s not the end of the world, and the matter can be addressed by the pre’s designer. You look like you already have an excellent pre (Cabernet?) so before you ditch it why not just contact its designer -- if you settle for AN, that is.

My Supratek’s output impedance is pretty low as well at 150 ohm. Hence the reason why I think it shouldn’t have much problems pairing with most amps. The AN P2, P3 should be a problem at 100k input impedance but the P4 is rated at only 2.4k, you guys reckon this is ok? Ratio is still more than 10:1.

 

The Yamamoto is very good but I don’t know if it, or any mid-range AN amp, can outperform your SIT-2.

@gregm U reckon an AN P2-SE can compete the SIT-2? What about the P3 Tonmeister or P4 Silver?

 

As far as I am aware the Cabarnet‘s output transformers run the standard 600 ohms output which would mate perfectly with 600 ohm transformer input of the Ankoru and its ilk.

@pesky_wabbit by transformer output and input, do you mean output and input impedance?

 

minor correction; it was a J2 not later model SIT 3 that I compared with my Yamamoto A-06-3.......the J2 was borrowed, from a composer / studio producer friend, who also has a Yamamoto!

@psf4972 No worries...so Yamamoto is it then haha.

I believe that the likelihood of sonic success pairing the Supratek DHT preamplifier and the Yamamoto power amplifier is very high. In addition it in my opinion is quite cost effective given the sound quality I believe that will be achieved. 

Charles 

@wenhaw yes, i was referring to impedance. With an output impedance of 150 ohms your pre should drive anything tube and virtually anything.solid state.

@charles1dad This is my thoughts as well. I can always arrange a home trial later with the local AN dealer. No way am I buying with a demo in my system with the prices AN is charging.

 

@pesky_wabbit Thanks for the clarification