Since its introduction, we at Audio Note have been highly critical of digital music reproduction. This dissatisfaction was the instigating force in our quest to make digital playback more dynamically realistic and less fatiguing. Although we cannot defeat the inherent limitations of the format and its recording engineers, we have elevated CD reproduction to a previously un-attained level of quality and performance.
To understand the path that led us to the development of our current range of Digital to Analogue Converters, it is worth looking back at our ‘digital history’. Our first defining assault was made in 1992 when we introduced the DAC3, which, with its patented transformer / filter interface circuit, revolutionised CD play back. What we learnt from the experiments with the digital / analogue interface transformers and filters in the DAC3 was that there had to be more information available on the discs than previous believed. Digital filters and the associated over sampling had been broadly discussed, analysed and criticised, but what no-one had done at this time was to remove them altogether, to see what their real effects on ultimate sound quality were. So, that is exactly what we decided to do, and the results were dramatic, to say the least.
The improvements this completely new circuit topology introduced resulted in a level of CD playback quality that was previously un-imagined. To this day, we combine these purely analogue filters (dubbed 1x oversampling™ direct from disc™ technology) with the finest components and materials available, including transformer interfaces and the highest quality vacuum tube circuitry to produce a range of Digital to Analogue Converters that are both refreshingly lifelike and free from conventional digital restraints and mechanical artifacts.
We sincerely hope that you too will find these digital products break free from the 'digital mould' that we are all so accustomed to, and so open a new window on your CD collection. They have been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfill all Audio Note (UK) performance criteria.
Whilst the rest of the audiophile world continues it delusional and ultimately doomed love affair with the currently fashionable crop of what are claimed to be 'high resolution' computer sources, we at Audio Note (UK) continue to extract even greater degrees of information and quality from Red Book CD, which is still the best, currently available digital music format.
Audio Note offers 6 tube CD Player, 7 CD Transports and 7 Dac models. The differences being better internal parts, (separate) transports and (separate) power supplies between the various models. Transports are internally upgraded and modified Philips transports ranging from front loading to CD Pro2LF.
Dac sections use NON OVERSAMPLING FILTERLESS circuits with the Philips TDA1543 or Analog Devices AD1865 chips.
Please visit the AN website for complete details and specifications, including copies of manuals or give us a call with any questions.
