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SET Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Note P4 Balanced Amplifier (Tube) by Ougo

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REVIEW: Audio Note P4 Balanced Amplifier (Tube)

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Model: P4 Balanced
Category: Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: 1$
Description: 300B PSE, transformer interstage
Manufacturer URL: Audio Note
Model Picture: View

Review by Ougo on October 10, 2009 at 09:50:51
IP Address: 81.65.148.252
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for the P4 Balanced


Hi,

One short review concerning a pair of "unknow" amps, the new Audio Note P4 Balanced.
Old P4 are well-know, but I saw really few things on the web concerning the new ones with the new schema based on an interstage transformer instead of traditional caps.
Power supply is based on 5U4G and two 300B in parallel are driven by a 5687 and delivered 18 watts through new double C core output transformer.

http://www.audionote.co.uk/news/images/p4_bal_01.jpg

http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/amps_monoblock/images/p4_bal_06.jpg


I have these amps in my system since a long time now and began to have a good idea of what they can do. They replaced a pair of heavily upgraded Conquest Silver and have been used with a M5 preamp and since few weeks a beautiful M8 (amazing machine). M8/P4b are connected with the new Audio Note Sogon50 with XLR plugs (P4 bal only has XLR input), Speakers are AN E SPe HE, bi-wired with Sogon80, sources are CDT2/Dac4 sign and a vintage Audio Note Soara cartridge with a Zeta tonearm, Garrard 301 and an AN S4 step up.

Room, 6 by 4 meters.
Music, 40% of pop/rock, 20% vocal, 25% jazz and 15% classic (quartets & quintets mostly), listen between 30 and 60 hours by week.


I played at home with several Audio Note amps: Meishu, Meishu silver signature, Quest, Conquest, Conquest Silver (closed from Kassai) and now P4 balanced. New P4b have really a different sound from others. I could understand that someone prefers a classic Conquest Silver Signature but also that another one chooses the P4b instead of a pair of Kassai.
P4b are more accurate, powerful, colorless. It's fast with nervous bass. Connected with the new AN E HE (SPe), I have the best lower range ever heard (by myself) with an Audio Note system. Large and deep soundstage with details and room atmospheres. Drums are easy to distinguish, bass has power and rythme. Midrange is very natural and the treble is a little bit less rich than other Audio Note amps, what people can consider as less colored. This particular point can make the decision between classic caps amps and this new transfo coupled ones.
Personally, I know that I prefer, without any doubt, the accurate sound of these P4 bal. I also know that time will probably come to sale it (due to the baby coming), but I consider that I am lucky to have the opportunity to play with such quality amps at home during all this time.


Take time to listen them if one day you have the opportunity.

Enjoy

Ugo


Product Weakness: Price
Product Strengths: Fast, colorless, tones, strong bass and large soundstage


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: P4 balanced
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audio Note M8
Sources (CDP/Turntable): AN CDT2/Dac4 Sign - Soara/Zeta/Garrard 301/AN S4
Speakers: AN E SPe HE
Cables/Interconnects: Sogon80 - Sogon50 - KSL LP - KSL Vz
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Pop rock - vocal - jazz - classis
Room Size (LxWxH): 6 x 4 x 2,5
Room Comments/Treatments: none, living room
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PPP from PS Audio
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: Audio Note P4 Balanced Amplifier (Tube) - Ougo 09:50:51 10/10/09 ( 1)