Foreward

On A Higher Note has been a premier high end audio importer and distributor in North America for two decades and has been a WBF sponsor for years. Well-known for his broad music palette and an expansive music collection of a diverse genre, its Founder and Chief Fun Officer, Philip O’Hanlon, is passionate about helping music lovers make their emotional connection to music.

Having coined himself as a music evangelist, Mr. O’Hanlon jets around the continent in his notable bow-tie and Fedora hat gregariously arranging and rearranging high end audio equipment in shows to bring the optimum experience to the listening chairs. We have caught up with On a Higher Note and are featuring a news update to share with our readers what they are up to.

- STEVE WILLIAMS, FOUNDER, WBF

On A Higher Note Update and Upgrades

It has been a crazy summer at On A Higher Note as we threw ourselves into an extensive renovation, updating both listening rooms and more. Although our larger listening room is still completely torn up, we took a quick snapshot of the current state of our smaller listening room here to share. More to follow. Can you smell the new paint? (It's Benjamin Moore, Mayonnaise, Eggshell finish). READ MORE...

A Long Overdue Addition to Our Family:
the Artesania Audio 3-level AV rack in black 

We have been big fans of the Artesania Audio triple-suspension shelf-less rack systems and have been importing/distributing their Classical line (the Exoteryc, Prestige, and the Mini’s) for many years. We were a little late to the party to incorporate their AV rack into our demo fleet as we felt we may not like the potential resonance from the shelves on these racks vs the rest of the Classical Line. Oh man, oh man, oh man, what were we thinking? READ MORE...

Early Pre Launch First Listening Notes for Graham Audio's new Derek Hughes Signature Series, LS8/1 limited edition: 100​ 

Somehow, my first audition music notes for Graham Audio’s LS8/1 when the first pair arrived for my private audition were never shared. Looking back at these notes and comparing them with notes from the recent auditions that we held with quite a few audio friends who have stopped by to hear these very special speakers, I must say that the “Highly recommend” rating just isn’t high enough… READ MORE...

Music Session with Steve Williams, the Bergmann New Modi Airbearing Turntable and our Artesania Isolation Tips and Tweaks

Steve Williams from WBF dropped by to hear the new Bergmann Audio Modi turntable set up. We recruited Steve’s discerning ears to help further dial in the table and to conduct A/B tests to analyze the different tweaks we have in mind to add to the Modi’s performance, one experiment at a time. It was so fun to watch Steve's face with delight as we switched things up. READ MORE...

Philip O'Hanlon
On A Higher Note (distributor of excellence)
www.onahighernote.com

SW1X Audio Design
SW1X is a high end audio brand based in the UK, making R2R tube based DACs, Preamplifiers and selected audio components.

To achieve a high level of performance, equipment must maintain utmost faithfulness to the original signal. No technological sleight of hand can add to it, and the opportunities to degrade it are endless. Focusing on three fundamental principles, SW1X equipment, created under the guidance of chief designer, Slawa Roschkow, allows the listener to hear more deeply into what has been there all along. They are:

1. Elegant Simplicity of Circuit Design. 2. Optimum Choice of Parts and Materials.
3. Harmonic Balancing.

The Lineage

SW1X firmly believes that there is little point in chasing modern technology, as most critical know-how that enables superior reproduction of music has been available for a long time. Deep insight into the optimization of electronic design has been passed on from masters such as Ernst von Siemens, Susumu Sakuma, Hiroyasu Kondo, Anatoly Markovic Likhnitsky and many more, who spent their lives experimenting with audio. SW1X carries this torch of established technology forward, experimenting with materials and methods that will bring listeners closer to the recorded event.

Available from SW1X Audio Design

• NOS R2R Single Ended, Class A, Zero feedback Valve Output Stage DACs
• Digital Transports
• Preamplifiers • Line Stage Only • With built in MM Phono
• MM Phono Preamplifiers
• Amplifiers • Mono Block • Stereo • Integrated

Lotus Group USA
www.lotusgroupusa.com

SW1X Audio Design
www.sw1xad.co.uk