![]() ![]() That’s actually a shame because in the early 1990s R-2R DAC technology had come of age through the use of segmented DAC architecture to reduce glitching at major digital code transitions. It was introduced in 1991 and has by now been designated obsolete by Analog Devices, not an unusual outcome for R-2R chips of that era. The digital board is outfitted with an Analog Devices AD1865 dual-18-bit stereo DAC chip. In fact, the kit’s digital board doesn’t even have an anti-aliasing analog filter. Audio Note did much to popularize this approach. Eventually, the art got better, and, to my ears, a key element was the embrace by some manufacturers of R-2R DAC technology with no oversampling (NOS) digital filters. Having suffered through a multitude of excruciating digital products, I was almost ready to fully retreat into the soothing world of vinyl. customers for a reasonable surcharge.Īs I survey the past 40 years of digital audio and consider the sonic carnage inflicted by so many DACs and CD players, I am reminded of the title of Don and Carolyn Davis’ book, If Bad Sound Were Fatal, Audio Would be the Leading Cause of Death. It needs to be emphasized that ANK is not in the business of manufacturing finished products, though they do occasional build for U.S. As with other kits, the customer has total freedom to experiment in wiring, capacitor choices, and tube-rolling to tailor the sound to his liking. The one exception is the digital board, which is supplied fully assembled. As Brian puts it, ANK basically sends out a box of parts, and 50% of the success is ultimately in the customer’s hands. It has seen several variations, though currently production is only focused on an upgraded version known simply as the DAC 2.1 Signature. The $1700 DAC 2.1 kit is considered an entry-level product, but is one of ANK’s longest running products with a significant DIY following. It’s absolutely brilliant that ANK can leverage Audio Note’s engineering and parts development for DIYers, who can thereby approach the AN sound at a lower price point. By 2014, after many regular engineering trips from Canada to the UK and lots of AN part purchases, the kit business was taking on a life of its own, with a full range of products including E元4, EL84, and 300B amplification, phonostages, preamps, and DACs. To avoid confusion, the branding was changed to ANK or ANKits. It was then that Brian Smith approached AN’s president, Peter Qvortrup, with a proposal to keep the kit business going, and the end result was. But while originally the kit business was integrated with AN’s finished-product side, in 2004 it was shut down internally due to the support-heavy requirements and low margins of kits. Yes, this is an Audio Note UK (AN) design. Well, to be more specific, my report is strictly about the sonics of this DAC since I purchased the unit fully assembled. I would recomend the CD3 player (and Audionote kits!) without reservation.T his is a rare bird in the pages of TAS-a kit report for the intrepid DIYer, who’s in search of an affordable DAC and not afraid of wielding a soldering iron. The bass is a loose compared to my previous system on rock music - but this is a price well worth paying for a system that I can now listen to and enjoy for hours on end It is never fatiguing (but possibly slightly recessed in the high treble). My new system sounds totally different from the old one: it sounds truly lifelike and totally involving, particularly with classical music. Really smooth sounding without a hint of grain or harshness. Both sounded great, but the CD3 was better. I demo'd both, and the differences between them were subtle. My dealer recommended the CD2 or (then just out) CD3. I was looking for something in the $2000 - $3000 category, but there didn't seem to be much around to choose from. What I needed next was a good cd player - smooth sounding but at a realistic price. Liking what I found - and being able to save some money by DIY - I decided to buy an Audionote Kit 1 amplifier(300b SE), an Audionote Preamp kit and a pair of ex-dem AN-ESpx speakers. In my search for something radically different, I happened on Audionote by way of their high-end valve equipment. I found that I ended up not playing music very much. The bass was great, but I soon tired of the harsh, gritty and fatiguing sound. I was using an Audiolab 8000a amplifer, Rotel CD 965 player and a pair of home-built transmission line speakers (using top quality Volt and Scanspeak drivers). I had decided to totally change my system in an effort to get a cd-based system which I could live. ![]()
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