Audio Note P1 SE Amplifier
The Audio Note P1 SE Amplifier has taken the place of the Audio Note Soro integrated amplifier in our 100% Audio Note system.
Very different sound.
Where the Soro uses the 6L6 (guitar amplifier) output tube, the P1 uses the EL84 tube, like the Oto integrated.
Where the Soro is very dynamic the P1 SE is very dense and rich.
I think.
Everything we are talking about here is between $2K and $7K.
Now I wonder how Neli hooked it up, and whether the Audio Note M2 preamplifier is run into the P1 SE, or if we are just using the nice volume control this amp has for those who want to forgo a pre.
This is the problem with these audiophile wives, they are always messing with the systems and not telling me what they did 😉
Anyway, we are letting this new configuration settle in and then we will be ready to enjoin the Oto versus Soro wars 🙂
OK, audiophile Husband, you could just *look* behind the amp; the cabling is not too complicated, there’s a window there (good lighting) and the rack is a foot from the front wall. In fact, we *are* using a lovely M2 Line Balanced along with the P1 SE. Either volume control works, but I’ve been using the preamp volume myself, with the P1 set at about noon.
We tried the M2 LIne Balanced along with the Soro Phono SE for a brief period. It was rather an improvement — more complete harmonics, better resolution, better density, better musical flow. This M2 is the same price as the Soro ($6811), so if anyone’s thinking about this specifically, I’d recommend a P2 SE (with the same 6L6 as the SORO, volume control like the P1) with the M2 Line (or Phono) Balanced.
Well, Audiophile Wifey, it was night time, and the lighting could be better. And besides, I could just feign ineptitude knowing you would step up to the plate. 😉
It was rather an improvement? It was rather an Improvement???
With just the SORO Phono SE integrated, the system kicked ass, way better than what one would expect at the price point. I mean WAY better.
But with the M2 preamp, which added .. well, what she said it added … but the whole was REALLY engaging and REALLY engrossing. The dynamics and speaker control of the SORO with just that little extra juice made this little system something I could live with for a long time [the heck with the BIG systems! Well. Almost.]
Anyway, Wifey, we need to play with the volumes on the P1 and M2 to see what we can milk out of this pair. Who KNOWS how you got them set 🙂
Audiophile Wifey thinks I was cranky when I wrote this.
*I* don’t think so, but then again sometimes it is harder to tell cranky from playful as our relationship matures… and we go through our ‘wacky’ phase(s) … 🙂
Having listened to the OTO SE and OTO SE Sig, I would love to hear the P1SE Sig. I’ve got the P2 SE Sig here, but I prefer the EL84 voice out of the two.
Dave, it’s been a long time since you wrote the comment.
You managed to compare OTO Sig and P1 Sig?