FlaCharlie
Super Member
Glad to hear you found something you like. How does it compare to the amp you heard in Spain?
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Choice of SET Tube amp
- Thread starter al2813
- Start date
al2813
Active Member
Hard to compare two listening sessions in different environments. I do think the Audio Note has a more holographic sound. It is a riskier purchase being a second hand (or rather multiple hand), but as RGA rightly noted it will be very easy to resell if needed (although after 2 hours of listening this afternoon it is a keeper).
RGA
Super Member
The Meishu is a pretty great amplifier - it was the amp that got me into tubes - prior tube amps did nothing for me - but it was a blind audition where the Meishu won out.
It is their biggest selling integrated amplifier. Did you get the phono version or line version (silver or black)? There are several Audio Note Facebook groups if you have questions and their employees reply. Also, the Steve Hoffman board has several owners of AN equipment should you need advice on tube rolling, etc.
Next step some Audio Note J Speakers
It likes 8-watt Meishu. None of that froo froo girl or at a piano or oboe solo here.
al2813
Active Member
I've been enjoying thoroughly my Meishu. It is a rather dated specimen. It looks to be the original Meishu line and I couldn't trace the exact year it was built (the seller was honest in telling me he had no clue either). The amp was purchased in the Netherlands and went through some kind of a revision by the well known tube shop there. Not being an expert I could not assess how mint the condition was so hopefully it is in good shape....
It is clear I will need to rethink my speakers. The current speakers are (I suspect) even lower sensitivity of what the manufacturer states and althoug the sound is great I do feel the amp is on the limit from time to time. I don't think I can afford Audio Note speakers - even second hand they are quite expensive over here. Am looking for alternatives now...
It is clear I will need to rethink my speakers. The current speakers are (I suspect) even lower sensitivity of what the manufacturer states and althoug the sound is great I do feel the amp is on the limit from time to time. I don't think I can afford Audio Note speakers - even second hand they are quite expensive over here. Am looking for alternatives now...
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
You don't need much in the way of DIY skills to build your own high efficiency and affordable open baffle speakers. Europe is loaded with many full range driver options.
http://glowinthedarkaudio.com/speakers.html
RGA
Super Member
Yes, Audio Note speakers hold their value extremely well. I bought my AN J/Spe back in 2003 sold them in 2016 for $400+ more than I originally paid. And that was a rushed sale - took less than a week.
Their prices continually rise and people continually pay - a new Meishu I think starts at around $10,000 and with all the upgrades the top version is over $20k.
I think there are plenty of good quality SET-friendly speakers out there these days - OB mentioned Poultrygeist is a very good option. If DIY is not your cup of tea maybe he can suggest manufactured options. I believe Spatial gets good reports - I only heard them very briefly at a show but they seemed quite good. I liked Pureaudio's Quintett 15 with a horn tweeter - it was a runner-up room for me at a show. But it's $9,995 which is pricey.
Single driver speakers are an option as they usually are easy to drive. Reference 3a MM DeCapo or MidiMaster are generally easy to drive and may be found in Europe - they started out in France. The new Klipsch Forte gets high marks but Klipsch is not always as easy to drive as the sensitivity spec seems to suggest so you have to try it out first.
Not sure what your speaker budget is but I see the AN J/LX selling for between $2250 and $2500 second-hand. Interestingly the AN K is selling at higher prices used but that may be due to a slew of reviews for the Audio Note K lately (one by me). But the J is the better speaker IMO if you have the room size and can position them properly. The advantage to the AN J and E over the Quintett 15 is that while far smaller and with only a single 8-inch driver they hit harder with deeper bass and dynamics and can pressurize instruments - outperforming even the speakers with eight 15 inch woofers. So when you play rock you feel it in your guts. So it somewhat depends on what you listen to and how loud. I love the Quintett 15 though because I am a speaker slut and I enjoy what different speakers bring to the table.
I have just reviewed the Rogers LS 5/9 which is also easy to drive - my 8-watt SET amps had zero trouble with them. The midrange is just so bang on. Not really better than the AN K but similar in a lot of ways.
Other higher efficiency speakers (if you can't do DIY) are from Zu Audio, Tekton (never heard them myself), and Omega Loudspeakers. All three offer affordable options.
Lastly - on the second-hand market there are some really under-the-radar Audio Note speakers designed by Andy Whittle for Audio Note - Andy is THE LS3/5a guru and is the head of Rogers (while still consulting for Audio Note). Andy designed some cheaper speakers like the AX Two and the AZ Two Floorstander.
The AZ Two and Three ranged new in price for like $1400 (AZ Two) - $1900 (AZ Three). They are a transmission line quarter wave horn design so big bass high efficiency. Not the least coloured but again full-range sound - engaging and very affordable. But unlike the other speakers, these really are best positioned hard in corners.
Unlike the others - they are usually quite affordable second-hand
Audio Note has given away the schematics too so if you can't afford to buy them you can make them for free (well not free but they're not making money on you). I kind of like that AN does this - also with their AN E.
The site is in French grrr but still http://belinfabien.free.fr/enceintes/audionote/audionote.htm
The woofer is from SEAS and I believe the tweeter is from Scanspeak. Could be VIFA (The AN K they are both Scanspeak but I could not find the exact match on scan speak's driver page so they are likely drivers made only for Audio Note - still the drivers from Audio Note are not too crazy expensive. AN parts drivers etc can be purchased from HiFi collective. With the schematics and buying the drivers you can probably make your own AN E. The AN E and J tweeters are from Foster Tonegan but AN does some work on them to remove the ferro-fluid and they have their own magnets. So you sort have to go with them if you want them to sound right.
You can buy the woofers and tweeters, caps, resistors, wires, solder, transformers, etc here https://www.hificollective.co.uk/search/site?title=Audio+Note
.
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al2813
Active Member
I am seriously looking at DIY. It's bank holiday today in the UK and the US so my working day has been VERY quiet. Had some time to look around which I normally don't have during the day
There are several designs on sale right now using SEAS or Scanspeak drivers (adds are in Dutch and French sorry)
https://www.marktplaats.nl/a/audio-...speakers-troels-gravesen.html?previousPage=lr
https://www.2ememain.be/a/tv-hi-fi-...ccf514b11788e5504db095&previousAction=asqSent
The second person is located in Brussels which can allow me to visit him. The SEAS one looks very appealing but he is much further and I may need to do a remote transaction.
There are several designs on sale right now using SEAS or Scanspeak drivers (adds are in Dutch and French sorry)
https://www.marktplaats.nl/a/audio-...speakers-troels-gravesen.html?previousPage=lr
https://www.2ememain.be/a/tv-hi-fi-...ccf514b11788e5504db095&previousAction=asqSent
The second person is located in Brussels which can allow me to visit him. The SEAS one looks very appealing but he is much further and I may need to do a remote transaction.
rudolfo
Super Member
Congrats on the AN amp and welcome to the 300b world.
I am seriously looking at DIY. It's bank holiday today in the UK and the US so my working day has been VERY quiet. Had some time to look around which I normally don't have during the day
There are several designs on sale right now using SEAS or Scanspeak drivers (adds are in Dutch and French sorry)
https://www.marktplaats.nl/a/audio-tv-en-foto/luidsprekers/m1699576208-seas-3wc-speakers-troels-gravesen.html?previousPage=lr
https://www.2ememain.be/a/tv-hi-fi-video/enceintes/m1711584701-scanspeak-enceintes-diy.html?c=80906a7f13ccf514b11788e5504db095&previousAction=asqSent
The second person is located in Brussels which can allow me to visit him. The SEAS one looks very appealing but he is much further and I may need to do a remote transaction.
The speakers can be another search episode on the 300b world. f youre still using your 13 x 10 room size, try to stay away from 8 inch speakers and going up in diameter. It can still be driven but you will appreciate it more with the correct diameter matching speakers to the size of your room. I have a 19 x 17 recording room and the max that I can appreciate the sound is 7 inch running either 300b set amp or push pull. Its just perfect! I have a singularity 8 inch custom made tower. The best in 600 sq ft spacing but not in my recording room.
Before you pull the trigger, I suggest you try to by a speaker that you can test in your room and if you don't like it, you can return is a given time. In this way, you will know whats your target speaker size, dimensions, what porting style, because all of those factors has a very good impact on your room capacity and sound search. For example, majority of my speakers are tower with 4 inch back port. With the right amp and the right speaker positioning, I can produce an excellent sound with a very good rock solid bass too without even using subs. Its nothing better or best but I prefer it that way. There are a lot of high efficiency speakers that they recommend and Ive tried several of them. Most of them are lacking bass notes.
You might be surprise that the newer jbl studio series even with the 92db input sensitivity or lower like 89 can be driven by an 8 watts like your AN with a massive bass response. The only way to know this is test drive a pair at the comfort of your home. This will open up a new world of listening experience with your new amp.
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RGA
Super Member
The 800 pound one looks cool - Reminds me of the driver placement on my Wharfedale E-70 Vanguard - which can be had pretty cheap used and is easy to drive 95dB and sits mostly 10 ohms. It was $2200 new back in 1991 - if you ever see one of them in Europe you could probably get them for $400. Don't discount the used market - your dollar can go very far if you find the speakers that the wider market missed but that are now considered classics. There is an entire business dedicated to restoring and rebuilding the Wharfedale E Series. I had the last run of them called the Vanguard. Big dynamics and life - A Klipsch but more refined and without the shout. Just another option.
A pair went for $400 Canadian - 90lb speakers with bullet horn made in Japan. Hand-made in Yorkshire. Wharfedale brings back boring speakers like the Denton and Linton but these things were massive party speakers. Big dynamics, fast - great for rock pop dance but still nice at jazz and classical. Mine are still going 30 years later.
A pair went for $400 Canadian - 90lb speakers with bullet horn made in Japan. Hand-made in Yorkshire. Wharfedale brings back boring speakers like the Denton and Linton but these things were massive party speakers. Big dynamics, fast - great for rock pop dance but still nice at jazz and classical. Mine are still going 30 years later.
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
The full range single driver Frugal Horn XL and Mk3 are a marriage made in heaven with SET amps. And there's no crossover to get in the way of the music.
If the cuts are too imposing any cabinet shop can make them. There was a UK site selling the flat packs.
https://www.frugal-horn.com/FHXL.html
If the cuts are too imposing any cabinet shop can make them. There was a UK site selling the flat packs.
https://www.frugal-horn.com/FHXL.html
Junk Audio
Active Member
I was pretty impressed with the Volti Rival speakers. Only heard them at a show, but I did enjoy them.
RGA
Super Member
I was also impressed - they were a top-three room for me at the Californa Audio Show - and considering several rooms had upper 5 and 6 figure speakers that is saying something
45 SET monoblock amps would be awesome. Plus, you'd be introduced to the world of super efficient speaker setups. Folded horns! One very deep rabbit hole.
Mike Stehr
Poverty Audio
Jensen and the Imperials
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Folded horn speaker kit from Madisound.
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RGA
Super Member
45 SET monoblock amps would be awesome. Plus, you'd be introduced to the world of super efficient speaker setups. Folded horns! One very deep rabbit hole.
View attachment 2244911
That's not a speaker. THIS is a speaker!
PakProtector
AK member
Those Madisound/Fostex are not so bad at all. Back when they were slightly newer, a pair came to the Elkton MD listening sessions put on by Ray Perry at the library. They went up with my bass reflex EV's and did not disappoint on the low powered SE experimental amps that showed up. My bigger PP stuff also liked them, even if it was not much bigger( Class A 1619's loaded by Dyna Z565's for example).
So liked when the librarians brought in a disc and told us to turn it up some more...
Douglas
So liked when the librarians brought in a disc and told us to turn it up some more...
Douglas