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  1. Richard Austen

    "Long-Term Equipment Loans: A Win-Win for Everyone" by Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound

    That is true - new doesn't necessarily equate to better - sometimes - oftentimes - new is created to sell something cheaper and to maximize profits. I am looking forward to auditioning the AN E Field Coils that they have spent several years on - mainly the external power supply and the physical...
  2. Richard Austen

    "Long-Term Equipment Loans: A Win-Win for Everyone" by Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound

    With me, you know where I stand and my preferences - and I have been consistent for over 20 years in the things I like - and when they change - I have stated those changes. I am not going to be one of those reviewers or individuals who pretends to have no bias - pretends to like a whole pile of...
  3. Richard Austen

    "Long-Term Equipment Loans: A Win-Win for Everyone" by Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound

    Like any industry - there are bad individuals - Stereophile has fired at least one reviewer in the past for being a bad operator - which means they also HIRED the guy in the first place. Stereo reviewers do not get paid enough to make a living at it - or not one where they can afford most of...
  4. Richard Austen

    "Long-Term Equipment Loans: A Win-Win for Everyone" by Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound

    I think it's a bit silly to throw reviewers who use SET amps under the bus as not professional because EVERY SET amp owner - every single one of them - has owned and auditioned plenty of bomb-proof measuring SS amplifiers. All SET owners come to SET after auditioning the likes of...
  5. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    A bit off-topic but Peter Qvortrup on a recent podcast - Audio Topics starts at 16:00 - before that, it's about world politics. @ 36 minutes - comparing speaker driver magnets https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-occasional-podcast/id1332323668?i=1000649642730
  6. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Did he like your system - what did you play? I enjoyed my time with the P3 Tonmeister. I am thinking of saving for the P3 Konzertmeister or Tomei. But this is all a long ways off - unfortunately - when I move back to Canada in a few years I am probably going to have to sell all of my gear due...
  7. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    The AN room with an easier-to-read price list. Enjoy the music coverd it a bit too. https://www.enjoythemusic.com/Florida_International_Audio_Expo_2024/Rochlin/Audio_Note_UK.htm Jinro Shochu Power Amplifier $38,000 M6 Phono Pre Amplifier $25,000 TT-Three Turntable & PSU 3 $16,500 IO 1...
  8. Richard Austen

    SS/Tube Preamps that better than Gryphon's Commander

    Yes the reality is that you may audition say 10 preamps and rank them 1-10 in one system and the winner in that system may finish 10th in a different system - and that would be my assessment - yours might be completely different. I do get this forum has some wealthier folks but it seems a bit...
  9. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    I admit that I like Peter and the fact that into his 70s he gets excited over some valve that can't be used because there is no amplifier left in the world that can take them - or his pride over his new valve bases. It's just a different thing than 99% of everyone else who just seems to me to...
  10. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    I don't think that's a very fair assessment since there isn't much that is new in audio and at least Audio Note UK does hold actual patents on various things. I mean everyone that made a CD player other than Philips/Sony was "copying" so every single company in the entire audio industry made...
  11. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Peter Qvortrup likes other speakers more than the speakers he sells. He has said this on other forums. He has heard all the heavy-weight speakers and sold most of them at his dealership back when he was an importer. I think many valve and speaker driver diehards would be impressed by the WE...
  12. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Customers will be able to negotiate 10-20% off their list prices (assuming you can find a list price at AN) and a reviewer will do 10-20% better than a customer. Although the product is technically used once the reviewer has reviewed it; thus, I am not sure how much better reviewers do since a...
  13. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    I have not found this to be the case but it again depends on what you're listening to. What I note at dealers and audio shows is that most rooms play a certain set of recordings over and over and over - Diana Krall "Live in Paris" Keith Don't Go" etc. A couple of weeks back I went to a dealer...
  14. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    I think the issue is there because you purchased the product at a discounted price before you decided to write the review. Although, so long as you state that in the review I don't see why there would be a problem. Well no - I think the problem would be that they have two price thresholds and...
  15. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Perhaps different markets - their DACs are geared for CD. They don't make a DAC designed for computer-based/digital streaming so that probably takes out most American consumers even back in 2012 when Colloms covered their gear. AN's biggest business is in Hong Kong/Singapore/China. Add to this...
  16. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Just as an aside - I have always paid the dealer's asking price for all the gear I have purchased and several companies have offered me free gear over the years - I declined those items and declined to review those brands. In one case, I truly don't think they were trying anything shady - the...
  17. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    See post 3 where he addresses this concern.
  18. Richard Austen

    Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

    Recording Engineer Steve Hoffman recently reviewed the AN UK DAC 5 Special (second or Third from the top of the line). I like Stev because he masters for SACD and Analog Productions along with CD and he masters for known artists like Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Eva Cassidy, John Coltrane, Miles...
  19. Richard Austen

    Does Everything Make a Difference?

    Some things matter more, perhaps, depending on the system. A big example of this was when I first explored power conditioners at my local big box chain called A&B Sound (a chain in Western Canada). They had some top Marantz surround receivers and they did demonstrations where they would let you...
  20. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Technical errors in a review are tough for editors to pick up. It would probably be best to send the review to the manufacturer for them to check technical mistakes but then you run into the "bias" issue where you essentially have the review pre-screened by the manufacturer to say what they want...
  21. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    What review magazine do you work for? I ask because you seem to work for a magazine that can supply you with all these items at the same time. It's impressive. Manufacturers and dealers do not give reviewers items for limitless periods (well except TAS maybe who tend to get long-term...
  22. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    I have found good SET amplifiers sound better with all speakers (with volume limitations being the drawback) but for actual sound quality the best I have ever heard from B&W was with Wyatech Labs 211 SET. The best I have heard with Magnepan was with Audio Note SORO, and the best I have heard...
  23. Richard Austen

    $80K budget for Speakers

    There are more - some of my Audio Show winners over the years make speakers at $80k Acapella Audio Arts, Audio Note UK AN E speakers (17 versions ranging from around $7,000 to $400,000+ (Field Coils)), AVID Reference speakers, Perfect 8 Technologies: Along with others that get up there: Scaena...
  24. Richard Austen

    $80K budget for Speakers

    I don't know that they are classic audio - they could be original Hartsfield speakers as the cabinets looked a bit beaten up. I went to the Classic Audio website and saw that they are making them under classic speakers...
  25. Richard Austen

    $80K budget for Speakers

    Yeah personally, I like these speakers more than most and to my taste I would take them over anything on the OP's list. I also auditioned the wonderful Heartsfield speakers here in Hong Kong - fantastic - I didn't know Classic Audio was making them.
  26. Richard Austen

    $80K budget for Speakers

    Ask yourself why you are buying loudspeakers. Obviously, this is the sort of budget where you are buying speakers that cost more than the yearly salary of half to 2/3rds the US population and if you can just buy it without trying them first - you are doing pretty well. Luxury items are not...
  27. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Most good SET amps have an 8-ohm tap and a 4-ohm tap. I looked up the Living Voice R80 and Sensitivity: 92dB (2.83v @1m) Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms Minimum Impedance: 4.5 Ohms Loading: Reflex port to rear of cabinet. Frequency Response: 25Hz–20kHz Power Handling: 100 Watts...
  28. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Well, that's true SET amps tend to be power-challenged but IMO speakers that need a push-pull amplifier are not speakers I have tended to like very much. Albeit I have not auditioned the top Living Voice speakers. I have only tried the MTM Without knowing the price of them I would not...
  29. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Why do you not read what I wrote --- "mostly" focused? I even put "mostly" in quotes so that people could see the word Mostly - do I need to bold it underline it and put it in hot pink so you can see it? On their website - they list 4 power amplifiers and one integrated amp (5 amplifiers)...
  30. Richard Austen

    Audio Note UK vs Audio Japan Sonic Differences

    Well, rarely do folks seem to talk about the tubes. Smaller brands like Shindo I have been told use very expensive quality rare NOS tubes in their amplifiers - part of the price paid is the fact that you are getting very premium tubes included with the unit. Thus, in order to keep the great...

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