Playing Musical Chairs…

… but with components instead of people and equipment racks instead of chairs…. and the music starts instead of stops when it is all over…

In this case we swapped the Audio Note CDT-3 transport and DAC 4.1x Balanced DAC (with the Lamm L2 preamplifier) withn the Audio Aero Prestige CD / SACD / Premaplifier.

The Coltrane system with the Audio Aero Prestige as source
The Marten Design Coltrane system with the Audio Aero Prestige CD / SACD player as source. Lamm ML2.1 amplifiers on HRS Isolation Bases.

A lot of empty shelves on that HRS MXR rack…. THAT situation can’t last for long 🙂

The Coltrane system with the Audio Aero Prestige as source

I can’t help thinking of the Audio Aero as young and energetic and full of enthusiasm – at least in comparision with the Audio Note digital. HRS MXR equipment rack. Swapping back and forth between the El-rod and Shunyata power cords.

The Audio Note system with the Audio Note as source and Lamm preamp as source
The Audio Note system with the Audio Note as source and Lamm L2 preamp as source. Lamm ML1.1 amplifier on Acoustic Dreams amplifier stands. Acoustic Dreams equipment rack.

The Audio Note system with the Audio Note as source and Lamm preamp as source

The $20K (plus the $14K Lamm L2 preamp) Audio Note is more refined, and well-balanced in comparsion with the $13K Audio Aero…

Kind of the opposite of the speakers… Where the Coltrane is more refined and well-balanced in comparison with the very musical and very energetic Audio Note speakers.

We try to both strive for a balanced system as well as take advantage of each components strengths… which is a lot easier said than done…. 🙂