Audio-Note AX-2s
- Thread starter chebby
- Start date
I'm not surprised....correctly matched, they should be easy to place, easy to drive and give a fast, natural presentation. From what I've read and from what I've heard from speakers further up the range, this is what I would expect.
Martin Grennell is (or certainly was) their main salesman. He's a good bloke and will almost certainly try to accommodate you, if you contact him.
Martin Grennell is (or certainly was) their main salesman. He's a good bloke and will almost certainly try to accommodate you, if you contact him.
jonathanRD
Well-known member
matt49
Well-known member
My home demo of their big brothers, the AN-E Signatures, was underwhelming. Maybe they're stunning with valve amps. With my solid state amp they sounded closed in and very coloured.
Home demo essential.
Home demo essential.
matthewpiano
Well-known member
I auditioned the AX-2s back when I purchased the Exposure 1010 amp I had before the Rega, and driven by the Exposure and a Consonance CD120 Linear, they were wonderful - so much so that the opening of the Previn recording of Rachmaninov Symphony No.2 very naturally and spontaneously moved me to tears. They were so natural and open sounding, brilliant at dealing with instrumental and vocal timbres, and consistently engaging with a wide range of music.
At the time, I chickened out over the price (£800 then) but I've often wished I had bitten the bullet and purchased them when I bought the Exposure. That system was one of the best I've ever heard at anything like an affordable price.
At the time, I chickened out over the price (£800 then) but I've often wished I had bitten the bullet and purchased them when I bought the Exposure. That system was one of the best I've ever heard at anything like an affordable price.
Al ears said:
Remember to add VAT to those Wilmslow prices. (And £20 delivery.)
So your £520 is actually £644.
Al ears
Well-known member
chebby said:
Look very similar to HB1's only rear ported. Any ideas as to where to get them? Last seen on eBay going for £550.
Think I might stick with the Wilmslow Audio kit for that price.
P.S.:
There's a pair of HB1's on Hifi-intouch.co.uk going for £120 (bargain) if you know where Olney is. Buckinghamshire apparently chebby, where are you?
Al ears
Well-known member
chebby said:
That would make it a bit of a no-goer.
I'd have the originals from Bucks if I could get there.
matthewpiano
Well-known member
An unusual choice. What made you consider these?
Only one way to find out.
I wonder if something from Guru may fit the bill too? Just to throw something else in the mix.
Only one way to find out.
I wonder if something from Guru may fit the bill too? Just to throw something else in the mix.
I've unboxed the old JPW Sonatas - that were stored under the stairs - to give them a weekend standing-in for the Regas (actually standing on the Regas now i've sold their stands).
Although not ported like the AX-2s (nor quite as large), they will give me a better idea - after a long time without - of what 2-way, stand-mounts with 5.5" bass/mid drivers and 'proper' width baffles sound like with my new Quad amp.
Sounding lovely (not quite expected*) and much better than when last aired-out with the M-CR603 well over a year ago.
I've had a couple of very interesting conversations with some - admittedly - interested parties about the Audio-Note speakers, but I am minded to keep the JPW Sonatas out for longer and wait until I can go up the coast and have a listen. (Of course I might just give in and buy them on impulse one day!)
* Despite their obvious mid-range virtues, I remember them sounding a bit 'quacky' and a bit harsh although it's posible the brand-new tweeters i'd bought for them still hadn't quite loosened up last time around. It's also possible that the new Quad makes them sound a lot better.
Although not ported like the AX-2s (nor quite as large), they will give me a better idea - after a long time without - of what 2-way, stand-mounts with 5.5" bass/mid drivers and 'proper' width baffles sound like with my new Quad amp.
Sounding lovely (not quite expected*) and much better than when last aired-out with the M-CR603 well over a year ago.
I've had a couple of very interesting conversations with some - admittedly - interested parties about the Audio-Note speakers, but I am minded to keep the JPW Sonatas out for longer and wait until I can go up the coast and have a listen. (Of course I might just give in and buy them on impulse one day!)
* Despite their obvious mid-range virtues, I remember them sounding a bit 'quacky' and a bit harsh although it's posible the brand-new tweeters i'd bought for them still hadn't quite loosened up last time around. It's also possible that the new Quad makes them sound a lot better.
drummerman said:
Not sure if Guru are trading again yet ...
http://www.guruaudio.co.uk/
... if they were then that banner would have disappeared.
Macspur
Well-known member
chebby said:
Congratulations on your new purchase... I look forward to your review.
Mac
www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net
Al ears
Well-known member
Thanks. I'll have to pack away the JPWs on Friday (back to 'reserve' duties) and try and get rid of the venerable Rega R3s in a responsible manner.
It's not worth the hassle trying to sell them and I no longer have their packing boxes, so it's the nearest charity shop I think!
Whatever happens - even if the AX-2s are returned - i'm not going back to the R3s. A pity but they've been trounced by the Sonatas in the last couple of weeks. (I'm actually a little scared that the Sonatas will eclipse the ANs they are that good!)
It's not worth the hassle trying to sell them and I no longer have their packing boxes, so it's the nearest charity shop I think!
Whatever happens - even if the AX-2s are returned - i'm not going back to the R3s. A pity but they've been trounced by the Sonatas in the last couple of weeks. (I'm actually a little scared that the Sonatas will eclipse the ANs they are that good!)
Infiniteloop
Well-known member
matt49 said:
Matt, to my ears they sound like that with Valves too. Like the drivers are mounted in an undamped cardboard box.
Like you said: Home demo essential.
Infiniteloop said:
Well, that's where they are heading and return/refund is no problem if dissatified.
chebby said:
Those AX2s sure look like the JPW P1s and AP2s.
I'm not surprized you like the JPW and Heybrook sound so much. The combo of Vifa and Seas drivers of that vintage sounds very sweet. I have the same configuration in my old Sony's, Seas tweeter and Vifa mid and woofers (same Seas tweeter as in the JPW Ruby 2s). The tweeter in the Sonatas is the same Vifa from the Wharfedale Diamond 2s. Those little ****** always caught me off my guard.
Addendum
Forgot about the Snell Type K as well.
Infiniteloop said:
The typical oldskool way to build these is with thin unbraced boxes, underdamped, so the boxes sing along with the drivers and and the port. Usually sounding best when placed near walls. That accumulation of harmonics constitutes the sonic character of the speaker. People would tweak these with extra bracing and damping but always go back to the original since the sound is lively and 'musical'. I remember placing my Wharfedale Diamond 2s ontop of big floorstanders and they were singing along underneath. It was sort of appealing.
Yup, that is my understanding....they harness the room, to give a sound out of all proportion to their size.Vladimir said:
Vladimir said:
My old Rega R3s have been acting as speaker stands for the Sonatas for the last couple of weeks. Maybe I should keep them like that. Just turn them around so they look a bit neater. (It'll save me the cost of the Atacama SL500is I was going to try out.)
Al ears
Well-known member
chebby said:
You could cover them with a nice embroidered tablecloth (as my old mum used to do to my HB3's when I was still living at home).
Many moons ago now though.
PS If they are about the correct height I'm sure they'd make excellent speaker stands ( couple of blobs of Bluetac and your away)
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