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Audio Note DAC Owners- please share your thoughts

Hello to All-

Although I’ve been reading this forum for years I’m relatively new to posting here. I’ve read most of the archived posts regarding Audio Note products- unfortunately the majority of them are fairly old.

For the last few years I’ve been wondering about AN DAC’s as I rarely hear about there being any downside to them (other than the entry fee) and have also noticed that they are fairly scarce on the used market.

I’m currently using a Aqua La Scala Optologic MKII and while I enjoy it very much I am always wondering “how good is an AN dac and would it be worth purchasing?”

If you happen to own one of these mystical pieces of technology would you mind helping me understand more about their qualities? Like-

1) I’ve heard they are remarkable when it comes to Redbook playback- flawlessly true to the source

2) I’ve heard them described as warm, some say like syrup and others say neutral.

3) Looking under the hood (pictures) seems straight forward- like old school yet it still competes with the latest designs

4) If you’ve owned one and sold it what did you move to, why and did you regret it?

5) Some folks have decided to pass on the high ticket price and have bought the AN Kit instead. Are these even a close facsimile of the original?

I am very fascinated with this product as it seems to hold a high place in audio gear history- it’s reputation makes it almost one of those things that you shouldn’t have to ask about but I’d like to know a little more before making the spend. Any help on this would be appreciated!

Designsfx

 

designsfx
designsfx OP
794 posts
 

@jjss49-

Thanks for the note. I had read your impressions on the ANK 4.1 earlier and even though it sounded as if from memory it gave me the impression you were liking what you heard (at least for a while). Seems like you’ve found something special with the Weiss and Chord duo in your system.

As for 24/96 I’m not seeing that as a limitation- and I’ve tossed this thought around a lot over the last couple of years.I think for the near future I’m going to stick with the CD format as that is all I own (get rid of my records 30 years ago).

I’m realizing this curiosity in Audio Note may take a while to realize due to availability and logistics but I’m not going to rush as the DAC I’m currently using is pretty amazing. It’s the AN tube output stage that intrigues me- 

whipsaw
758 posts
 

@designsfx 

I am also using an Aqua La Scala Optologic MKII, and if you find any DAC that you consider to be clearly better, I'd be interested to hear about it. I say that because it's difficult for me not to imagine a steep slope of diminishing returns above the quality of the Aqua.

dpetr
28 posts
 

designsfx - I built an Audio Note Kit L4 Limited Edition DAC several years ago when the kit business was still affiliated with Audio Note UK. The circuit is Audio Note and so are most of the parts. Over the past 7 or 8 years I’ve upgraded most of it, and now I even have some parts from a recent DAC 5 Signature. Its been a fun project and I love the way it sounds. You can roll tubes and try different caps too. The sound is very smooth and natural, and I’ve found that it handles most things well. My entire music library is 16/44, and ripped from either CD or Tidal. I’d give it high marks for Redbook, but the Cirrus Logic CS8414 receiver chip in front of the AD1865 only handles 18-bits, so it will truncate anything above that. I have tried upsampling to 16/88 and the DAC handles that well but I don’t hear any difference over 16/44. You can definitely find many quality DACs that measure better for a fraction of the price of one of the ANK kits, but for me the fun was in the build, and in the upgrade process. I never compared it to a true AN finished-product DAC, but I am curious... I’d bet its close...

 

 

designsfx OP
794 posts
 

@dpetr-

I’d like to hear more about this! Sending you a pm

doni
360 posts
 

I’ve had the AN 2.1x Sig. for about five years, and couldn’t be happier with it.  Many consider it to be the “sweet spot “ in the AN line.  Although I’m forever trying to find something better, it hasn’t happened yet.  Of course, it has its limitations, but I’m not sure anything I’ve heard suits me quite so well.

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