I just couldn’t bear the idea of throwing them away. I really do have thousands of CDs - still. Now, I really ought to just mention that this isn’t just a random notion. All of that is possible.īut who has that kind of time? And do I really have to do all of this extra work if I just want to play a damn CD? Luckily, OPPO Digital is still making kicking-ass mulit-format disc players - oh, wait … well, shit. And yes, I can even acquire one of those systems that will let me pop in a just-found thrift-shop treasure and it will automagically rip, label, tag and store it for me (and someday, I do mean to check out Antipodesand Innuous) so that I can use it with Roon. Yes, sure – I most certainly can rip my entire CD collection. Now, if only someone would tell that to the 5,000+ shiny silver discs I have all over my house. The Kassandra looks interesting.Spinning Silver: Audio Note UK CDT-Two/IIĬD transports are passé. I would say the MSB is likely to be the more transparent and had a more sparkling top end but it did not quite match the totally natural sound of the AN.Ī listen is mandatory (if possible). Hearing Kraftwerk live was superb but different. I heard the MSB DAC with MSB amps and the new Tannoys and it had a superb soundstage with a tremendously natural sound. I think it has moved up the audio scale and is likely to be more usable in a non AN systems.
It is much less coloured and it has a more dynamic sound but has not lost that natural organic sound. I have that reviewed item here and it has a different sound to the old 4.1x. In Hifi Critic Kevin Fiske reviewed the latest AN4.1x with the new 'balanced' sound using the latest and better components from AN. I agree with a lot of what has been written about the Audionote but there have been changes. I have heard both DACs but in different systems and rooms. Room dimensions: 24 ft long x 12 ft wide (13.5 ft at small window bay) x 8.5 ft high Power: Dedicated 10 AWG shielded line (MC 10/2) from breaker box to Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) outlet, 9 AWG ZenWave Clear Bass cable to Furutech e-TP609 NCF 6-way power distributor / 2 x Tripp Lite IS1000HG Isolation Transformer for digital source (Transformer 1: CD transport, reclocker / Transformer 2: DAC) / ZenWave PL-11 power cables for DAC, preamp and amp / ZenWave Clear Bass power cables for all other electronic components (CD transport, reclocker, subwoofers) Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / Empirical Audio reclocking system: Synchro-Mesh Reclocker driven by Dynamo Linear Power Supply, 2 x Reference BNC digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Less is More (LIM) DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors, on Sound Anchors Signature stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers / Cables: ZenWave Audio D4 interconnects, ZenWave SMSG speaker cables / Diverse Herbie's Audio Lab footers / Acoustic treatment: Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties (wool, polypropylene basketweave)
Maybe they sold some to the far east? But the smoke and mirrors will continue until we hear from a real world test v other top DACs. I am not sure of the market for the Fifth Element, I haven't read any posts of someone who actually bought one. Things have progressed since thankfully with some designs now competing head on with good TTs and for more affordable prices. I am generalising, but that was how it seemed to me back then.
To get that you either had to loose some details and add warmth, or go all out on detail and loose realism. Also not an impedance issue as I also tried it through an AN UK pre-amplifier.ĭigital back in the mid 2000's was very hard to get right, enough detail but also a type of 'analogue' sound. That colour was possibly classic Audio Note, nice and cuddly, but in the end too much music sounded the same on it to an extent. It was good after the Duelunds were fitted, but after the Kassandra landed, it highlighted the shortcomings of that design and how coloured it was. My tubes were spot on, I bought most of them from AN, inc NOS Telefunkens (Peter Q's favourites). I tried Teflon as well but it was too cold and lost some body. I mean, why put £35 caps in a level 5 product? The AN silver caps are better, but IMO the Duelunds go further and sound very natural yet retain the detail and keep the speed up, nearly as fast as Teflon. I have a real dislike for the AN UK copper coupling caps. The stock DAC 5 special is too slow and heavy in the upper bass / lower mids. My maxed out kit DAC is more detailed and faster than the AN UK DAC 5, even after I fitted the Duelunds in it. I think your have an old non AD1865 unit? They changed quite a bit after that.
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