The system's source was the Audio Note CDT-Three transport ($9550) and DAC 4.1x Balanced DAC ($15,500). The speakers were Audio Note's AN-E SEC loudspeakers ($51,000/pair), which have a claimed sensitivity of 95dB. Cables were Audio Note Pallas digital cable ($4275), Sooto interconnect ($7050/m), and SogoN96 speaker cables ($9635). The power cable was the only non-Audio Note product: a Nordost Odin power cable.
I have to confess the system's price tag worried me—those are numbers that make even a high-end reviewer's head spin. And no, I didn't automatically assume I would like it because it was expensive. Those prices are scary. Here's the thnig, though: They system didn't sound expensive, it sounded right. No single element predominated, unless you count the complete sense of ease and the fabulous dynamic range.
I listened to one of Todd Garfinkle's M•A recordings, Sheila Jordon and Harve Swartz's "You Don't Know What Love Is." Wow. It was just an exceptional singer and an acoustic bassist in a reverberant hall, but the AN system gave me all of that—the room, the bass, and the woman, most of all the woman. Even at her current age, Jordan is a powerful singer and she almost pegged Todd's mikes on this one. My intellect tells me that there's no way a 25Wpc amplifier can control that, even on 95dB speakers, but the Audio Notes handled those passages better than any other system I'd heard at CES.
Next came Nina Simone's "Little Girl Blue" and I was practically in tears. Everything just sounded so right. I had goosebumps—and despite all evidence to the contrary, I'd have sworn my hair was standing on end,
Forget best sound of show, for sheer emotional delivery, timbral clarity, dynamic agility, and, yes, the highest fidelity, the Audio Note system may have been the best hi-fi I have ever heard. It was one of those magical moments that we audiophiles put up with all of the hassles for.
After the Audio Note demo. the rest was noise, so I quit on a winner. Not many people who come to Vegas can say that.
COMMENTS
Wes, thanks for this beautiful write-up. Thanks in fact for every one of your beautiful write-ups. I continue to marvel at how much you were able to cover at the show.Someday, I hope you get the opportunity to play with Odin power cables. People flipped when, in my Nordost blog, I said that a single Nordost Odin power cable can transform the sound of a system. I have a hunch that's why they at least one was used in an otherwise exclusive Audio Note system.
i think it is a fine thing that there are such objects that create such good feelings in the world. just like an old master painting, i will never own that system either, but i am glad it is there just the same. i was very pleased to read about it. thanks for offering your opinion Wes.
. Если есть возможность, то настоящие и старые (лет 20-30 назад). Так как города застраиваются и меняются, то посмотреть старые фото советских времен очень интересно.У каждого свой город и пусть каждый скинет ссылку на фотоальбом или сайт своего города.Я, как на правах первой, даю ссылку на сайт моего города Йошкар-Ола, республика Марий Эл. На сайте как фотки советских времен, так и современные. Вот, например, фото йошкар олы Жду ваши линки
Зработок для общительных людейПредлагаю заработать, публикуя сообщение на форуме. Оплата 80 копеек за сообщениеЗаработанная сумма зависит только от вас и ваших возможностейВыплаты по требованию.Подробности только по этому мэйлу qazew@inbox.ruТема письма: Хочу начатьТекст письма: Имя, номер ICQ
Very nice piece of kit I have to say. Thanks for the write up it was very interesting to read.
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