enbee23
09-11-2014, 18:15
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/M21_zps66112364.jpg
This unit was built in December 1995 and I have owned it since 2008.
The basics: 3 line level inputs, tape in & out and a really lovely MM phono stage. 2 pairs of output sockets, ground connector and mains switch on the back.
Full technical details are in the pics at the end.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/M22.jpg
Condition is very good, especially for the year. I don't smoke and do look after my gear. It comes with original packaging and "owner's manual" (2 photocopied pages!). It has nice things inside like Noble pots, AN silver wire, Black Gates, Jensen and AN caps. The phono section valves are Golden Dragon, I don't remember offhand what the others are but they won't be anything tweaky. The amp was overhauled by Audio Note in 2007 when they replaced the mains transformer and some caps. It runs cool and has never given me any bother other than an occasional rustle from the volume pot if it hasn't been used for a long while. A couple of twirls of the knob sorts it and I dare say a squirt with some switch cleaner would banish it for good.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091798_zpsa2d173be.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091822_zps5b9b003d.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091816_zps096cc64c.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091820_zps7862e839.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091825_zpsf2b91eed.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091826_zps61628cd8.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091827_zpsba36eaa8.jpg
This was my first "proper" valve preamp and it changed my view of preamps. Get the right one and it really is a LOT more than just an input switcher and a volume control. The M2 brought life and presence and emotion into the sound and made every listening session enjoyable. Not fussy about partnering amps either, I have used it successfully with a KR Audio SET amp, Audio Innovations 2nd Audio monos, Pass Labs Aleph 3 and a BAT VK-60. Criticisms? It isn't the absolute last word in filigree detail but you don't miss it as the music simply sounds organic, alive, believable. Anybody who was at Scalford in 2009 might have heard it playing in a system with the KR Audio amp and a pair of Tannoy Berkeleys. The room made a few "sounds of the show" lists afterwards so it was doing something right. Many positive reviews out there if you care to look, too.
The on board MM phono stage is very good. A few mates brought their toys round for a shoot out a while back: This AN M2p, EAR834, Puresound P10 and a smallish Whest. The Whest was voted last by all four of us and the votes for best were split EAR 1, Puresound 1, AN 2. Obviously not scientific at all but it does give an indication of the general level of performance. And if tube rolling is your thing, there may be scope for improvement there too. I never bothered!
So for this piece of audio magnificence, I am asking £800 plus shipping. It is an old friend and will be missed.
This unit was built in December 1995 and I have owned it since 2008.
The basics: 3 line level inputs, tape in & out and a really lovely MM phono stage. 2 pairs of output sockets, ground connector and mains switch on the back.
Full technical details are in the pics at the end.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/M22.jpg
Condition is very good, especially for the year. I don't smoke and do look after my gear. It comes with original packaging and "owner's manual" (2 photocopied pages!). It has nice things inside like Noble pots, AN silver wire, Black Gates, Jensen and AN caps. The phono section valves are Golden Dragon, I don't remember offhand what the others are but they won't be anything tweaky. The amp was overhauled by Audio Note in 2007 when they replaced the mains transformer and some caps. It runs cool and has never given me any bother other than an occasional rustle from the volume pot if it hasn't been used for a long while. A couple of twirls of the knob sorts it and I dare say a squirt with some switch cleaner would banish it for good.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091798_zpsa2d173be.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091822_zps5b9b003d.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091816_zps096cc64c.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091820_zps7862e839.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091825_zpsf2b91eed.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091826_zps61628cd8.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/enbee23/Audio/PB091827_zpsba36eaa8.jpg
This was my first "proper" valve preamp and it changed my view of preamps. Get the right one and it really is a LOT more than just an input switcher and a volume control. The M2 brought life and presence and emotion into the sound and made every listening session enjoyable. Not fussy about partnering amps either, I have used it successfully with a KR Audio SET amp, Audio Innovations 2nd Audio monos, Pass Labs Aleph 3 and a BAT VK-60. Criticisms? It isn't the absolute last word in filigree detail but you don't miss it as the music simply sounds organic, alive, believable. Anybody who was at Scalford in 2009 might have heard it playing in a system with the KR Audio amp and a pair of Tannoy Berkeleys. The room made a few "sounds of the show" lists afterwards so it was doing something right. Many positive reviews out there if you care to look, too.
The on board MM phono stage is very good. A few mates brought their toys round for a shoot out a while back: This AN M2p, EAR834, Puresound P10 and a smallish Whest. The Whest was voted last by all four of us and the votes for best were split EAR 1, Puresound 1, AN 2. Obviously not scientific at all but it does give an indication of the general level of performance. And if tube rolling is your thing, there may be scope for improvement there too. I never bothered!
So for this piece of audio magnificence, I am asking £800 plus shipping. It is an old friend and will be missed.