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EAR vs Audio Note preamp

Friends,
I am contemplating getting a preamp with in-built high quality phono stage. I have shortlisted EAR 868/912 or Audio Note M3/M5 phono. I plan to buy pre-owned so I am flexible about the models. The power amp that will be driven will be a Nelson Pass First Watt F6 initially and slowly I may get into the SET domain. Can someone tell me about the sonic difference between EAR and Audio Note preamps ? I value speed, dynamics and purity of tone. I am neither for artificial warmth or artificial clarity. 



pani
dragon_vibe
430 posts
 
Im very familiar with EAR but not Audio-Note. 

You might want to also consider Atma-Sphere Pre-Amps. These respond to tube rolling very well and the stock Chinese tubes provided have outclassed alot of the Solid state pre-amps i have compared them too. They are musical and very transparent at the same time.
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ebm
9,311 posts
 
Get Audio Note from Japan only about 30k used let me know when you get it.
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
616 posts
 
Audio Note! I had a very upgraded and modified M3 at one time. Wish I still had it! AN gear makes music not just good sounds. Well worth the investment.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,514 posts
 
Robert Levi of Positive Feedback and The Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society is of the opinion that the EAR 912 betters the Audio Research Reference 3. The EAR 868 contains the same design and circuits as the 912, but without the 912's faceplate, meters, and some controls. 868's don't come up for sale used very often, but when they do sell for around $4k.
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