Audio Note Gaku-on

The Gaku-On amps that I am familiar with are from Audionote (uk) and employ 211 tubes in a parallel single-ended configuration (two output tubes per channel). A local dealer had a pair, and, I believe, one customer owned something like three pairs (two in operation as part of a triamped system) and a third as a spare. These were crazy expensive amps ($250,000 a pair retail). This amp sounds very good, but I actually personally preferred the sound of the Audionote Sogon, which cost about half the price; it has a leaner sound, but a more open top end.

So for $125,000, it's a real bargain?

I suppose that if one could afford either, money is not a factor, only personal preference. This stuff is unbelievably expensive.

Guys, I only wanted to read a review! If you read my post i said i'd like to buy one next time i went to sleep...which is to say, in my dreams.

but thanks for the private emails!

I just want to say that many Japanese super$$$ high end (tube) equipment are overrated, way overrated. We are not talking about normal livelike sound any longer, but a sort of highly refined but "sculpted" and transformed live sound, which doesn't longer sound live to me. But... I might be wrong of course.

Chris