I decided that it wouldn’t matter if the manufacturer, dealer, editorial team or any readers decided to stop talking to me afterward. Therefore, I would write honestly about my experience listening to the devices in two different rooms and with three different types of loudspeakers. I asked myself: How can I structure this encounter to ensure that it is objective, is fair to the devices and their manufacturer, and provides you - my dear readers - with as comprehensive a picture as possible? Given the situation, I proceeded as follows: I spoke at length with the German dealer Stefan Wörmer, went over a few questions with the company owner Peter Qvortrup, and finally decided, despite how nice both men clearly are, that they wouldn’t necessarily have any bearing on the rest of my life (as I don’t make a living as a writer!). Both devices, which are assuredly far beyond my price range, at best fall somewhere in the middle of Audio Note’s price list. So I was thrilled when a real-life Level 6 preamplifier (Level 6 Balanced Phono) and a heavyweight power amplifier (the outrageously expensive Audio Note Tomei Kensei) were announced. My third experience was an afternoon listening to the company’s own four-part super CD player in a fitting Audio Note setting which, for me, from an emotional perspective, remains a CD playback highlight that stands head and shoulders above the rest (something that also vexed a fair few people).īut I still hadn’t gotten to test expensive components in detail. The next time, I listened through different levels of the reasonably priced AN-E loudspeakers performing at quite a close level to their much more expensive siblings, which got me in some really hot water. The first time was a small Level 1 system which thoroughly impressed me. I’ve had experienced the pleasure of Audio Note devices on a few occasions. Splendid! Now we can proceed to take a closer look at the Audio Note Tomei Kensei and M6 combo. I’m bound to be told that I’ve got it all wrong, so I’m giving myself carte blanche and just enjoying the freedom of putting down whatever I want. So there! I have set out the basic conditions for my article. But then if you criticize the pricing, you get criticized for being petty and jealous because you clearly couldn’t afford these devices (which is actually true!), and therefore simply want to bad-mouth them. If you’re enthusiastic about the devices themselves, their hefty price tags will lead to accusations of a biased critique on the grounds that you’re enslaved to the industry. If you criticize aspects of technical playback, all the rest will accuse you of clearly not understanding the whole concept of the music and suggest that you take your three test CDs and go lock yourself away in a windowless basement - and maybe stay there forever. For instance, if you mention the fantastic sound quality, then some tech-savvy high-end fans are bound to claim that an extensive hearing range is not accounted for, presuming that the upper hearing threshold is 10 kilohertz at best. You’re guaranteed to rub someone the wrong way when it comes to Audio Note – but that makes listening to the Level 6 preamplifier and the Audio Note Tomei Kensei power amplifier even more exciting.Īs either a writer who enjoys music, or a music fan who enjoys writing, as soon as you mention Audio Note you may as well give up before you’ve even typed the first few letters.

Audio note kit 4