An Audio Blog by Walden
Ideas & Insights on Audio & Good Sound
Why the Audio Note SORO Deserves Your Attention
The Audio Note OTO needs little introduction. It has become one of the best-known expressions of Audio Note’s (UK) approach to single-ended valve amplification. The SORO is less frequently discussed, yet after living with its top version for more than two years, we would argue that it deserves a lot of attention. Dare we say, it is one of our favourites...
On The Audio Note (UK) JINRO
The Audio Note (UK) JINRO is one of those amplifiers we were fortunate enough to live with for some time, and one we will not soon forget. The JINRO combines the purity and clarity characteristic of the finest single-ended amplifiers with a sense of power more readily associated with a push-pull design.
On The Secret of Musicality & The Work of Hiraga
Modern loudspeakers promise technical perfection. Manufacturers routinely claim frequency responses from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, vanishingly low distortion, and sophisticated crossover networks designed to optimize every driver within its ideal operating range. Yet experienced listeners often encounter a paradox: systems that measure impressively can still fail to communicate the vitality of live music. This contradiction fascinated Jean Hiraga, one of the most influential voices in high-end audio.
Digital-to-Analogue Converting
Streaming has become one of the most important music sources in modern high-end audio systems. Services such as Qobuz and Tidal now provide recordings in resolutions equal to - or even exceeding - compact disc quality. Combined with advanced network players and music servers, streaming offers an almost unlimited music library at the touch of a button. Yet one component ultimately determines how convincing streaming will sound: the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).
The EL84. Gracious Sound from a Small Tube.
Very often, it can be difficult to predict how an amplifier will sound. We assume that by reading enough reviews and analyzing technical specifications, we understand how a piece of audio equipment will perform. Given how significant the investment can be, the risk of a wrong choice is considerable. Yet somehow, that risk feels smaller when it comes to an EL84 amplifier.
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