Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Note Ioltd Phono Cartridge by Bob Bales

Model:	Ioltd
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	not sure
Description:	very low output mc
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Note
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Note

Review by Bob Bales on March 30, 2002 at 06:39:34
IP Address: 213.107.252.112

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for the Ioltd

This product is the top of the range in the AN UK mc cartridges. They are hand built to order and as such very few are about. Uniquely they require two extra wires in the tone arm and a seperate power supply for the cartridge. The technical reasons for this are best explained on the Audio Note web sight.
This cartridge was an upgrade for me from a Io11, itself a very nice sounding cartridge.
Now, the sound, well first I noticed that my lps had more info on them than I thought. the ease that this cartridge seems to extract sound from a record just lets the music fill the room. The noise floor just seems to dissapear leaving music behind. I often find with a lot of hi-fi products they do not seem good at the complete ensemble picture, they seem to be voiced to match an image of hifi which sells, such as deep bass, or soundstage, or top end. With the very best, you hear all and nothing, I hear music, I have to listen several times if I want to work out why what I am hearing is so appealing. As opposed to after hearing once the effect wears off.
This cartridge has the effect of making me forget hifi and experience music. it seems to be so connected to the record, that i am overwhelmed with information, low level inner details that need exploring, jazz, classical rock, they all seem to present no problems.
Add dynamic range, and ease of set up then I can honestly say this is one for those who love music.
Bob

Product Weakness: needs power supply and 6 tonearm wires.
Product Strengths: extracts music from lps!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	AN Neiro/Art audio Diavolos monos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AN M7phono ANS7 transformer
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Voyd reference
Speakers:	Carfrae Big Horns
Cables/Interconnects:	JPS Kaptivator mains, ANVz i/cs AN Spe speaker leads
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, jazz, swing
Room Size (LxWxH):	26 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	carfraes have some bass apsorption
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Townsend sinks isolation racks, Copulare stand with sink on top
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	needs power supply and 6 tonearm wires.
Product Strengths:	extracts music from lps!