CHANGING FROM AUDIO RESEARCH TO AUDIO NOTE SYSTEM 

After my first post I had some more listening time to an AN system on my dealer. AN E  LX Hemp, 94 db, AN M2 Line preamp and P1 SE SIGNATURE power. 
 

returning home and listening TO the same tracks on my system, the sound seemed hard and aggressive, lesser texture and lesser tonality. my room at home has no treatment and the dealer has a lot of Treatment. The source was an AN transport plus DAC. At home is a Meridian G08. 
I have an offer to buy me back my REF150 and Sophia 3 and getting a P3 tonemeister silver and ANE SPE. For the power amp I feel comfortable on the change. However, for the loudspeakers, I feel I am exchanging a nice Audi for a good Ford. The later is very enjoyable to drive but the former is technologically superior. I don’t know if the image is good enough. But I feel I am trading a speaker technolohically more advanced for one with not such technical and innovative solutions but with a simple and sound engineering. 
 

I will have a home demo of the same system. 

@pfmaudio

Your concerns over the speakers is understandable, it happens all the time when we analyze potential outcomes rather than just listening. Room acoustics and technology can cause alot of heartburn….when, in fact, you are about to learn a great deal. You will know fairly quickly if the an-e’s couple with your room synergistically. I would also recommend that you suspend disbelief until you hear it in your room. In no way at all do I agree with your characterization of the sophias as the audi, the audio note as Ford. New tech vs old tech as if new tech must sound better. The audio note speakers in the right system and the right room will sound exceptional. Same goes for your sophias. Dont let your new tech/old tech thoughts guide how you will hear before hearing. New tech cello vs old tech….new tech piano vs old tech. The audio note speakers arent meant to be inert like wilsons, they are meant to act like instruments.

In no way at all do I agree with your characterization of the sophias as the audi, the audio note as Ford. New tech vs old tech as if new tech must sound better. The audio note speakers in the right system and the right room will sound exceptional. Same goes for your sophias. Dont let your new tech/old tech thoughts guide how you will hear before hearing. New tech cello vs old tech….new tech piano vs old tech. The audio note speakers arent meant to be inert like wilsons, they are meant to act like instruments.

Excellent point and agree 100%

i just do not buy that "new tech" is by default the superior choice, particularly in regard to music/audio matters. You have to listen and trust your ears and judgement.

Charles

@ghasley ,

thanks a lot for your post. I will definitely have the system in my room and listen to see if it works well. 
 

by the way, the speakers will be ANE SPe HE, which have the hempel woofer and high efficiency. At the time is the best I can afford. The price more than doubles for the signatures and it is almost 3x for the AlNiCo, which I believe would be the best option. 
 

do you think having the silver signature would be a great upgrade?

@pfmaudio 

Listen in your room, make notes and then discuss it with your dealer. You assume the alnicos and the signature speakers would sound better in your room which may not be the case depending on amp selection and room interaction. For instance, the alnicos are less efficient and some dealers believe the alnico version pairs better with their 211 amps vs their 300b amps. The an-e spe he is the sweet spot in the e lineup, quite versatile given its higher efficiency and combo of silver wire/copper vocecoils. But let your ears decide.

Do I like the el84 amp in the se signature guise vs the tonmeister silver? Absolutely but thats what I like…others would get angry if they happen to feel otherwise. You might enjoy the audio note speakers buried in the corners with your audio research setup…they would for sure be more dynamic than anything youve experienced and who knows, the drive of the arc gear combined with the damping factor might combine wonderfully in your room. Have fun, forget your preconceived notions and just listen.