Audio Note Cobra Integrated Amp / AN-J Hemp Speakers Review

Рет қаралды 34,589

Жыл бұрын

A new challenger is approaching... How will audio note do against the wrath of the 3 sonically challenged stooges? Find out in this review of the Audio Note AN-J Speakers and Cobra Integrated Tube Amp!
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Audio Excellence Inc. is a high end audio/video store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto. We've been in business since 1991.
Check out our interviews with designers and audio luminaries like Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio, Paul McGowan of PS Audio, Paolo Tezzon of Sonus faber, Wendell Diller of Magnepan, John Atkinson of Stereophile, Dan D'Agostino of D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and others.
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Пікірлер: 105

@realitytunnel Ай бұрын

This is a great review and, I think, spot-on. I heard two AN systems at a show a couple of years back - one was a slightly more expensive setup in a larger room with AN-E speakers and a turntable. I spent 5 minutes trying to work out if they were using multiple subs before realising the corner loaded AN-E were doing that clean, deep, fast bass. Yet no fatigue and incredibly musical. But the system which impressed me even more was the smaller room with just a Cobra driving AN-Es with the field coil drivers. This was, again, super super listenable, musical and completely without any glare or fatigue. It sounded like live music. What AN, to me, seem to get right is most gear doesn't have the natural warmth through the lower mids to the lower treble that real-life voices and instruments have. AN nail this, and I think that's their secret as no-one else is doing this. I listen to a very wide range of music and want them all to be enjoyable, so their stuff does it for me.

@karenyfreddy Жыл бұрын

Hi, Audio Note UK makes very musical products. I do own a full AN system (Amp, Dac, CD player, Speakers, Cables) it is crazy good. If you like the Cobra, do get a Meishu Tonemeister 300B. It will blow your mind. Glad to hear you are into AN now. Best

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

We should have the Meishu soon

@brkly99 Жыл бұрын

I listened to this exact combination last year and came away very impressed. Fantastic performance for the price

@user-ys4og2vv8k Жыл бұрын

I remember hearing Audio Note speakers years ago, I think they were model E. Never before and not since have I heard a sound I liked better than these Audio Notes. in one word - A M B I A N C E !

@enniol8043 Жыл бұрын

Adrian has been searching for a tube line for a while and it sounds like he found one. I am very happy to hear this and look forward to coming into hear it.

@vaneast411 Жыл бұрын

love the review guys nice to hear how much you enjoyed the system with the tried and true old world dac/amp/speakers

@bbfrid88 Жыл бұрын

I love your format and the enthusiasm with which you review the products. Your love of music shines through. Shout out for the Boston Acoustic speakers...I have A120s.

@bbfrid88 Жыл бұрын

...and I love Rush and Triumph

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

@@bbfrid88 I've owned: A70, A40, A100, A150 & A200. Only need the A400 for my bucket list.

@robclendenning2806 Жыл бұрын

Great review. Love Audio Note equipment. The comments apply really well to speakers like the Kef 104/2 Reference speakers. They too have this magical quality. Wish the Audio Excellence team would do a review if they ever get a pair in on trade!

@frankgeeraerts6243 10 ай бұрын

The KEF 105.1 also.......

@edmaster3147 Жыл бұрын

Followed your review on the ZenStream and it's streaming into my modded AN Dac (it's very suitable for tweaking) and I absolutely love it. Your review on the AN set is very recognizable, Audio Note seems to succeed in making gear that just sounds amazing. Looking forward to the next review. It must be so much fun being able to have so much great gear to play with.

@edwardhenderson6584 Жыл бұрын

Hope to one day visit your store. I live near NYC

@jackfuller7801 10 ай бұрын

Was lucky enough to hear 2x Audio Note systems at a hifi show. By far the most unique sound I’ve heard, and exceptional value for money.

@Nephilim-81 Жыл бұрын

All class and good humor. Also it was a pleasure meeting you all at Toronto Audiofest. Love how kind and personable you all are, especially you Adrain. Pure class, man!

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Very kind of you

@johnanderson8096 Жыл бұрын

"The 3 Stooges" were Firing on All Cylinders Here... OUTSTANDING!! Very Enjoyable!!! Would love to hear this System.... Thank you for your Efforts.... 👍👍👍 ✌✌✌

@MsCorbacho 6 ай бұрын

Every single time I heard audio note was always at the minimum a very nice agreeable experience , and other times even an wow experience

@Ricky-cl5bu Жыл бұрын

Brilliant as usual love your talks absolutely brilliant thanks

@edwinfermin9142 Жыл бұрын

The timing of this review couldn’t be more perfect for me. I had the pleasure to audition the entire AN line up last year and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Their level 4 and 5 still to this day are the best systems I’ve ever heard. But of course, the price of those systems is not doable for most of us. Nonetheless, It’s refreshing to hear that it wasn’t just me, but AN is really that good. So, fast forward to today and I’m finally thinking of pulling the trigger on the AN-K/LX or the Spe (not same speakers in this review) and pair them with the Cobra amp in this review. But because of its size, I may need to settle with the Synthesis 96DC amp since it’s so much more compact. Thank you for a very enjoyable video! I look forward to hearing what you guys think of the higher level AN equipment.

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@steve777ization Жыл бұрын

what a terrific review. can't wait to hear what you have to say about other equipment in the AN line. might also be worth checking out some of their cables. power, interconnects and speaker. try and get some silver ones if you can. also tube rolling will yield enormous results for relatively little investment. i think as you spend more you keep that musicality but it also gets to be much higher resolution with much better signal to noise ratio.

@jensastrup1940 Жыл бұрын

Very good overview of what AN does, especially the speakers. Back in the 90's, I had the old Snell speakers, then got a pair of AN J's but missed some top-end extension. That led me to a detour of Verity speakers, which are also not bad, but they don't have the drive/PRAT of AN speakers. When I heard an Alnico version of the E speaker, I was sold. These are fantastic speakers--here you get the clarity but they keep their musicality and forgiveness for mediocre recordings. EDIT: Forgot to mention that my wife loves the look of AN's speakers 😀 I guess it's because they are pure form follows function.

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

congrats! good for you

@terrywho22 Жыл бұрын

21:58 The look that Vilip gives when Adrian says he played metal. 😆😆😆 Great editing cut!!

@Ricky-cl5bu Жыл бұрын

It’s very hard to find a system that you can listen to all music and it sounds good , the more resolute your system is the less music sounds good on it

@davidmcginnis2998 Жыл бұрын

Triumph was my very first piece of music I purchased as a kid

@travisb4397 Жыл бұрын

I would like to mention how utterly silent the Cobra is as well. I get zero hiss from my 94db efficient speakers.

@koolblue2 Жыл бұрын

The internal DAC doesn’t “reduce”, it truncates the bits. When you use the word reduce you suggest to the audience that their is a reduction in sound quality. Likely the bottom 8 bits are truncated, and the remaining 16 bits are dithered to make the musical output. This often results in a more pleasing sound to the ear . 24 bits provide about 110 dB of dynamic range while 16 bits provide 92-96 dB . In reality the range is inconsequential as most recordings are far far below this dynamic range .

@michelcouture7026 Жыл бұрын

I bought a AN OTO se Signature, the boxe was very cheap, the sound is extraordinary with snell type E. 10watts, class A

@shunpillay Жыл бұрын

😯29:10 "We'll see what the Ongaku sounds like when we get it." Fell off my seat. Subscribed. Hit the Bell. Bookmarked. Shared. Put a sticky on my monitor. Ordered popcorn. Yes, PLEASE! Finally, decent coverage of the Ongaku on KZfaq. I am so excited and can't wait. 😊

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

I just set up the Ongaku and the AN/E SPx HE Sigs. Sounds pretty good!

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

‚Pretty good‘ I think ain’t enough for the money they ask for it… As always the fact of greatly diminishing returns shows up in the AN ladder up!

@psyphonyxaudio Жыл бұрын

I'd LOVE to have the Cobra system in white for a unique system =) ... I'll be aroud to listen very soon!

@psyphonyxaudio Жыл бұрын

@@rap-soldier2185 ...Bloody Geniuses online.. !! Knew if I left an open ended idea on here someone with spare brain power would solve the puzzle... By God, the world is full of love today.

@imosolar Жыл бұрын

Audio note is awesome

@hughjanus1135 Жыл бұрын

24:00 there’s a video of the cobra playing with the internal dac and a external dac , and the separation of the instruments was improved with the external dac

@sylvio1980 Жыл бұрын

I like that you guys talked about how this particular set would work with less than perfect recordings. I think that should be part of any speaker review since most of us will probably use it to watch KZfaq clips, cds etc. Keep up the good work !

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

One of the reasons I like AudioNote is that they do play "regular" recordings very well. If there is passion and soul in the recording, it comes through

@tomkelly8680 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your review. I have been listening to the AN OTO SE paired with AN-K/LX speakers with the AN cables and I find the system to be very musical as well. I can listen to it for hours on end. But it does lack the punch that you mentioned. Everything is a compromise I’m afraid.

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

Yes, there is - regardless of price - no such thing as a „perfect“ system. It comes down to preferences and taste even at the highest priced systems.

@frankgeeraerts6243 10 ай бұрын

Imagine with nos EL34 's .........their best resistors on crucial places in the circuit .........and Neotech silver OCC speaker cables .......... I especialy cherish the 6CA7 GE fat boys.

@philipgardiner2003 9 ай бұрын

Hi Guys, Terrific review! Lewis’ accent reminds me of Monty Alexander…😅❤

@groovesick Жыл бұрын

Listening to the cobra at the moment together with the company’s AN-K speakers (LX Version). Great system. If you‘re so enamored with the Cobra, you guys need to try an OTO. The OTO Phono SE signature is one of my all time favorite amps.

@nicktube3904 Жыл бұрын

Yes it is wonderful!

@hoobsgroove Жыл бұрын

you can leave a tube amp running all the time as long as you use a variac and bypass switch set it for 60 volts and you'll be alright. turn it up to the right voltage of your country 5 minutes before use and switch it to bypass

@512bb 6 ай бұрын

You guys are funny, thanks for the good time

@sonusancti Жыл бұрын

Hi Adrian, just curious to know the price you mentioned for those hemps, which upgrade option did it have if any? Thanks and great review.

@IvoCoric Жыл бұрын

Audio Note is the cure for Audiophilia nervosa ! It plays music not sounds :)

@realitytunnel Ай бұрын

This.

@richardyanicky1845 Жыл бұрын

I have AN system, and they a left and right vol controls very hard to match up. Need to count the "clicks" and look at the notch. I beleive the power switch on the back to keep the circuit short and clean . The same for mine with L/R volume controls?

@bigjay1970 Жыл бұрын

I have a set of Boston Acoustic cr9's and cr6's that sound great. I used them for home theater before tge JBL's came to town!🤔🤫🤪

@HotSause Жыл бұрын

Great job. Am extremely curious as to how much of the magic from the speaker is due to synergy with the AN amp.. How does this speaker pair up with transistors like the Hegel and others, and is the magic diminished or lost?

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

Lewis really liked the AN-J Hemps with our demo Synthesis Roma 96 DC integrated tube amp. 25 watts class A. Haven't really yet had a chance to use with transistor amps yet.

@terrywho22 Жыл бұрын

The age old argument: musicality vs transparency. Here is a question: is there a solid state amp under ~$5k that has the ability to relay emotion and stand the hairs on the back of your neck? I feel that under $5 or 6k, tubes seem to do that more effectively.

@RealHIFIHelp Жыл бұрын

What about the Ongaku, did you guys make a video about it?

@NosTubes58 Жыл бұрын

Actually the AN speakers are based upon the old Snell Acoustics brand out of Canada, they liked them so much that AN UK bought up the remaining cabinets from the 80s designs, as for your review……., it reads like these products cover musicality | tonality more so than many modern products, and this coming from someone whom loves Shindo Labs as well as AN | Kondo Japan Overture Int. Amp, job well done I’d add.

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! The original Snells were made in the US.

@hans-henrikrasmussen53 Жыл бұрын

The cabs bought up from the late eighties when Snell revised their speaker range lasted only a limited period of time. When I got my first pair of oak J's early february 1992 AN UK had changed to some UK cabinet maker. Ufortunately the new UK cabs were a very far cry from the original US made cabinets which were really really nice. Reason why I ordered my J's with oak finish? I foolishly some 4 yrs years prior to that sold a perfectly finished pair of Snell E mk.I's in the most beautiful oiled american oak cabinets. So finish wise a bit of a let down. That said the AN UK J's were a lot better SOUNDING that the original Snell J mk.I's I was very familiar with too. Today the E, J and K line up has been taken to new exhalted heights sound- as well finish wise unimaginable back in the eighties when they were conceived by Peter Snell. Today what's left of the ol' Snells today is mostly the format or template where everything has been honed and sophisticated up until the extreme. Just to clarify matters😃

@202One 6 ай бұрын

What makes some of those vintage jeans expensive is Hemp.. Ironic AN Hemp Speakers.. 🍾

@jcvr18 Жыл бұрын

I'm a TRIUMPH FAN TOO ADRIAN

@thevintagehifiambassador8524 Жыл бұрын

Hello. Audio Note: The CD 2.1x Mk I the first one. Will it work with my Sudgen A21 SE Signature integrated or my Sudgen HA-4 headphone preamplifier or my Exposure 3010 s2d preamplifier or my Exposure 2510 integrated or my Cambridge Audio A500 because of these 100 kOhm impedance I suppose no amp of mine has. Kind regards. Jeff

@Stevenc1970 Жыл бұрын

For playing analogue (vinyl), woukd you recommend the COBRA - - or the integrated amp from Luxman for the same price LUXMAN - L-505uXII? THANKS!!

@robertov2974 Жыл бұрын

Excuse the question I would like to ask what do you think about a system composed by Snell E/III and Manley Stingray do Snell sound similar to Ausio Notes? Thank you

@mikelm222 Жыл бұрын

The switch on the back is pure audio design ergonomics but perhaps not that customer friendly.

@dreamliner2 Жыл бұрын

Now insert some Sophia Electric EL34’s in that amp and listen again. You’ll be even more amazed…

@nicholaosmiller8151 Жыл бұрын

ADC Soundshaper II 12 bands p/c made over 30 years ago THD .005. IT WILL NOT ad NOISE or HISS ( unless it was A PART of the ORIGINAL recording) HAVE a GREAT day! NICHOLAOS of TIME!...............

@tacofortgens3471 Жыл бұрын

Could you guys do a review of the peachtree nova 300? Intergrated amp?

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

Check on their hp if they have Peachtree on offer - if not …. Most likely NOT. Remember, they’re not a reviewing channel in the first place

@tacofortgens3471 Жыл бұрын

@@bikemike1118 they did the ppwer amp review... 🤷‍♂️

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

Peachtree Nova 300 has been on the market over 5 years - so highly unlikely. We did listen to and liked the new GaN400 stereo amp - and in fact will use it to review the LRS+ next.

@robertasbenediktavicius1059 Жыл бұрын

Nice. How Cobra sound with Audiophysic speakers?

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

Well, Audiophysic speakers tend to have low sensitivity (below 88dB) …. not a good combination with low(er) powered tube amps!

@robertasbenediktavicius1059 Жыл бұрын

@@bikemike1118 its 91 dB

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

@@robertasbenediktavicius1059 check if this is supposed to be at 1 Watt or 283VA … makes a difference. Current models apparently have ALL 89 dB …but I doubt it. Anyway …try it out and you’ll see.

@klepp19 Жыл бұрын

How does the Cobra integrated compare to the Synthesis Audio Roma 96 DC?

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

The Synthesis is like a pair of skinny jeans…

@klepp19 Жыл бұрын

@@vilipmak3973 I like your analogy! Thanks!😅

@davehardan8323 Жыл бұрын

Why would the transformers be covered but not the tubes

@tallpaull9367 Жыл бұрын

Organic, Musical, and GMO free

@Thunderbird139 Жыл бұрын

Packaging should be just enough to get the job done. Isn’t more just wasteful?

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

It's not a question of more, just better - like thicker, denser, etc. - to be able to survive the rigors of shipping.

@michaelcorlet2998 Жыл бұрын

My only question do you guys sell audio note as a business.

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

Yes, they have it new in their brands portfolio.

@michelcouture7026 Жыл бұрын

Will you be reseller of AN equipment?

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

Not reseller. The Seller.

@michelcouture7026 Жыл бұрын

@@vilipmak3973 excuse my french, very interesting commentary on AN tried equipment.

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

@@michelcouture7026 Yes - we are an authorized premium dealer. Ongaku assembled and firing into AN/E SPx HE Sig. Manna from Heaven…

@harryburnett7086 Жыл бұрын

Not Audiophile, Audio note lol never heard that before speak of Audio note equipment

@bikemike1118 Жыл бұрын

Well, if it was audiophile it would be named ‚Audio Phile‘ …not Audio Note !

@nicholaosmiller8151 Жыл бұрын

SO this is a PERFECT EXAMPLE of how a "FREQUENCY EQUALIZER" is the ONLY! answer! To ENABLE a speaker to SOUND like (YOU the"LISTENER prefers ) so quit being AUDIO SNOBS and ADMIT! A FREQUENCY EQUALIZER is the BEST and CHEAPEST answer to make MOST any system SOUND LIKE YOU WANT! Please have an EXTRAORDINARY DAY!..................... NICHOLAOS of TIME!.........

@albertc136 Жыл бұрын

okay, you can't rave about and show pictures of the beef noodle without telling us who live in the GTA where we can get it

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

Any Chinese noodle restaurant would have Beef Brisket in soup. Even a chain like Noodle Delight.

@adrianlow2114 Жыл бұрын

ALA Kitchen in Markham

@charlesnr Жыл бұрын

With all your high end speakers, its time to go higher power with a more powerful amp, the Mastersound Evolution 845. Its now in production over 20 years. Now in the US apparently by MoFI distribution. Can't forget hearing it at CES with pair of Gradient loudspeakers that many years ago. The most musical amp I have ever heard. No recent reviews, so older models tend to be forgotten. Might even blow away the Audio Note amp on its own 2 way loudspeaker for musicality. Too expensive for most other dealers to carry.

@Nightjar726 Жыл бұрын

The biggest snake oil company by far. I mean measurements aren’t everything. But they are good in showing if there is something really wrong about a product and engineering. And there are a ton of things wrong with AN products from a simple engineering aspect

@Anonymous-sb9rr 2 ай бұрын

There's an annoying hum in the background of this video, which is surprising for an audiophile channel. Makes me question their expertise. It's not that hard to get it right.

@blairsprague8112 Жыл бұрын

I think you guys have been smoking too much hemp from those speakers...classic slippery audio sales pitch...all sizzle and no steak

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

Actually if you watched and listened to our review - it would be all steak and no sizzle - just saying… keep up!

@blairsprague8112 Жыл бұрын

Vilip...stopped listening to you ages ago...why? Simple...always a condescending sales pitch based lacking any objectivity...you only push what your shop carries...Best Buy for the crazy rich A____s...no thanks

@vilipmak3973 Жыл бұрын

@@blairsprague8112 So let me condescend to you again and again as you actually don't add anything of substance to the discord - keep on watching! It just adds to the metric and keeps funds coming in to support our designated charity. And you know, can't always please everyone, especially you as it turns out.

@jackfuller7801 10 ай бұрын

Was lucky enough to hear 2x Audio Note systems at a hifi show. By far the most unique sound I’ve heard, and exceptional value for money.