I just finished up my article about the Pass Labs XP-17 phono equalizer for Positive Feedback (HERE).
Audio Note (UK) Io I moving coil phonograph cartridge ($4132 USD).
If you had a chance to read the XP-17 article, you know I had some very favorable things to say about the Audio Note (UK) Io I moving coil phonograph cartridge, which made a cameo appearance there ahead of its eventual Positive Feedback article that is coming later this year.
The next audio delicacy in my writing queue for Positive Feedback is the beautiful 2 watt per channel Triode Lab 45 EVO SET integrated amplifier from Canada, which I've been listening to for a while now in my audio-visual system on the big vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theater loudspeakers.
Duelund-ized Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition Loudspeakers.
In preparation for that article, I wanted to rotate my Duelund-Westminster Project Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers (Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE) out of my main music system and rotate back in the super-sensitive vintage Duelund-Altec Project Altec loudspeakers that were custom built for conductor Leopold Stokowski back in the day (HERE), to give the 2 watt 45 EVO a fighting chance.
You see, even though the Westminster loudspeakers have highish sensitivity, they can be difficult to drive for some lower-powered amplifiers. The Westminsters actually really thrive with powerful solid-state amplification, so I thought the 2 watt 45 EVO would be best served by the Altecs.
Duelund-ized custom vintage Altec loudspeakers built for conductor Leopold Stokowski.
You know how it is. You think you know something, and it turns out you don't. I'm learning to not believe everything I think.
A wise audio man once told me, "You never what is going to work well together, you just have to try it and hear what happens."
Following that advice, after the Pass Labs XP-17 phono pre article, I tried substituting in Nelson's 18 watt per channel First Watt SIT-3 single-ended solid-state amplifier (HERE) for his more powerful Pass Labs XA25 stereo amplifier (HERE).
When I originally wrote about the First Watt SIT-3 for Positive Feedback, it sounded really impressive, but didn't really have enough power to achieve live-like volume levels from the Westminsters, when driven by my vintage McIntosh MX110Z tuner-preamplifier.
However, when the single-ended SIT-3 was driven by the Pass Labs XP-12 pre and XP-17 phono combo, it easily had enough power to drive my Westminsters to live-like volumes. I was surprised and gratified by the outcome. Well now.
Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier ($6330 USD).
That got me to thinking I should try the even lower-power Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier (HERE) with the Westminsters.
I didn't think the 10 watt per channel parallel single-ended-pentode EL84 Oto integrated amplifier would have enough juice to achieve live-like volumes with the Westminsters, but I wanted to give it a try.
The Oto Phono SE Signature absolutely blew me away with its sound quality and musicality on my "Stokowski" Altecs.
The Oto and the Altecs are one of those "match made in heaven" combinations that you come across every once in a while that makes you step back and reevaluate everything you think about audio. Sinfully addictive.
Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers driven by the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier.
Last night I tried the Oto Phono SE Signature with Westminsters. Once again I was taken by surprise, as the Oto was able to easily drive the Westminsters to live-like volumes with room to spare.
The Oto also sounded luminously musical while doing it too. The sound quality and musicality of the Oto Phono SE Signature was as impressive on the Westminsters as it was on the Altecs. Hmm.
One of the advantages of having four audio systems here is that I can rotate hifi equipment through them to get an idea of components' versatility for accommodating the differing soundscapes each system offers.
The Westminster loudspeakers go higher and lower in frequency, are more transparent, resolving, and neutral sounding than my Altecs. The Altecs provide a sweet, rich, and darkish soundscape that is addictively musical. Totally different presentations of the music, and both superb in their own ways.
Given that positive outcome, last night I decided to try the full suite of Audio Note (UK) kit I have here on the Westminsters.
Both as a long-term followup on the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier and Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD Player ($3874 USD, HERE), and to offer you cameo appearances of the Audio Note (UK) Io I moving-coil phonograph cartridge, the Audio Note (UK) AN-4 step-up transformer, and the Audio Note (UK) AN-V silver interconnects (for the SUT).
I plan to tell you more about the Audio Note (UK) AN-SPe silver loudspeaker cables prior to their future Positive Feedback article too, but I didn't get them installed last night, so that'll be coming a little later.
Here's the signal path:
On the vinyl side, from the CTC Garrard turntable, the Audio Note (UK) Io I moving-coil cartridge's signal goes to the Audio Note (UK) AN-4 step-up transformer (SUT), which was connected to the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier with the Audio Note (UK) AN-V silver interconnects. The Oto was connected to the Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers by Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper speaker cables.
Audio Note (UK) audio components with Tannoy Westminster Royal SEs.
On the digital side, I connected the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD Player to the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier with Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper interconnects terminated with Duelund plastic-free RCAs.
Jim Hall & Red Mitchell at Sweet Basil 1978.
My friend David, a superb jazz guitarist, has been teaching me jazz guitar lessons, and after the lesson David has been sharing with me albums from his jazz guitar album collection of great performances.
One of those albums was Jim Hall & Red Mitchell at the Sweet Basil jazz club in 1978. It's a live performance and David was there when they recorded it.
Through the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player Jim Hall & Red Mitchell at Sweet Basil had that luminous and vivid single-ended presentation courtesy of the Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier.
Jim Hall & Red Mitchell at Sweet Basil sounded utterly natural in terms of timbre, tone, dynamics, and musical flow. Not even the slightest hint of any grain, glare, or any digital nasties.
The album reminds me a little of Jazz At The Pawnshop because of the live audience, but doesn't have an overtly emphasized soundstage like JATP. It's a closer mic'd performance, has great imaging, beautiful tonality, but not a particularly wide soundstage. A great sounding recording, but not your hyped-up audiophile-style recording, just a solid recording of great music.
In case you are not aware of it, all of the Audio Note (UK) components are voiced to complement each other, and in such a way as to provide a very natural live-like sound quality that provides engaging and well-balanced musical performances across a wide spectrum of recording quality.
One of Peter's goals for his Audio Note (UK) components is for customers to know they are going to consistently get superb musical and sonic performance by buying components within the Audio Note (UK) product lines. It's not just hype, I can hear it, it is real, and quite an achievement.
I'm not exactly sure what the current Westminsters are selling for these days, somewhere around $50K USD, I believe. Then add in another $30K - or whatever the going price would be now - for the Duelund CAST crossovers these West's have, and you've got one hell of a pair of loudspeakers, and the Audio Note (UK) components really do them justice.
I'll tell you what, these entry level Audio Note (UK) components are providing some of the best sound and musicality that I've ever heard from my Westminsters. Just like they did with my Altecs.
John Pisano's Guitar Night.
You really need to listen to an Audio Note (UK) audio system and hear what I'm talking about, it is really impressive performance, and just makes the music come alive in a completely natural way.
John Pisano's Guitar Night CD is another album David brought over for me to hear. It's an incredible album featuring twelve great musicians: Peter Bernstein, Corey Christiansen, Joe Diorio, Herb Ellis, Ted Green, Scott Henderson, Pat Kelley, John Pisano, Frank Potenza, George Van Eps, Anthony Wilson, and Barry Zweig.
I don't know quite how Peter and his team achieve this sort of well-balanced voicing that excels musically and sonically, but it is quite a treat to hear these great jazz guitarists that were recorded live at Papashon in Los Angeles during the special weekly series of "John Pisano's Guitar Night" performances playing in my living room. It's like being there.
Mezzo-soprano Sophia Preobrazhenskaya (1904-1966). Issaya Braudo, piano and organ. Leningrad Philharmonic orchestra, conductor Gemal Dalgat.
Paul Desmond's Pure Desmond.
The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals on Analogue Productions.
Audio Note (UK) audio components with Tannoy Westminster Royal SEs.
