If you have the green this is the machine... the world's best monoblock amplifiers

[Peter Breuninger]

I have been an Audio Note connoisseur since 1989, the year of the first Philadelphia Triode Show. Harvey Rosenberg rode down from Ct. on a very loud Harley with a gorgeous women holding on tight to the ole' Harv master, AKA Gismo. There was a big lineup of amps and some littlish Audio Note kits. The little AN kits, kicked ass. Later I received a Meishu and heard my first AN big boy amp. AN is famous for its parts and no compromise engineering. The company dominated the early SET scene. The Japanese side the company did the initial designs, while the UK side of the company did the distribution. When demand out ran the limited Japanese production, AN UK took over. Then the founder of AN JA passed away. Over the years AN UK has cornered the market for the world's best parts. They effectively own every Black Gate capacitor ever made, plus huge $$$$ of rare tubes and resistors. It's an amazing story. AN Japan has made a come back over the past ten years but it's AN UK that is the real powerhouse due to the parts inventory and the engineering prowess of Andy Grove.

I've been anticipating the most over-the-top review project with AN. A $1,000,000 level 5 Audio System and it's about to happen. I just installed the Gaku-On monoblocks and this is the best amplifier I've ever heard. It's a parallel SET with 211 output tubes and it sounds extraordinary on the Perfect8 Cubes (89 dB). The sound is so dimensional it's like I am sitting in the recording studio. Images come from everywhere and the tonality is spot on.

For you heavy hitting WBF members throughout the world with moderate to easy to drive speakers, this 45 watt per channel amp is the best SET amp I've ever heard. Period. If you have to ask what it costs you can't afford it.

 

[LL21]

Fantastic stuff...i have good friends who own some of the reference equipment and love it. Have you heard their Audio Note DAC 5th Element/Level 6 CD Transport which Martin Colloms unequivocally raved about? I think it costs around $350-$400K (GBP200-250K) and reset the entire digital bar in his words.

 

[Peter Breuninger]

Fantastic stuff...i have good friends who own some of the reference equipment and love it. Have you heard their Audio Note DAC 5th Element/Level 6 CD Transport which Martin Colloms unequivocally raved about? I think it costs around $350-$400K (GBP200-250K) and reset the entire digital bar in his words.

It's downstairs in studio #2 within said boxes, the audio green room.

 

[LL21]

It's downstairs in studio #2 within said boxes, the audio green room.

Fantastic! Look forward to your thoughts!!! Feel free to PM if you prefer. Thanks!

 

[Steve Williams]

I've heard the Gaku-On and would agree how extraordinary it is

 

[LL21]

Hi Steve,

I also have heard the Gaku-On and would agree the sound i heard (in a system i did not know well) was extraordinary. Have you heard the Gaku-Ons in your system? Was wondering if you feel able to make even preliminary comments about how they compare with your legendary Lamm ML3s? Most curious!

 

[Steve Williams]

I heard the amplifier many years ago when I was using all ARC gear. There was a rolling line change update to my ARC Ref 3 preamp and rather than sending it back to Minnesota there was a factory qualified technician for ARC in California. I took it to him and he had the AN Gaku-Ons there

 

[LL21]

I heard the amplifier many years ago when I was using all ARC gear. There was a rolling line change to my ARC Ref 33 and rather than sending it back to Minnesota there was a factory qualified technician for ARC in California. I took it to him and he had the AN Gaku-Ons there

got it...thanks.

 

[es347]

..obviously I cannot afford these amps so does that mean I'm not qualified to ask the price? Are you going to buy the review pair?

 

[DaveyF]

Hate to be the naysayer here, BUT I have heard the AN stuff on many occasions, including their $1M level 5 system... All I can say is I was NOT impressed at all. Poor dynamics, imprecise imaging, minimal bass output, rolled off highs leading to minimal air portrayal of instruments- and in the speakers, questionable build quality and design. I guess YMMV.

 

[ack]

Hate to be the naysayer here, BUT I have heard the AN stuff on many occasions, including their $1M level 5 system... All I can say is I was NOT impressed at all. Poor dynamics, imprecise imaging, minimal bass output, rolled off highs leading to minimal air portrayal of instruments- and in the speakers, questionable build quality and design. I guess YMMV.

I've only heard the Ongaku integrated driving mini monitors ... OK, beautiful you-are there midrange, excellent with vocal, but not much at the extremes, and not for the 60K euro asking price. I've never been able to "get" Audio Note, especially the speakers they make (AN-E???). Truth be told, the 211 is my favorite tube, so perhaps the Gaku-On is much better their other 211-based products, but I am not itching to find out either.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I've only heard the Ongaku integrated driving mini monitors ... OK, beautiful you-are there midrange, excellent with vocal, but not much at the extremes, and not for the 60K euro asking price. I've never been able to "get" Audio Note, especially the speakers they make (AN-E???). Truth be told, the 211 is my favorite tube, so perhaps the Gaku-On is much better their other 211-based products, but I am not itching to find out either.

I certainly 'get' Audio Note and could easily live with and enjoy them and never look back, while giving up some of the other aspects of ultimate performance that I value. it's one viewpoint of audio nirvana.

I think if your personal sonic compass leans toward medium sized rooms and smallish scale music on high efficiency speaker systems then the AN Gaku-On or other lower mid powered uber amps (ML3's, Berning 211/245, etc.) might be the world's best in that environment.

but they are horses for particular courses.

there are other courses.

OTOH 'World's Best Monoblock Amplifiers' makes for a great print mag cover title or thread title.

 

[FrantzM]

I've only heard the Ongaku integrated driving mini monitors ... OK, beautiful you-are there midrange, excellent with vocal, but not much at the extremes, and not for the 60K euro asking price. I've never been able to "get" Audio Note, especially the speakers they make (AN-E???). Truth be told, the 211 is my favorite tube, so perhaps the Gaku-On is much better their other 211-based products, but I am not itching to find out either.

Hi

I did hear the Ongaku a few years (10?) ago and that several times. My impressions mirror yours. I have heard SET amplifiers that to my ears were its superior , both Lamm SETs (the 18 Watts and the TOL) comes to mind. I also briefly heard another amp based on the same tube the Lamm TOL is, another very good amplifier to my ears albeit it was on a horn-based system ... then again I am not a SET person I do believe they do certain things well, I call that the spotlight effect. They are so good in some areas they make you forget they are weak in many (most that matters to me, if you must know) and for the most part are not what I would call full-range amps. Their midrange is glorious an very appealing. I do find myself liking these but they tend to have that beautiful.. the problem to me is that such beautification remains contant and often in many SETs does not change with the recordings... I would say the Lamm and the De Haviland do not suffer much from this ... in my (limited) experience.

@Peter

For you heavy hitting WBF members throughout the world with moderate to easy to drive speakers, this 45 watt per channel amp is the best SET amp I've ever heard. Period. If you have to ask what it costs you can't afford it.

.

This could have been phrased in a more balanced, less arrogant fashion. This phrase smacks on snobbery and elitism. We must ask how much it is and see how it compares to less brutally priced items . The best amplifier in the World? Let's say it is al relative as any subjective observation is bound to be.

 

[Steve Williams]

I am curious about Peter's thoughts between the AN AnGaku On and the Lamm ML3 which Peter reviewed a few years ago

 

[caesar]

Peter,

I have zero knowledge about this type of amplification. Are you looking for particular speaker synergy or speakers with a particular efficiency?

 

[Peter Breuninger]

I am curious about Peter's thoughts between the AN AnGaku On and the Lamm ML3 which Peter reviewed a few years ago

Give me some more time on the Gaku-On and I can give thumb nail sketch differences. I also have time on the ML 2.2.

 

[morricab]

I have been an Audio Note connoisseur since 1989, the year of the first Philadelphia Triode Show. Harvey Rosenberg rode down from Ct. on a very loud Harley with a gorgeous women holding on tight to the ole' Harv master, AKA Gismo. There was a big lineup of amps and some littlish Audio Note kits. The little AN kits, kicked ass. Later I received a Meishu and heard my first AN big boy amp. AN is famous for its parts and no compromise engineering. The company dominated the early SET scene. The Japanese side the company did the initial designs, while the UK side of the company did the distribution. When demand out ran the limited Japanese production, AN UK took over. Then the founder of AN JA passed away. Over the years AN UK has cornered the market for the world's best parts. They effectively own every Black Gate capacitor ever made, plus huge $$$$ of rare tubes and resistors. It's an amazing story. AN Japan has made a come back over the past ten years but it's AN UK that is the real powerhouse due to the parts inventory and the engineering prowess of Andy Grove.

I've been anticipating the most over-the-top review project with AN. A $1,000,000 level 5 Audio System and it's about to happen. I just installed the Gaku-On monoblocks and this is the best amplifier I've ever heard. It's a parallel SET with 211 output tubes and it sounds extraordinary on the Perfect8 Cubes (89 dB). The sound is so dimensional it's like I am sitting in the recording studio. Images come from everywhere and the tonality is spot on.

For you heavy hitting WBF members throughout the world with moderate to easy to drive speakers, this 45 watt per channel amp is the best SET amp I've ever heard. Period. If you have to ask what it costs you can't afford it.

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Hi Peter,
Just so that it is clear to me, these are AN UK monoblocks not the 211 monoblocks from Kondo (called Kagura I think but they used to have ones called Gaku-On as well).

I would not say that AN UK has cornered the market on all the best parts...because Kondo makes their own capacitors and resistors from silver (and has their own transformers too).

I have no doubt about how those sound though...I am sure it is right up there with the best but I think it would be very interesting to hear them compared to Kondo's latest 211 monos...

 

[Rhapsody]

Hi Peter,
Just so that it is clear to me, these are AN UK monoblocks not the 211 monoblocks from Kondo (called Kagura I think but they used to have ones called Gaku-On as well).

I would not say that AN UK has cornered the market on all the best parts...because Kondo makes their own capacitors and resistors from silver (and has their own transformers too).

I have no doubt about how those sound though...I am sure it is right up there with the best but I think it would be very interesting to hear them compared to Kondo's latest 211 monos...

We have a pair of Kondo Kaguras in NYC. We would welcome a comparison with "the best amplifiers in the world" or any other SET amplifier. We would be up for comparisons if logistically feasible. At the level of either the big Lamms, the Kondo or the ANUK class of SET's there is no "best". At this level it comes down to system matching and personal preference. They are all great amplifiers if properly placed in an appropriate system/room. Anyone thinking that one is "better" than the other is delusional.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Nice offer, i agree its about taste at a certain quality level ,however I would put my Cat JL 2 sign (with KT 120 tubes ) up against anything having tubes regardless of price , and not only in the bassregion , but since Amsterdam and NYC aint close , i pass , but looking forward to see any contest , pics???
Regarding kondo i heard the M 1000 on a few occasions and i had the impression it definetively had " signature " a layered romantic one , i heard peter Qvortrups audio notes system at a show incl some 200 K monos in rotterdam some years ago , is was certainly not the best what i ve heard anywhwere


Ps i dont want to be the boring measurement guy but davey f has a point of AN speakers having a signature or at least this model , i would also definetively include the Zanden 9600 in the best discussion

http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-note-e-lexus-signature-loudspeaker-measurements

Ps i took the opportunity to look at the lines you carry , something like that could also be said of the Kaiser loudspeakers -chiara model , from which i read a test in a german magazine its in german but they also measured the FR response


http://www.perfect-sense.se/wp-cont...er_Chiara_Hifi_test_Lautsprecher_yearbook.pdf

 

[DSkip]

Peter,

I have zero knowledge about this type of amplification. Are you looking for particular speaker synergy or speakers with a particular efficiency?

I've found with my 845 monoblocks, rated at 28 WPC, that efficiency is not the key determinant, but the impedance curve. One that dips very low will make the amp struggle greatly. Pair it with speakers that present an easy load and they are glorious.