How does a $300,000 Audio Note System Sound?

We review the Audio Note UK $72,000 AN-E/SPx HE SIG Speakers and $220,000 Ongaku Amplifier. Watch our previous video where we unboxed all this equipment here:
• Unboxing a $300,000 Au...
Please consider donating to the Fundraiser we are hosting, more information in the video below.
Thanksgiving Fundraiser Video
• Hosting a Thanksgiving...
Buy shirts here:
picocharliecole.com/collectio...
If you are interested in our playlists, here is how to get them:
Donate to your charity of choice and email the receipt to [e-mail], Adrian's playlist is $10 and Vilip's is $20. Lewis's is still in the works!
Pre-owned Section:
www.audioexcellence.ca/pre-owned
Social Media:
linktr.ee/audio_excellence
30th Anniversary Specials!
www.audioexcellence.ca/online...
We match and donate all the funds we receive from KZbin for the videos, so please support us by watching, subscribing and liking them. Thank you very much for your support. Here is the link to our fundraising efforts to date: • How much we've raised ...
As always, we would love to hear from you, so please if you have any questions about hifi/audiophile or anything audio related, leave your comments and feedback below. If you have suggestions for future topics, please let us know.
Audio Excellence Inc. is a high end audio/video store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto. We've been in business since 1991.
Check out our interviews with designers and audio luminaries like Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio, Paul McGowan of PS Audio, Paolo Tezzon of Sonus faber, Wendell Diller of Magnepan, John Atkinson of Stereophile, Dan D'Agostino of D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and others.
Contacts:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[@2ChannelListening]

I gave this a thumbs up just from mentioning Bananarama with a $300K system 🤣😂. I love your humor and remembering to stay accessible for all walks in their audio journey. I think many of us can appreciate your being candid and bringing up the Snell analogy...nice job.

[@vilipmak3973]

You're most welcome.

[@timleelim9930]

He was really saying something about his love in the first degree for this system.

[@vilipmak3973]

@@timleelim9930 Cheers Then!

[@ron101346]

Back in 1983 when I was writing for The Absolute Sound, a big fire broke out in Harry Pearson's house and he lost most of his vinyl collection. I knew that Harry loved "The Look of Love" from the Casino Royale album so I hunted around for a replacement album. I found one in excellent condition in New York, paid about $150 for it, (huge in those days!) and surprised him with it on my next visit to Sea Cliff. He deeply appreciated it. Personally I wasn't much of a Dusty Springfield fan, so the gift was from the heart, not from my collection!

[@shanestephenson8423]

WOW! It must be something considering the access to quality you guys have heard over the years.🎧🙂👍

[@geodog6854]

I'm glad you mentioned how you can get the emotional engagement with some of the lower-priced Audio Note equipment.

[@JohnELancaster]

hi i m 84 yrs young and have been singing in choirs since the age of about 14 and then smoky jazz clubs etc whilst in the RAF I had the opportunity to sing with the RAF big band after a rehearsal ( Sinatra numbers ) that was a great experience, unfortunately big bands in the UK were dying a death and there were no openings for musicians or singers interested in the big band sound. I messed around with high street hifi for some time mostly rubbish until a chance to hear a decent valve set up came my way at a party ( the system was set up in a separate room away from danger ) it was an Audionote system the main amps being P4 monos . I was hooked and roughly 2 yrs later I purcha sed most of the s system A Audi Research SP 14 solid state pre ,the P4 monos a nd a pair of Tannoy Cheviotts speakers my front end at that time was a Townshend Elite Rock ( played well for about 3 yrs then fell apart, literally the platter was filled with plaster of paris which just fell apart , crap . ) The present front end is an Orbed SE with an Alphason HR 100S arm a nd a Decca super gold Cart. I also built my own T/T from a heavily damaged SE using A Tomahawk air bearing parallel tracking arm, That is another story. I cannot comment on the Ongaku a s it is beyond my pocket but iif my P4s are anything to go by it must be sublime . I am approaching the time when the aged ma n on the black horse comes to call so am looking to find someone who will look after the system and can appreciate quality to make me an offer. The Audio Reference pre blew a cap ( the first failure iin 40odd years ) whilst it was away succumbed to temptation and bought a Icon Audio LA4 MK 111pre amp which compliments the P4s and delivers a much smoother sound than the SP14 Sorry to to have bust into your post but I am a bit of a slouch when it comes to internet use , you may never actually have sight of it. Regards John Lancaster

[@douxreveur131]

Hello John, Your testimony is beautiful and moving, thank you. It expresses how your love of music is intertwined with your life's journey. My audio system is infinitely more modest than yours, but I do see with my Willsenton R300 amplifier (which is a fairly inexpensive amplifier but uses a 300B tube with a simple setup), the magic that single stage tube amplifiers bring. It's just life and beauty on voices, natural timbres, far from many hifi electronics that too often, in my opinion, lose a little (a lot) of the soul of voices and music. Take good care of yourselves ! Warmest regards to you from France.

[@Gez492]

I just knew you guys would get it. It should always start and end with the music. The emotional and intellectual engagement, I can only imagine what the Hugh Masakela Coal Train (Stimela) must have sounded and how this system will just keep improving. For Vilip to stick his neck out and say it's the best amplifier he's heard is no faint praise. Even though I cannot afford a level 5 Audionote system, the fact that someone has the deeper understanding of how human beings listen and emote to music and designed and built equipment to best facilitate this, is inspiration. Maybe one day I'll own it, but I certainly will take every opportunity to listen to it when ever I can. BTW I asked my missus what would she prefer in her room, showing her a pair avant-garde horns and Wilson GS and the Audionote, she said straight away Audionote please. I agreed to me the simplicity and finish is what draws me, although she also liked the Proac K10 which retail in the UK at around £40,000 GBP. Really look forward to more videos and your up and coming discussion with Peter Qvortrup, an interesting man with the confidence to challenge the peddled monesense that badly infests the audiophile world. P.S are you getting any of the turntables TT deluxe or even the reference models. I know its slightly anathema but Audionote did give in and build CD players, transports and DACs, too. Could you also discuss the external crossovers for the speakers you have, I'm interested to know what impact they have. Thanks Guys.

[@gaborozorai3714]

Great review, thanks! I'm a big fan of the AN sound and the sound of simple tube amp circuits with high efficiency speakers in general. When such systems are really good you always get the feeling and the comments that it's emotions and "musicality" - whatever that means - over audiophile technicalities. But it IS pieces of hardware producing that sound so it should be possible to identify the technical traits that so many listeners respond to emotionally. One of these - in my opinion - is exactly the lack of pinpoint imaging, having more fleshed out and natural images of individual instruments and spatial perspectives.

[@reshken1729]

Excellent, honest initial review guys. Level 5/6 Audio Note gear requires Sogon/Sootto interconnects, mains and speaker cabling to complete the integrity of the remarkable tone. That’s maybe where everything slightly negative including ur lowered impressions of soundstage and imaging will become inconsequential. The system is still not, in my humble opinion, set up perfectly yet. Yes, very expensive to comprehend and do, for us mere mortals but we must realise that the person who spends 300k-$1m on a system is generally not sweating over the money. Watches, cars, yachts, art , property etc..look around. The Audio Note sound and it’s use of Silver is just incredible to listen too and worth every £ ❤

[@scottchegg1209]

Heard the ongaku with Snell type a at the penta Heathrow show. Still unmatched 30 years later!! Legendary.

[@hifi-photo-Brian]

Those speakers look really cool!

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

What a great review,

[@MusicLinkNews]

The Speaker is a Refined Snell Type E had them for years and WOW!

[@tallpaull9367]

What will your wife prefer? Large, piano finished speakers 5-15 feet into the room , cables on the floor… or modest looking speakers in the corners not taking up space in the middle, blocking artwork…. I love how Audionote is doing something different, offering a speaker with much more realistic placement for most people.

[@stephengray750]

i know i found that criticism of aesthetics odd. my wife hated my jbl 4344 which had to be 1.5 m from wall. now i have AN-E right in corners. sounds better and looks better. i have them in a nice pale wood and with blue woofers they look lovely.

[@mayssebmasenya9132]

Enjoyed this one, esp. Adrian’s background story.

[@lassalade]

It’s a great diy project for sure!!!

[@luk75245]

Can't wait for another review after the break in period is up.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

....hahaha.. The extra letters on the naming !!

[@DJ_BROBOT]

Sounds like those damn medical prescription

[@psyphonyxaudio]

@@DJ_BROBOT ..Elons' child's name.

[@chengo51]

If you were in S'pore in the 70ties, I was there too and that's where I discovered hifi really ! As for bamboo music, please listen to the south americans musics....fantastic !

[@nicholaskrebs7815]

These AN speakers are always in my top 3 at shows. Haven’t heard the amp before. Products are worth what engineering/development costs and the market-what people are willing to pay. There are many equally/more expensive speakers that don’t sound as good as these. I would agree that maybe the fit/finish of AN speakers are up to the likes of Sonus Faber but the drivers and components are elite.

[@martybousum1010]

The exploration of deep space (audio), is an expensive ambition for most. I'm an observing fan, limited by my reality. Only a dream for me. At least my experience here can be often repeated. Thanks!

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Audio note must be very pleased 😀

[@kenjifox4264]

I’ll order two!

[@scottchegg1209]

Type j and e sound amazing with any amplifier.

[@timleelim9930]

So good to hear Adrian share a bit about his roots. Although he didn't mention specifically, if the bamboo instrument he learned from his neighbour neighbour was the angklung, all the more I understand his statement, having tried a hand at the instrument myself in primary school.

[@adrianlow2114]

Don't know what it was called, if it even had a name. My neighbour just made instruments he loved, probably based around his own practical experience

[@erwinatmadja]

Surprised you are from Sing. Which Kampong you lived?

[@chuanyewlee9502]

Putting price aside, for the last 30 years, the are but a handful of legendary amps which can drive the best speakers effortlessly and produce music with a sense of realism...solid state or valve amps from the factories of FM Acoustics, Cello, Gryphon or Phasemation to name a few. This shortlist inclues the Kondo Ongaku and the Audionote UK Ongaku which when paired with their own speakers produces magic.

[@markpreston3406]

the good news for people balking at the price is, and you guys allude to it in the video, you get the Audio Note sound with everything that's so great about that sound at the most basic of their 'levels' and the 'Zero' level system is chump change in the world of crazy audio..

[@vilipmak3973]

The i-Zero and the AN/K speaker combo is also crazy good and highly recommended.

[@markpreston3406]

@@vilipmak3973 OTO PP + AN/K SPe user so you're preaching to the converted over here! I'm lucky enough to have heard the Ongaku / E combo some 20 years back as part of a PQ hosted demo by my local dealer, not heard *music* more convincingly rendered in a room before or since...

[@jksaarinen]

Interesting video, thanks! Would be important to know which source you used with your Audio Note tests?

[@vilipmak3973]

Lumin P1

[@parlimage5050]

Really liked the way you dissected your approach on what that system do. And, it should be that way when you can sense what the interpreter's message, emotions are. Not only by words but the feeling he's trying to pass on to you. Great review (again) Thanks to all of you guy's. Would really enjoy to have the privilege of driving down to Toronto for a session of that fabulous Audio Note system. Thanks again.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks for the kind words

[@hifi-photo-Brian]

The system sounds Organic, Cage free, no animal testing, Grade AAA, no artificial colors or flavors, no GMOs, no MSGs, free range. It creates emotional nature music!

[@shunpillay]

The Ongaku design has been the stuff of legend since my childhood, yet there is so little modern coverage of the amp. I deeply appreciate hearing the experiences of folks who actually have an example in hand. Thanks a million. Great video.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@Fluterra]

You are referring to the Kondo Japan Ongaku. Not this one. This is a poor copy, that oddly costs more.

[@andygrove285]

@@Fluterra The ANUK Ongaku is a totally different design to Kondo's. There is a sense of heritage, and respect to Kondo san, hence the name. There was a lot of animosity in the 1990s, but not between Kondo and myself. We had the greatest respect for each other, and, in fact, he called me his brother. Not long after I designed this Ongaku I met with him in Hungary, and discussed the transformer design. He actually began to cry when I explained about interwinding capacitance and the effect of it on sound. When I hear people talking negatively about things like this it really does make me sad. Kondo opened my eyes to materials technology in audio, and we fed knowledge between each other. I sourced magnetic materials with specialised heat treatments for him, even then, in the 1990s. Ultimately, Kondo was in the twilight of his career in audio, I was just beginning in it and since have taken his, and my, ideas forward. It's unfortunate that he passed away when he did. ANUK and ANJ were about to reform into one entity. The original Ongaku is actually based on an Audio Professor design. Kondo added his ideas and components to it. This Ongaku holds the lineage, but it's altogether a different animal, not a copy, it's better. And, if the old boy were still around, he would agree. It's pretty simple to see if you can be bothered to look. Masaki san continued the Kondo brand, but they are still using crappy FR4 PCB materials, silicon steel transformer laminations etc. Nothing has happened since Kondo left us. At ANUK, we've taken everything to another level. And, if you would like some Japanese mystique, well, I am just about to fly to Japan to discuss capacitor design with Rubycon.

[@Fluterra]

@@andygrove285 Thanks for replying! Interesting history. Do you know who designed the Souga? I have one, so would be interested to know more of its history. thanks

[@andygrove285]

I guess you would like to hear something about Kondo, on creative level. He was incredible on one level, but unbelievably stubborn and would erect a barrier to stop information coming in which contradicted what he wanted to hear. One time, at a dinner, when I showed him the design of the M3 preamp output transformer. He literally threw his dinner and stormed off; " At at 36 to one ratio, YOU GET NOTHING OUT!" His M10 preamp transformer design sucked, badly.... Hahaha! ;-)

[@stephengray750]

hi Audio Excellence. you do a great job. huge fan. but please please where is the next discussion of Ongaku etc. Please can we get on with it?

[@thevintagehifiambassador8524]

Hello. Audio Note: The CD 2.1x Mk I the first one. Will it work with my Sudgen A21 SE Signature integrated or my Sudgen HA-4 headphone preamplifier or my Exposure 3010 s2d preamplifier or my Exposure 2510 integrated or my Cambridge Audio A500 because of these 100 kOhm impedance I suppose no amp of mine has. Kind regards. Jeff

[@gregski4111]

yeah went to Adrians store years ago. listened to a Wadia 21 was a demo and he wanted full price instead of my reasonable offer of .$500 off list price. 4 weeks later get a Flyer in the mail Demo sale now the Wadia is even less then what I offered. ??????? Hmmm Never went back, bought from Angie...

[@normloo1590]

A few days ago, I attended a live concert held in a relatively small private venue. I sat smack center and about 10 rows back from the stage. When the band started playing, all the audiophile jargon such as imaging, soundstage, detail, dynamics, etc........never cross my mind. I was so immerse with the music nothing in the world mattered. That's want I want in my listening room!

[@DJ_BROBOT]

Well that's what soundstage, detail and imaging tell you when you can't be there live right?

[@ufarkingicehole]

Buy pa equipment

[@normloo1590]

@@DJ_BROBOT missing my point. when we listen to playback, we often listen to the gear and overlook the music.

[@normloo1590]

@@ufarkingicehole only wish that was true. save tons of $$$$$

[@joerglemann]

Well, then don’t buy any equipment, but let real live concerts happen in your room. 😎

[@dksculpture]

I’d like to hear these babies!

[@geodog6854]

Maybe someday I can hear this combo.

[@villageroma]

I have an Ongaku pre self built with few mods I made like separate tube alimentation and tube pre all p2p silver in air. It cost me 600$ to built in 2012. Coupled Accuphase class A pwr amp and open baffle self made speakers sound amazing.

[@matta9316]

For you all to be that impressed it must have really been something!

[@quant2011]

Is this much better than Joseph Audio graphene pulsars with fosi audio v3 amp? ($89)

[@a.s.2426]

Adrian, I’m interested in AN. Curious how the AN sound compares to the TAD sound - another brand often noted for similar sonic and expressive characteristics. Anything you can comment on this?

[@luk75245]

With 20k views I hope you do the followup. How about if you compare this to the Cobra setup.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Few more weeks !!! =)

[@petercurd7400]

I have an AN system, no where near the Ongaku but the much more affordable Oto and the E Spe He speakers, wait until that system beds in! You think it sounds good now but AN speakers really need bedding in and the sound changes dramatically.

[@vaneast411]

Those speakers will certainly use alnico drivers

[@twochaudiomg2578]

All the wide soundstage , depth + other things talked about. Upgrade Amp Powercord & Cables,

[@photoipster]

What source did you use in your listening test?

[@vilipmak3973]

Lumin P1

[@MrBazsi888]

How this compares to Daniel Hertz offerings?

[@luohan109]

Adrian's voice is unusually soft practically all the time. Is there any way to change his Microphone and match the voice level of the others for us to enjoy the sessions.

[@vicentesolbes4232]

Adrian. I need a new amp. I had MSB M200's which I sold. Can you recomend something around 20K?? Slightly used would be best. Thank you. Vince

[@adrianlow2114]

Really hard to recommend anything since I don't know what you like, your system, taste etc. Best to visit a few dealers and find someone you trust, who is looking to help you and have a good mutually beneficial relationship

[@brown-eyedman4040]

Engaging, involving, for me this is what hifi is all about. Could this be why I like tubes so much?

[@martinjandijkstra3205]

If it so expensive it must be good right? What about measurements?

[@curtis_chip]

11:34 lol

[@elderinmoi1571]

I think you need to run them in for about 3000 h and by 3001 you need to replace the tubes 😂

[@Mikexception]

I play music with tubes average 1 hour a day and use it for cassette, LP and R2R I have "replacement" germanium solid state and that one takes over next hours for CD, PC ot TV . . 3000 hours will pass in 8 years but I already got one more set of 6V6 tubes. Both are very compatible - my custom to listen tubes is emotional - my inside trusts it is be better but no other reason. BTW - my tube amp is vintage Bell integrated with 10 "glasses" total and in each channel 7 tubes. I mounted DIY to it new IC controlled needle output modern indicators and output terminals for DIY circuitry to vintage auxiliary Isophon electrostats made in 1956 which actually I do not need and not use. Anyway - unboxing I was never able to show 🙃

[@vilipmak3973]

@@Mikexception Back in the day I used and loved a Bell Carillon integrated tube amp.

[@Mikexception]

@@vilipmak3973 Carillon was best. Pity You don't have it any more Why?

[@vilipmak3973]

@@Mikexception I used it for a long time and put it away after I got into SE stuff. My best friend used it for many years and kinda burnt it out. After I had to fix it twice, I sold it.

[@Mikexception]

@@vilipmak3973 I do opposite with all gear - bought "burned" mine 2420 which I purchased not cheap operating but as I observed very erratic then I fought o make it as should be to match all my rest stuff in sounding . With that amplifier it took me about 1 year of using, listening, troubleshooting everything - In fact every connection and element tested many times and eventualy corrected. I modified tape head input characteristic to linear to improve input sensitivity, relocated internal volume to serve it, , replaced volume pot with double value 1M to assure with both right loundness correction, replaced outer shelding with grid cage, added lights in front and replaced small knobs with nicer than original and I expect to not let it go because I was long time looking for something like that....to have 😃 . i know about SE but I do not wishing any more - my PP matches my special speakers and surprises me every day with every material .Rgds

[@MrBazsi888]

the membrane has to dance freely. only ultra high efficiency speaker could do that without sonical artifacts. AN is on the top of the musical food chain.

[@chengo51]

What was/were the source/sources you have been using this system with ?

[@vilipmak3973]

Lumin P1

[@chengo51]

@@vilipmak3973 Thanks....could any comparison be done with the IFI streamer ?

[@vilipmak3973]

@@chengo51 Not easily possible as ifi Zen Stream is digital only. P1 does have digital inputs, however that would defeat the purpose of trying the Zen Stream. Moreover, we've already reviewed the ifi and know how it sounds.

[@chengo51]

​@@vilipmak3973 Thanks for all, above all they aren't in the same price bracket that's for sure. I know you did review the Ifi....I bought it since, I like it's SQ but have no real comparison with other stuff. The problem is the Ifi app which is a real garbage, it did work on my android phone for a while and now it doesn't anymore....Mconnect save my day. Sadly there are not many streamers "only" on the market.

[@vilipmak3973]

I know this doesn't help much - we use our Zen Stream as a Roon Endpoint. And then the software thing is less problematic - although since Roon went to v 2.0, Roon itself is less stable. MConnect is a nice stable alternative.

[@yannick930]

Hi ! The interview with audio note owner is dead ?

[@fatphoca5009]

If you really want to get the most out of your Ongaku try adding an AN preamp.

[@AudioheavenDenmark]

Why should you? It already has a preamp in that version. And it's the exact same line stage as in the m series. Only use a preamp if it's the kensei version with balanced input.

[@fatphoca5009]

@@AudioheavenDenmark try it and see. The preamp section in the Ongaku is nothing in comparison to that in an M8, M9 or M10. Same goes for Kondo Ongaku.

[@AudioheavenDenmark]

@@fatphoca5009 it's the same line stage in both. I've tried it. And see no point in doing it. I will stick to my pre and power amp version. Just a hint. I've been using audio note UK for the last 20 years. Peter Is a very good friend of mine. And I've done a lot of work for audio note UK. Just retired do to health issues.

[@Fluterra]

Guys- if you think this copy is great, wait until you hear the original the KONDO JAPAN ONGAKU. Oddly, the original is much less expensive. Any in-depth look and listening will tell you the AN unit does not compare. If you want to carry great products, carry great products, not copies.

[@khoi83]

It surely Will sound expensive :) 😀

[@sats87]

Any 300k system should WOW OMG and so on. But let’s be honest 300k for a two way speakers and SE amp is waaaay overpriced

[@adrianlow2114]

It's a lot of money for sure

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Overpriced by definition means you can find something that can do the same for less. If you can, great, but CAN you? That's the key; it's your money, you know what's important to you in what you hear and that defines whether a product is worth it.

[@xfloodcasual8124]

How familiar are you with boutique Japanese amps? because a lot of what youre talking about (emotionality, coherency) have been there for a long time, which inspired Peter. But totally different crowd than "stereophile" type stuff.

[@vilipmak3973]

Well… I have and use a Shindo Preamp and my friend Michael is a Feastrex enthusiast.

[@xfloodcasual8124]

@@vilipmak3973 How do you rate the AN speakers to Feastrex? The prices can be similar ($70k for Feastrex field coil I think?). Been wanting to hear them for a long time.

[@dekz8]

What is the source?

[@vilipmak3973]

Lumin P1

[@billfife6569]

😃👍

[@normloo1590]

Here is a question for the guys at AEC. How long does it take listening to the $300k AN system before it no longer sounds special? Never?

[@edmaster3147]

They will have to get back to you in due time, likely 'never'.

[@vilipmak3973]

There's always a degree of something becoming the norm - however, if the system is done right and you hear the magic, you should always hear the magic especially if you're exploring new music or playing something you haven't heard in a long time. And it can sometimes be the detail - although in my experience, the totality and the immersion and the connection is always essentially overwhelming as a flood of memories and sheer joy come to the fore. That never gets old.

[@GertSterner]

It is a Snell E

[@MrBazsi888]

way better than that junk

[@bojanzavcer1011]

It's not a matter of silver but of dielectrics in transformers, capacitors, etc. 2 times larger cross section of copper than silver has higher conductivity. I listen to a much better system than the one you tested. Speakers 4Hz-40KHz linear at 110dB/1W/1m. Audioqest dbs cables. The amplifier is built from two monoblocs of mash 300B and a low-noise soldering iron. The total weight of the booster is 85 kg. However, convenient transformers weigh 10 kg each. The windings are made of multiple windings and Teflon insulated. Teflonski kondensatorji i opori ki produkirajo zelo naravna papačenja. The source is Pioneer Cd Transport in Nos dac 24bit/192khz. A digital source plays as harmoniously as a gramophone. Details that are rarely heard come from the recordings. Dynamics and micro dynamics are huge. Natural.

[@sidesup8286]

I don't believe magical qualities are because of magic. There is some down to Earth reason why something like that is so involving. It would be nice to pinpoint it. Strereophile said the Ongaku model of many years ago was "Astonishingly transparent." Another magazine reviewing the $125,000 Kegon power amp said that it had no electronic signature, that the electronic rain had ceased, that is always there with other amps, whether we realized it or not. I'd love to hear an Ongaku. But even if I could afford one, I'd have to make damn sure there wasn't something else out there that pretty much gave you 90% of the same experience for 90% less. Adrian said it didn't have the deepest or widest soundstage. Herb Reichert of Stereophile, talking about the much older version of the Ongaku, said it sounded 50 feet wide. Different system, setup and room of course. It's obviously an amp for the rich. Are there any poor souls out there who are working class, who would think.of saving up for an Ongaku? I would sort of feel bad if there was. "Maybe if I save, in 10 years I could get one. Maybe 8 years if I get a raise." Hard to think about.

[@ianjohnhorwood2605]

stereophile is a bull shit joke magazine, only interested in making money. Go listen to a pair of the high quality 3 way active ATC SCM ASL . that is the middle of the road reference dynamic loudspeakers you need to bass sound quality on compared to a lot of inferior sound systems .

[@adrianlow2114]

If I remember, Herb Reichart talked about his experience in a video with Steve Guttenberg. The Audionote system was set up in an old firehall. In such an acoustic space, the soundstage would certainly be massive, but that would be the case with almost any speaker system.

[@sidesup8286]

@@adrianlow2114 Yes, that was in a big space that they had the Ongaku set up in, and you're right, it was a video. I went from a place with 10 foot high ceilings to a place with 8 foot high ceilings, and my image was much diminished. Then years later I started living somewhere with high ceilings again, and the image height returned. I have been doing mod experiment with equipment and sound for 30+ years and my sound has such image height that it sounds like the singer in particular is on the ceiling, and with each improvement I make the singers voice is on the ceiling and getting closer to me; nearing above head. I guess when the system gets that open sounding, all that air volume has to go somewhere, so it goes upward, and now it's inching nearer and nearer to me on the ceiling. I fear that if I keep improving with mods, that the singers voice will sound like it's behind me ! It's definitely heading that way. That will be kind of strange.

[@aku7598]

Its important to hear non electronic instrument, like drums, acoustic guitars, violins, piano....

[@johnchan182]

but silver take a very long time to break in.. after is very nice sounding like a studio set

[@MrBazsi888]

the break in period with these is still probably more joyful than 99,99% of other systems.

[@Alephkilo]

U might wana Research Albedo cables fm Poland. quite impressive

[@simleserge4243]

Kampung Bugis? Kampung Jalan Cantek? Nee Soon? Kampung apa? The bamboo house doesn't really look like a Singapore kampung though.

[@snomofilms]

Yank here to teach Adrian what a one-syllable word is 😂

[@adrianlow2114]

lol, it was an incorrect use, but the first word that came to mind

[@onesung]

Is Audio Excellence authorized Audio Note dealer? Sung

[@bikemike1118]

Nope! Someone traded it in/ gave it in for them to sell in comission, I think. Or …it even might have been Peter Breuninger‘s system before he passed away this year (?).

[@razisn]

@@bikemike1118 They said they are now a dealer in this and the previous video. Don't you watch before commenting? The systems they have are brand new.

[@monkeysoupman]

@@razisn He has a total of 132 comments on the Audio Excellence KZbin channel. Such a sad existence and waste of carbon.

[@bikemike1118]

@@razisn …no, I don’t watch EVERY episode… sometimes I have better things to do. And sometimes I skip vids …especially the childish „unboxing“ stuff! Well…then they are dealers for AN now…they have to learn a lot to get AN weird product policy. SAY NO TO RAZISN

[@MrBazsi888]

@@bikemike1118 what is so weird? :)

[@johnchan182]

bros. you miss out one thing that is a pair of silver speaker cable to make a perfect.

[@adrianlow2114]

That's next. We have to use what we have

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

It must be good if the coffee cup man vilip says it’s good

[@vilipmak3973]

It's Greatttt!

[@44029340]

Unobtainable

[@pennfootball71]

😂 $15,000 per watt of it is 20 Watts and 300k but that includes the speaker. 😅

[@vilipmak3973]

$220,000 CAD for the Ongaku. $72,000 CAD for the AN/E…

[@pennfootball71]

@@vilipmak3973 oh not bad

[@van94weightlossjourney]

While silver is certainly the best conductor, let’s not get carried away. Let’s use the “sum of the parts don’t add up” tradition. Gold today is $56/gram and Silver is $0.70/gram. I’m sure the design and labor to create this product is excellent however in the end the sum of parts don’t add up.

[@adrianlow2114]

I am the first to agree that the parts cost don't add up to the price. But the way the system plays music, the way it evokes emotion when the performance is inspired is something else. Only my Wilson XVX does better. And I am still looking for the perfect matching electronics. And the Wilsons are more critical

[@van94weightlossjourney]

@@adrianlow2114 I agree hence I have multiple amps, dacs, speakers, and connectors that I swap and change around depending on my mood. The issue I raise is that silver is mentioned more than a dozen times in the video, like as if it’s some special sauce for this $300K system. Silver is quite ubiquitous and more electronics should use silver but it shouldn’t be priced as if it’s gold.

[@adrianlow2114]

@@van94weightlossjourney Silver was mentioned simply as a statement of fact. Audionote products are categorized into different levels, and one of the criteria is silver wiring in the output transformers, among other things. But point taken

[@van94weightlossjourney]

@@adrianlow2114 I still wouldn’t mind having it though 😅

[@adrianlow2114]

@@van94weightlossjourney me too!

[@metatronix370]

Audiophools listen to (fake plastic) trees, whereas music lovers listen to the woods.

[@jitrapornpha5104]

Hard to take anyone seriously who has a stack of Macintosh gear

[@vilipmak3973]

Hard to take any commenter seriously when they cannot spell McIntosh…

[@jitrapornpha5104]

@@vilipmak3973 irrelevant how it’s spelt. It’s ashitbrand but management know their market well, “000hhh Vu meters “

[@fatdoi003]

maybe next time you should try the Japanese Audio Note as well.......

[@MrBazsi888]

its worse.

[@bikemike1118]

The REAL Audio Note!

[@MrBazsi888]

@@bikemike1118 maybe historically yes, but sound wise: no.

[@bikemike1118]

@@MrBazsi888 have you heard both in person and in comparison?

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

What you describe is a long-standing bifurcation among audiophiles: Do you want a system that makes everything sound beautiful, or do you want a system that is relentlessly accurate and reveals the flaws present in any recording for better or worse? For a long time speakers like Sonus Fabers (particularly those designed by Franco Serblin) fell along the previous line, where absolutely everything you played through them sounded beautiful and goooooood, where at least some Wilson Audio speakers fell upon the latter line, as you would expect for speakers that originated as studio monitors where their job was to reproduce each and every flaw getting to the mixing board. The same is true for equipment; McIntosh has long been a brand that leans more to the "sounds wonderful" side rather than the rigidly analytical, "what is on the recording is what you get whether you like it or not" model that Boulder often represents. Neither approach is WRONG, but your system will end up designed very differently depending upon which is of greater importance to you.

[@michaelcorlet2998]

Theres nothing to complain about.is that how you rate products. No words to describe it which is code for its not really that good. All we talk about how it looks imm.thats not reassuring.

[@georgecav]

30mins of sales pitch and no sound demo, womt

[@realhi-fihelplarry8047]

Most gear focuses on WHAT detail there is to offer. Audio Note focuses on the HOW; the flow/music/vibe of sound. When I heard Ongaku for the first time I understood that most expensive gear sounds pretty good and sorts data into boxes. But Audio Note generally just uses the best expensive components in shorter circuit designs. Meaning that most gear on the market uses 1-3/10 grade components, while Audio Note is more like 2-9/10. Maybe in 50 years there will be 10/10 quality components being used.

[@victoraltadonna7640]

Never heard Audionote. Beautiful looking amps. But if those speakers give as great a sound as you claim, high end stereo companies must be a bunch of charlatans lol.

[@luxman9463]

Your not going to find out here.

[@bruce8429]

Does sitting back in a fancy chair make you more intelligent. They wore a pipe in my day and weren't.

[@vilipmak3973]

The McIntosh Director's Chairs we used previously were starting to fall apart. So, Adrian upgraded the seating for our devoted clientele and we get to use the new chairs during the videos.

[@alphapacific910]

I normally like your comments but i am of the impression that you are talking too much about yourself. I talking about Adrian

[@teacherchris9423]

With or without the ‘shit’, I mean ‘stock’ power cord? Man, it’s hard to watch these guys butcher an unboxing and initial impression…

[@ianjohnhorwood2605]

The $300,000 audio note passive system is so ridiculously overpriced it's laughable. Compared to a pair of 3 way active ATC SCM ASL, the audio note does stand a cats hell in chance in the realm of detail, clarity, transparency, and naturalness. The 3 way active ATC SCM ASL eat the audio note for breakfast at far less money , that audio note system is an absolute joke at $300,000. Any one who thinks they are getting value and sound quality for their money from the audio note needs their ears cleaning out, and go and listen to a pair of the higher end quality 3 way active ATC SCM ASL loudspeakers starting with the SCM50ASL, the SCM100ASL, and the SCM150ASL loudspeakers .

[@Gez492]

Wow, have you listened to an Ongaku then? Active ATC's are very very impressive but they are not designed to do the same things These systems will move you in different ways and I fully get that if you love the ATC's and in my experience the actives are better than the passives everytime, you are more unlikely to like the Audionote. I find one impressive and the other emotional. Since I'm a music lover first with a thankfully eclectic appreciation, I would always gravitate to the Audionote systems but if I worked in a studio day in day out maybe the ATC are the go to. Interestingly with high end tube amps K10 Proacs sit somewhere in the middle I find. The Price vs value proposition does not compute here and is largely irrelevant certainly to the buyer in this market segment. A Tesla Plaid v a Bugatti Chiron is a useful illustration the former may even be a bit faster but which will extract the emotion of the drive better travelling from Paris to Montecarlo? Id wager the Bugatti. Clearly, you have passion my friend but temper this with an open mind like the guys at Audio Excellence.

[@breakoutpete210]

@@Gez492 …agreed!🍻

[@xfloodcasual8124]

have you heard any audio note products in the same room with ATC? I have.

[@adrianlow2114]

@@xfloodcasual8124 I have owned a few pairs of ATC, including the active ones. Granted none that are current, the most recent being about 6 years or so ago. While technically impressive, I was not impressed enough to write a cheque and be a dealer. In the end, I don't disagree with anyone who prefers some other product. This being a subjective pursuit, we like different music, different reproduction and ultimately, I am happy for you if you prefer ATC or any other product

[@xfloodcasual8124]

@@adrianlow2114 I find ATC a pleasant and natural tone and their Class A amps are surprisingly nice, but Audio Note is on another level entirely.

[@rentabomb]

It's still just a dinky 2-way 10 inch speaker with a hole in the back of it. I don't know how you be so critical of the Butchard speaker and not of something like this ?? People who buy this will foolishly buy it because it has a high price tag on it and not because it is any good. You'd only have to do measurements on any of it to find that it would be very mediocre.

[@nkenchington6575]

u know nothing

[@razisn]

It must be sour grape season.

[@MrBazsi888]

you could try at least the cheaper version to take some lessons here. then you know...

[@adrianlow2114]

I wish I had a simple explanation/excuse/reasons why a "simple" 2-way AudioNote speaker evoked the emotional response we all experienced, and not the Buchardt. I can't justify the cost. I can only say that it did what it did, and hope that if you ever get a chance to hear it, you might feel the same

[@petercurd7400]

You have no idea how wrong you are

[@johnchan182]

whole set ..silver stuffs. how not sound nice.. today gold and silver is so expensive.. second will be silver.

[@bikemike1118]

😂

[@commane21]

Looks like a downgraded Devore O/93. But not nearly as beautiful.

[@MrBazsi888]

devore cant touch this level of refinement

[@AudioheavenDenmark]

Had both. The an e is far far better than the 093 and 096. Not even close.

[@Cipollae]

@@AudioheavenDenmark Interesting - my experience was the opposite, although the two types of speakers do have a similar sound and the AN-E was definitely a good speaker. Horses for courses, as they say. The world would be a better place if audiophiles could only try to avoid oversimplification and hyperbole (such as "not even close", "wiped the floor with it", "ate it for breakfast" or "totally destroyed it"). Differences are generally subtle and preferences usually have more to do with personal priorities than with actual quality deltas. Or they are caused by issues with system synergy. Let's keep things real.

[@michaelcorlet2998]

I think you three guys should get a womans view for a ballanced review. Oh no females how sad.

[@adrianlow2114]

Hope to change that in the future

[@davidfromamerica1871]

How does a $300,000 dollar audio system sound..?? Like a $250.00 audio system.

[@awerwerrew]

There is absolutely no reason for a $72K speaker.

[@adrianlow2114]

Logically there is no need for anything that is considered luxury, or discretionary purchases. But humans are not just logic, we are also emotional, and yes, irrational by some standards

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Why? Are there systems that can reproduce that same sound with the same quality for less money? For example, to me sound quality is important, yet I wouldn't spend more than $100 for a bottle of wine; to an oenophile they may be happy to listen to MP3s over gas station ear buds but covet a $10,000 bottle of wine. It depends upon what is important to YOU.

[@bubblehead5394]

Boring

[@andystagger2906]

😂😂😂 there’s no way it’s worth 300gs 😜😂😂

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

What can reproduce the same sound quality for less? That's the key. If it's not important to you, it definitely may not be worth it; for someone who can't find a speaker as resolving or musical for less, it is.

[@aussie8114]

275 at most 😂

[@simonirvine1628]

Bananarama, What the Fu*K, Come on lads, its not big and its not clever... ⏏⏹⏺⏪▶⏩⏸