From Audio Note AN/J-D to where?

apollinaire I will say this stepping up from the AN-J/D to say an AN-J/lx, my current speakers, would render a significant improvement as I am pretty sure the D series doesn't use Birch ply cabinets but standard particle board. To me it's those lively sounding bitch cabinets that add a lot to the speakers quickness and overall live sound. So yes the AN-E/Spe would be quite the significant upgrade for you.

As far as electronics go sure AN gear can be pricey but so are a lot of other brands. Integrateds like the Oto and Soro sound so good they really are enough for many users. That said I've not used AN amps to drive my speakers, currently using a pair of Wright Sound Co 2a3 monoblocks which are excellent in my small room.

One thing sensitivity does is offer you a ton of flexibility in choosing an amplifier. The only other of the speakers you mention that I've heard would be Shindo the big field coils are amazing but very $$ and require a fairly large room. Good luck in your search and have fun with it!

@apollinaire after level 3, the prices reaches astronomical heights.

Totally agree, and understand - to the point I don’t own those next level amps myself, yet I look at them and listen to them each time I go to my local dealer. Oto, Soro, others there too as mentioned above. There are some 211 mono amps and one integrated by AN I’d love to own, yet just don’t see my self splurging that much and so to your point, what else. There is just an undeniable synergy around what Peter offers though.  

In addition to AN, my local dealer offers some of the next-level down cost options starting with Quicksilver Audio. Myself and many friends own them, and we upgrade caps and tubes to get to the best sound we can. I’ve heard your speakers and others on the lower cost Quicksilver Mid Monos there too, a nice little pair of EL34 amps on the AN speakers. My other audio buddy has owned some of the nice Shindo gear, and we met growing up owning many of Dennis Had’s amplifiers from Cary and later years of Inspire by Dennis Had amps, so I totally get the ideas of exploration.Those can be fun and affordable to. Enjoy the music!

First of all I do really appreciate Audio Note products and there are no doubts, that they are a leading enterprise in the audio industry. I'm very amazed by how much effort they put into producing every single component themselves. The output transformers are astonishing. However, with this post I'm trying to nuance my understanding a bit and would be pleased if someone would elaborate on open baffle systems versus Audio Note AN-E SPe/HE for instance. 

If you like the sound of AN, stick to it. What AN does is give you more as you progress in the line. And significant more. I've been an AN fan for a few years, going up the ladder as my budget allows it. Now I have a pretty good AN system and realized that big jumps up the ladder gives you bigger jumps sonically. For example, going from a level 2 to a level 4 is 10 time the jump, not only two times.

Having owned AN-J's and now AN-E's, I can tell you it is a huge jump. And if you can stitch your budget to get the Alnico's you will not believe your ears. This is my current speaker, awaiting delivery of the new AN-E LTD, which are field coils speakers.

Also, the synergy of AN products is incredible. If you go, little by little to everything AN, including cables you will have an ultra musical system. I do believe that is the end goal of this hobby.

Finally, it is true that AN speakers are based on the old Snell speakers, but they are not the same. AN speakers have evolved dramatically. Only the looks are similar now.

Good luck and enjoy the hunting....

As you are in Europe and have an interest in horns, have you listened to Avantgarde's line of speakers?