audio note uk

Amplification

Audio Note makes every part of a great hifi system: turntable, cartridge, phono stage, CD Player, DAC, amplifier, cables, and speakers. A full Audio Note system is an absolute pleasure: tube (valve as they say across the pond) amplification all made in house in the UK by a family of people who create products that they listen to in their own homes. Low WPC amplification, highly efficient speakers, and extremely musical sources. This is pure, musical audio gear that is constantly being innovated and improved. It follows one main design philosophy: simplicity. GHA proudly imports Audio Note UK equipment as well as works on/services any Audio Note unit regardless of where it was purchased.

The above Cobra integrated amplifier uses EL34 tubes, and is 28 WPC operating in class A push-pull. It is capable of driving a wide variety of speakers thanks to its exceptional double C-core output transformers custom designed and manufactured by Audio Note UK. The Cobra is equipped with three analogue stereo inputs, and an additional three digital inputs, via the onboard DAC which implements the 16 bit Philips TDA1543 D/A converter chip. The Cobra comes with a remote volume control, mute and input selection.

The Audio Note Conqueror Stereo Power Amplifier is a Pure Class A Singled Ended tube amplifier that uses the highly regarded 300B direct heated triode tubes, producing a level of performance that is radically superior to the vast majority of current tube amplifier designs. It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all Audio Note Level 3 criteria: Pure Class A operation, Zero Negative Feedback, Single Ended Output Stage, Tube Rectification, Directly Heated Triode operation and Material & component quality. This power amp would be used in conjunction with a pre-amplifier like the M2 (below).

The Audio Note M2 Pre Amplifier has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfills all Audio Note Level 2 criteria: Pure Class A operation, Zero negative feedback, Single Ended circuit topology, Valve rectification, and Material & component quality. Audio Note believes that the accurate reproduction of music, not just sound, requires the purity of the incoming signal to be preserved. To achieve this goal and to retain the musicality of the original performance, the complexity of the circuitry itself must be kept to a minimum. In response to this, the M2 Pre Amplifier uses a single-ended, zero feedback circuit topology. This is simply the most linear design possible, demanding pure Class A tube operation and removing the need for a phase splitter, which introduces unnecessary crossover distortion. The separation, imaging, and depth produced by this pre-amp is stunning. This preamplifier would be used in conjunction with a power amplifier like the Conqueror (above).

The above (and below) I-Zero amplifier ($3017) implements four ECL82 triode / pentode tubes operating in class A/B as well as two custom designed and built output transformers producing 8 watts per channel (don’t let the amount of watts fool you). The CDZero ($3037) is a tube based CD player. Both units come in silver, white or black finish. Audio Note equipment can of course be used with other brands of speakers and sources, but a certain magic happens the more AN is together in one system. The Zero series offers a level of performance that was previously considered unthinkable for an amplifier of such diminutive size and price. The I-Zero really is something very special, producing a bold, rich, smooth and delicate performance, whilst offering a level of fine detail finesse that is quite incredible.

Above are two Audio Note Oto Phono SE integrated amplifiers. Both have moving magnet phono stage, EL84 power tubes, 12 WPC, and pure class A single ended pentode operation. Part selection is optimized to realize the most neutral and realistic sonic reproduction. Some of the superior quality components in the OTO SE include: Audio Note UK foil capacitors, used in the most critical areas, dual power supplies and transformers, one for the output stage and one for the remaining circuitry, and custom designed output transformers manufactured by Audio Note UK. These output transformers – one of the most critical areas of valve amplifier design – allow the OTO SE to produce impressively extended and controlled bass.

The black finish unit is the upgraded Oto SE SILVER Signature version which uses Audio Note (UK) copper foil used in the most critical areas, Audio Note (UK) 1 Watt Ni-Chrome resistors, Audio Note (UK) KAISEI NP and KAISEI standard electrolytic capacitors, SHiB copper / copper c-core output transformers, custom designed and manufactured in-house by Audio Note (UK).

This is the Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister integrated amplifier with optional tube Moving Magnet phono stage. It uses 300b tubes and is about 8 WPC. Audio Note believes that each element in a circuit is like each lens in a microscope, and has to be perfectly chosen and formed to correctly work with the proceeding and following lenses (or stages in the amplifier circuit).  If the lenses in a microscope are not correctly chosen and adjusted, the image becomes blurred, and detail and information are lost. The same is true for an amplifier circuit; if each stage is not absolutely correctly chosen and matched to work optimally with the rest of the amplifier, the result will be blurred, unfocused, uneven sound lacking in information.  The Meishu Tonmeister is the natural result of simplifying the circuit and optimizing every element, so the combination works seamlessly and harmoniously.  The input and driver stage is very similar to that found in the JINRO, TOMEI and ONGAKU, with a 12AU7 and 5687 driving an in-house designed and manufactured inter-stage transformer for the best energy transfer, evenness and authority. The output transformers for the new Meishu were designed specifically for the project by Andy Grove, and it is not an overstatement to say that they are superb.

Below are some shots with its shirt off: