Even among audiophiles who are generally solidified to may be, Audio Note (or Audionote to some) is a company that is held in inordinately high worth, to the point of what appears almost reverence. You’re able to send (actually, companies', but we'll come to that) products often achieve legendary status among enthusiasts, a status that appears peculiar to the majority of 'outsiders' new to the hallowed environment of the audio enthusiast.
The status of Audionote stems from one man. The japanese Hiroyasu Kondo was an consumer electronics electrical engineer with a passion for audio reproduction and music, and a diligent way of working. One of the first designers ever to use silver electrical wiring in audio circuits, he's often been referred to as 'the audio silversmith'. Kondo San used highly unusual techniques to design and produce what are still considered some of the finest audio amplifiers ever made, and the earlier examples of which get dazzling prices today. Simple, but inordinately time consuming, amplifiers were designed and built, then an enormous amount of time was spent changing even the most minor components and listening extensively to discover the mixtures that gave the best results.
Kondo, or Audio Note The japanese became a serious manufacturer of very low volume, exclusive products. A few distributors were set up around the world and, highly unusually, the English distributor eventually branched out into their own manufacturing under the name Audio Note UK. Today, the two companies produce many different product lines, though all with the same commitment to providing the ultimate musical experience. There is one exemption however, which is the Audio Note Io phono cartridge.
Many years ago, Mr Kondo had decided that existing designs of cartridges were mostly not up to the standards of music reproduction he aspired to and achieved, and accordingly attempted to design their own. The engineering skills required to make a high-end cartridge are not to be taken lightly. The ultra-miniature construction demands exceptional abilities, but this became no issue to the Japanese people master.best phono preamps under 500 Not only did Audio Note manage to make a cartridge of exceptionally high standards, they also incorporated man novel design features and the result was widely acclaimed.
Subsequently, the licence to produce the Audionote Io cartridge was handed to Audio Note UK, and the models have been in production ever since. Almost distinctly, every cartridge is made entirely personally, and by the same technician. As a result, production is incredibly low volume and prices are accordingly not low! The units themselves are, however, truly outstanding. Construction is situated around an extremely powerful magnets, and a moving coils with a fairly small number of windings. The result is a very low output, which needs special transformers to be workable, but a very fast transient response and an uncanny capacity to multiply music.
The Audio Note UL range also includes one totally unique cartridge, the Io Ltd. In this cartridge, an electro-magnet is used, with its own windings, instead of a fixed magnets. Incredibly complex, the Io Ltd required additional wires in a record deck tone arm, and also needs a sophisticated, extremely accurate and intensely low-noise external power supply. Needless to say, the cost puts it way beyond the pocket of all but the most dedicated audio enthusiasts, but the results are suitable spectacular.
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