Audio-Note AX-2s

[chebby]

I think I will stick with Atacama SL500i (or 600i) stands with their heavy four pillar design and big top-plates (only 5mm lesss than the width and depth of the AX-2 cabinet at 225mm square). At about £160 they are pretty inexpensive and look very stable.

I may just stuff the pillars with 1/4 of their height in kiln-dried sand and plug the rest of the height with tubular pipe insulation to prevent any ringing. (I need to be able to lift these b####rs occasionally and 38 kgs of Atabites in each one won't help!)

 

[Al ears]

I think I will stick with Atacama SL500i (or 600i) stands with their heavy four pillar design and big top-plates (only 5mm lesss than the width and depth of the AX-2 cabinet at 225mm square). At about £160 they are pretty inexpensive and look very stable.

I may just stuff the pillars with 1/4 of their height in kiln-dried sand and plug the rest of the height with tubular pipe insulation to prevent any ringing. (I need to be able to lift these b####rs occasionally and 38 kgs of Atabites in each one won't help!)

Very wise. Got to look after your back. Always wanted to experiment with that expandible foam filler but never did as went for floorstanders.

 

[chebby]

(I've just set them up this morning. Can't stop chuckling.)

 

[plastic penguin]

I remember placing my Wharfedale Diamond 2s ontop of big floorstanders and they were singing along underneath. It was sort of appealing.

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.)

You could cover them with a nice embroidered tablecloth...

...and call them MonoPulse. *biggrin*

 

[chebby]

I swear these things could wring a tune out of the Shipping Forecast!

They are even more 'infectious' than the Sonatas but a little more refined. Brass sounds amazing! I got the feeling I could turn it up to the end-stops and it would just give bigger goosebumps rather than sound harsh.

The Sonatas teetered on the edge - with brass - not actually becoming harsh but retaining a bit of anxiety that they might at any moment. The AX-2s give complete confidence.

'Count Basie and The Kansas City 7' (1962) now adds holography to the groove.

I have also played 'I'm a Hog For You Baby' from Dr Feelgood's Peel session (BBC) about four or five times today.

Now I REALLY have to save up for the £1900 AN-Ks. Waiting for that to happen is going to be a lot more fun now

 

[CnoEvil]

Now I REALLY have to save up for the £1900 AN-Ks. Waiting for that to happen is going to be a lot more fun now

Glad to see you have your HiFi Mojo back.

Enjoy.

 

[plastic penguin]

I swear these things could wring a tune out of the Shipping Forecast!

They are even more 'infectious' than the Sonatas but a little more refined. Brass sounds amazing! I got the feeling I could turn it up to the end-stops and it would just give bigger goosebumps rather than sound harsh.

The Sonatas teetered on the edge - with brass - not actually becoming harsh but retaining a bit of anxiety that they might at any moment. The AX-2s give complete confidence.

'Count Basie and The Kansas City 7' (1962) now adds holography to the groove.

I have also played 'I'm a Hog For You Baby' from Dr Feelgood's Peel session (BBC) about four or five times today.

Now I REALLY have to save up for the £1900 AN-Ks. Waiting for that to happen is going to be a lot more fun now

Good then? *mosking*

 

[Vladimir]

Congrats and enjoy music. *ok*

 

[chebby]

As mentioned before, they are sitting on top of the old speakers because new Atacama SL600i stands are on order and are not due until next week.

Then i'll take the old R3s to a charity shop (or the nearest 'Cash Convertors'). They are too big to keep as spares and it's too much faff to ebay them.

Listening to good quality BBC radio drama recordings right now ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-George-Smiley-Dramas-Dramatisations/dp/1408427745/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1442673088&sr=8-3&keywords=Bbc+george+smiley

 

[chebby]

Maybe I should start looking at affordable valve amps ...

 

[Al ears]

Maybe I should start looking at affordable valve amps ...

There aren't any ....................

 

[Al ears]

I swear these things could wring a tune out of the Shipping Forecast!

They are even more 'infectious' than the Sonatas but a little more refined. Brass sounds amazing! I got the feeling I could turn it up to the end-stops and it would just give bigger goosebumps rather than sound harsh.

The Sonatas teetered on the edge - with brass - not actually becoming harsh but retaining a bit of anxiety that they might at any moment. The AX-2s give complete confidence.

'Count Basie and The Kansas City 7' (1962) now adds holography to the groove.

I have also played 'I'm a Hog For You Baby' from Dr Feelgood's Peel session (BBC) about four or five times today.

Now I REALLY have to save up for the £1900 AN-Ks. Waiting for that to happen is going to be a lot more fun now

Glad to hear they are fitting in nicely.

Those stands arrived yet? EDIT: Just seen your post was today... nice choice though.

 

[Vladimir]

Little Jolidas maybe.

 

[Al ears]

Little Jolidas maybe.

Is that legal??

 

[Vladimir]

Little Jolidas maybe.

Is that legal??

This one is.

It's no Ongaku or Tom Evans but it's OK to taste some bulbs.

 

[chebby]

Well, it was just a mischievous thought (valves) that I am unlikely to ever want to follow up especially with my views on separates. (I don't like them any more and have striven successfully to keep the upgrade, of one compact box of electronics, to another.)

I'm especially happy with the Quad Vena now I seem to have found the right kind of loudspeakers for it.

The looks take a bit of getting used to. The speakers look like they were made in the 1980s (including authentic vinyl wrap finish) but sound every bit as good as they should for £750. (Making them in Denmark isn't cheap I suppose.) The Quad looks like a boring charcoal grey perforated steel box (because it is).

Despite all that I like looking at them anyway. They are the anti-MA/B&W/KEF, anti-fashion, anti-WAF, anti-marketing speakers with no supercomputer designed cabinets nor any high tech at all that I can detect. They'd lose magazine sales if WHF? put them on the cover! They look like the anonymous boxes nailed above the bar in a pub for the last 30 years ... until they play

 

[CnoEvil]

Well, it was just a mischievous thought (valves) that I am unlikely to ever want to follow up especially with my views on separates. (I don't like them any more and have striven successfully to keep the upgrade, of one compact box of electronics, to another.)

That's a pity, as I'd found a UR Simply Italy with £725 off.

 

[Infiniteloop]

Well, it was just a mischievous thought (valves) that I am unlikely to ever want to follow up especially with my views on separates. (I don't like them any more and have striven successfully to keep the upgrade, of one compact box of electronics, to another.)

That's a pity, as I'd found a UR Simply Italy with £725 off.

They had one of those in the dealers I was in today. Beautifully designed and built, cute little thing with a horrible name. EL34's and switchable feedback, - bet it sounds sweet as a nut!

 

[chebby]

They had one of those in the dealers I was in today.

What were you buying?

 

[CnoEvil]

They had one of those in the dealers I was in today. Beautifully designed and built, cute little thing with a horrible name. EL34's and switchable feedback, - bet it sounds sweet as a nut!

I suspect, "Chebby's not for turning".....tough crowd and all that.

 

[Al ears]

Little Jolidas maybe.

Is that legal??

This one is.

It's no Ongaku or Tom Evans but it's OK to taste some bulbs.

Aha! 'Tis a hybrid eh? Not too much confusion there in which tubes to use then.

 

[Al ears]

Well, it was just a mischievous thought (valves) that I am unlikely to ever want to follow up especially with my views on separates. (I don't like them any more and have striven successfully to keep the upgrade, of one compact box of electronics, to another.)

I'm especially happy with the Quad Vena now I seem to have found the right kind of loudspeakers for it.

The looks take a bit of getting used to. The speakers look like they were made in the 1980s (including authentic vinyl wrap finish) but sound every bit as good as they should for £750. (Making them in Denmark isn't cheap I suppose.) The Quad looks like a boring charcoal grey perforated steel box (because it is).

Despite all that I like looking at them anyway. They are the anti-MA/B&W/KEF, anti-fashion, anti-WAF, anti-marketing speakers with no supercomputer designed cabinets nor any high tech at all that I can detect. They'd lose magazine sales if WHF? put them on the cover! They look like the anonymous boxes nailed above the bar in a pub for the last 30 years ... until they play

Know what you mean and good to hear. Best you start saving for those AN-K's eh?

I did have a serious look at them when I got my Tom Evans amps. Pity I didn't follow through with it as they seem to be a tad dearer now. PS I'm loving the sound of 'authentic' vinyl wrap...

 

[matthewpiano]

Great to hear you are enjoying the AX-2s so much Chebby. Still one of the best speakers I've heard. More natural, musical and involving than some very expensive ones I've heard too.

 

[Vladimir]

Little Jolidas maybe.

Is that legal??

This one is.

It's no Ongaku or Tom Evans but it's OK to taste some bulbs.

Aha! 'Tis a hybrid eh? Not too much confusion there in which tubes to use then.

At this price point I think valves in pre and MOSFET as power amp are a good compromise for speakers who don't have 95dB+ efficiency. Otherwise a flea watt SET would fit the bill. 30-40W of all tube sound with quality custom wound output transformers isn't cheap.

It's silver sister looks better IMO.

 

[Al ears]

Little Jolidas maybe.

Is that legal??

This one is.

It's no Ongaku or Tom Evans but it's OK to taste some bulbs.

Aha! 'Tis a hybrid eh? Not too much confusion there in which tubes to use then.

At this price point I think valves in pre and MOSFET as power amp are a good compromise for speakers who don't have 95dB+ efficiency. Otherwise a flea watt SET would fit the bill. 30-40W of all tube sound with quality custom wound output transformers isn't cheap.

It's silver sister looks better IMO.

I'd have to agree.

It's just a pity we cannot get them for that price in the UK.