Opinion on audio note kit dac 5.1 or 4.1


Hi Guys

Happened to chance upon a audio note kits dac, and their dac 4.1 and 5.1 looks really interesting!
Have never heard them in person before, but their specifications look pretty good!
Have any of you heard them before, and what kind of sound characteristics do they impart? (in terms of sound stage, musicality/sweetness, smoothness, warmth/brightness etc)
What system do you play them in and how would you compare them with other dacs you have owned?

Thanks!
thegreenman
I have never heard the 5.1, so I can't comment on that.

Maybe it's the DHT tubes, but regardless, all Lampi's I have owned present a large, fairly 3D soundstage.  As I went up their range of DAC's, the stage got a little bigger, but the biggest difference is in the increase in musical information and details, which provide more of the "you are there" presentation and feel to the music reproduction.  I have the Pacific now paired with the Taiko Audio Extreme server, and the results are pretty great, as close to "live" as a system has sounded to me.
@jbrrp1 hahaha oic ok thanks for sharing! Would you buy the big 7 again if thats the top of your budget?

Oic nice thanks! What tubes were you using? :) KR audio 300b RK? :) haha wow your current front end costs more than twice my speakers and amp :pp haha what amp and speakers are you using? :) must sound very magnificent!


The Big 7 at its retail, I don't know.  I sold mine for only half of what I paid after two years, as digital depreciates fast.  Now, used, sure!

I am running the RK 300B's, and have PX4's, Psvane WE101D "replicas", and KR T-100's to try, as well.  My system needs the robust and warmer sonic tilt of the 300B's to be right.  I am running the D'Ag S250 amp and HD pre into some TAD CR-1's (the TAD's needing the "warming"!).  Kids all through college, house paid off, I have been indulging in my audio passion pretty strongly in the last few years...and enjoying it very, very much!
@jbrrp1 ouch! Tt really hurt! Sigh....thats the sad part about audio...despite it being good it depreciates so much!

Hahaha oic wow naise selection of tubes! Was wondering if i bought it....prob will get the RK 300b and maybe 242s as well from KR. 

Lovely system and what a great retirement hobby! I would do exactly the same as you to enjoy good music and good gear when i have retired! Haha sadly im only 30 😂😂😂 still gotta long way to go!
It is a great hobby all life long.  At 30 I had Vandersteen 2C's with some Counterpoint gear and a SOTA Deluxe Star with SME V tt as the only source.  It's been a joy the whole way to my early 60's.  I just kept plowing about $3k - $4k in my system per year (I have an understanding bride who let's me play with some bonus money).  

I have read that those standard Kron 242's are killer in the DAC's.  I would like to try a pair, but I fear they may be too detailed and neutral in my system.