Hi guys,
I want to share my experience for the ANK EL34 Artiste Triple C-Core Monoblock, see the link ANK Audiokits - EL34 Triple C-Core Pentode Monoblocks Tube Amplifier
The kit has arrived me (after month of waiting) in three heavy well-packed boxes; from that point my journey has begun. First I was a bit negative surprised that all components was putted unsorted together (resistors, capacitors, sockets) in one plastic bag. That is actually ok for a cheap kit, but when the regular price is about $3500, I am expecting a bit more respect to content. Never mind, after briefly inventory I realize that two speaker posts and two EL34 simply not in. I inform the ANK about missed parts and Brian Smith promised to me to send full matched set of EL34 and speaker posts… Promised and forgot immediately. One capacitor from the kit was defect, it starts to leak after 20 minutes of work and I lost about two weeks to find it. While debugging I found that cathode resistors KAL50 by Stackpole has inductive winding… Have no idea, what the reason was behind to chosen them for the “simply the ultimate EL34 Amplifier” as says advertising, but replacement by the Riedon 50W UALN the sound improvement was huge. Good, as I said I spend two weeks to debug to find leaking capacitor, after that the PCB starts to look not attractive. Remember about missed parts, I ask Brian Smith to send me two bare PCBs instead forgotten component. Brian said “yes” and forgot immediately as before. I have asked him again several times and aging Brian always said “yes” without consequences.
Anyway, the amplifier is good. It is deadly quiet (of course) and, potentially, has the magic inside. “Potentially” means that you need to replace cathode resistors and I am highly recommending using Miflex KPCU-01 600VDC instead provided Audio Note.
At the end, I am satisfied with amplifier, but not sure that I will buy something else at ankaudiokits.com
I want to share my experience for the ANK EL34 Artiste Triple C-Core Monoblock, see the link ANK Audiokits - EL34 Triple C-Core Pentode Monoblocks Tube Amplifier
The kit has arrived me (after month of waiting) in three heavy well-packed boxes; from that point my journey has begun. First I was a bit negative surprised that all components was putted unsorted together (resistors, capacitors, sockets) in one plastic bag. That is actually ok for a cheap kit, but when the regular price is about $3500, I am expecting a bit more respect to content. Never mind, after briefly inventory I realize that two speaker posts and two EL34 simply not in. I inform the ANK about missed parts and Brian Smith promised to me to send full matched set of EL34 and speaker posts… Promised and forgot immediately. One capacitor from the kit was defect, it starts to leak after 20 minutes of work and I lost about two weeks to find it. While debugging I found that cathode resistors KAL50 by Stackpole has inductive winding… Have no idea, what the reason was behind to chosen them for the “simply the ultimate EL34 Amplifier” as says advertising, but replacement by the Riedon 50W UALN the sound improvement was huge. Good, as I said I spend two weeks to debug to find leaking capacitor, after that the PCB starts to look not attractive. Remember about missed parts, I ask Brian Smith to send me two bare PCBs instead forgotten component. Brian said “yes” and forgot immediately as before. I have asked him again several times and aging Brian always said “yes” without consequences.
Anyway, the amplifier is good. It is deadly quiet (of course) and, potentially, has the magic inside. “Potentially” means that you need to replace cathode resistors and I am highly recommending using Miflex KPCU-01 600VDC instead provided Audio Note.
At the end, I am satisfied with amplifier, but not sure that I will buy something else at ankaudiokits.com
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Slava_Jazz: I bought a AN Kit-1 at the end of last year. It arrived fairly quickly from Canada to USA. My kit arrived missing some parts and without some of the tubes. It was right before Christmas holidays and Brian always did what he said he would do and sent the missing parts and tubes after the holiday.
There were a few things I didn't like- the output transformers paint job was done in a hurry, a couple holes were not countersunk, and some of the directions were vague to me. Fortunately, the holiday break and the internet allowed me to complete the assembly of the amp.
My intention was to buy my retirement amplifier- the last amplifier I would buy and I could sell or give away the other amps I currently own, and build a set of speakers to go with it. The AN Kit1 with 300B output tubes sounds nice, and that's really all I care about. I still haven't built a pair of speakers because of the covid-19 pandemic, but it's still on the drawing board.
There were a few things I didn't like- the output transformers paint job was done in a hurry, a couple holes were not countersunk, and some of the directions were vague to me. Fortunately, the holiday break and the internet allowed me to complete the assembly of the amp.
My intention was to buy my retirement amplifier- the last amplifier I would buy and I could sell or give away the other amps I currently own, and build a set of speakers to go with it. The AN Kit1 with 300B output tubes sounds nice, and that's really all I care about. I still haven't built a pair of speakers because of the covid-19 pandemic, but it's still on the drawing board.
the same to me at the end. but I have expected to get missed parts at binning and replacement later...
Similar experiences to mine. You really have to bug Brian to get action, in my case I got refunds to buy missing parts in the UK. The end result was worth the hassle but I wouldn't do it again. Sad really, given the quality of the parts and the sound.
Just wondering if the currency is US dollars or Canadian dollars? I am planning to buy one kit but with a limited budget. So the currency does matter. Thanks.
Wow $3500 for a basic EL34 with "funny" transformers.....for the same money one can build a 300B amp with Hashimotos or Monolith magnetics + other exotic components and even save some money! 40W are easy to get as well with 300B PP class AB...
AudioNoteKits is a separate business now, it did not have anything to do with the original Jap AN and now even with the Brits....it's just a name with some components and designs sourced to them.
AudioNoteKits is a separate business now, it did not have anything to do with the original Jap AN and now even with the Brits....it's just a name with some components and designs sourced to them.
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The original Audio Note from Japan was rather good. Later designs were not as good - often based on diesigns from others.
I did build a clone of the Audio Note kit 4 (identical cloned PCB), used Hashimoto OPT and still had to make several adjustmens to make it barely acceptable. The Audio Note kit 4 is based on the Sansui HF-V6K / HF-V60 from 1955 / 1956.
The amplifier has now found another home.
I subsequently had some thoughts of building a clone of the P1 SE and in the end I decided against it. Once bitten, twice shy.
Instead I have been working on a SE design with the 7868 (posted elsewhere) which according to some people is at least on par with the 300B except more linear in SE mode. It has the advantage of long life - plenty of 50 year ol McIntosh 220 or MA230 are still around with the orginal output tubes.
I still have to build it and there will be be tweeks to be done but I am comfortable with the design to-date.
The PSU will be hybrid: silicon rectifiers in conjunction with a single 6SJ3 damper diode to ensure the best of both worlds.
I feel that the Audio Note name it is the only thing that has some relation with its past. The real high end models may be still based on the original models and very good, I do not know as I have not examined them. (Don't like the price of those.)
I did build a clone of the Audio Note kit 4 (identical cloned PCB), used Hashimoto OPT and still had to make several adjustmens to make it barely acceptable. The Audio Note kit 4 is based on the Sansui HF-V6K / HF-V60 from 1955 / 1956.
The amplifier has now found another home.
I subsequently had some thoughts of building a clone of the P1 SE and in the end I decided against it. Once bitten, twice shy.
Instead I have been working on a SE design with the 7868 (posted elsewhere) which according to some people is at least on par with the 300B except more linear in SE mode. It has the advantage of long life - plenty of 50 year ol McIntosh 220 or MA230 are still around with the orginal output tubes.
I still have to build it and there will be be tweeks to be done but I am comfortable with the design to-date.
The PSU will be hybrid: silicon rectifiers in conjunction with a single 6SJ3 damper diode to ensure the best of both worlds.
I feel that the Audio Note name it is the only thing that has some relation with its past. The real high end models may be still based on the original models and very good, I do not know as I have not examined them. (Don't like the price of those.)
"Instead I have been working on a SE design with the 7868 (posted elsewhere)"
Where?
I'm currently using 6GM5/7868 in PP config but would be interested in your SE findings.
Jim
Where?
I'm currently using 6GM5/7868 in PP config but would be interested in your SE findings.
Jim