[Cut-Throat]

The reason I ask, is that I was at a Rocky Mountain Audio Fest around 15 years ago and Audio Note had a Large Room set up where I listened to some of their offerings. Off to the side, they had a Pair of Taller 'Book Shelf' Speakers in fairly conventional Wood Veneer cabinets mounted on stands that were playing some Jazz Music. They were Two Ways with the Standard Tweeter mounted above the Mid Range/Woofer Driver. They sounded nice enough, but nothing exceptional stood out to my 'Non Golden' ears.

A man saw I was listening to them, and came over and said 'Nice, aren't they?'. I agreed, and to make conversation, I asked 'What do they sell for'. He said 'Forty Two' and I asked. 'Forty Two Hundred, for the Pair?' (Which would have been on the high side, for a pair of Speakers like that at that time). He answered, without batting an eye, 'Forty Two Thousand'. I was stunned, and just about spit out the coffee I was drinking, and I immediately started looking for the door to get the F*** out of there!

I think they had some model number of AN type 'E' or something like that. Now, I had already built the Paradox Ones (From a Kit from Danny) by then and owned them for at least 10 years, so I knew what great sounding 'Book Shelf' speakers could sound like. So, to say that I was underwhelmed by the Price/Performance of these Audio Note Speakers would be an understatement of Whale sized proportions. My impression at the time, was that the Paradox Ones were Far Superior Sounding Speakers!

I am still amazed by this experience, and I am still wondering 'What was I missing here?'

[dflee]

I know what you weren't missing.
Forty two K.

[mick wolfe]

It might make sense for someone of means whose goal is putting together a full Audio Note system. This being a case where a $100K++ system investment is a drop in the bucket. That said, I can't even wrap my head around a Devore O/96 for $16K.

[Danny Richie]

I have heard some of their speakers in the past.

They had them positioned near one corners of the room. They sounding like they were playing from the room corners. It was a, there's a speaker, and there's the other one sonic effect. Nothing about it stood out as impressive in any way.

Yes, they are crazy priced for no reason. Nothing about them warrants that price tag, as they are not at all expensive to build.

[PumaCat]

My other concern is that they use the same level of parts quality for the crossover circuit as used in my Harbeth 30.2s.

In other words..."Ay, me!"

[jmimac351]

You simpleton's just do not understand.  It's "Audio Note" therefore Audio Note. 

[FullRangeMan]

I have heard some of their speakers in the past.

They had them positioned near one corners of the room. They sounding like they were playing from the room corners. It was a, there's a speaker, and there's the other one sonic effect. Nothing about it stood out as impressive in any way.

Yes, they are crazy priced for no reason. Nothing about them warrants that price tag, as they are not at all expensive to build.

+1. I had read somewhere some 2-way AN speakers where inspired in the BBC LS3 as many others as Spendor, Rogers, Hartbeth, MF etc

[PumaCat]

+1. I had read somewhere some 2-way AN speakers where inspired in the BBC LS3 as many others as Spendor, Rogers, Hartbeth, MF etc

Most respectfully, no, I don't think they were. From the perspective of functional engineering requirements* the two different classes of speakers (AN vs. "BBC- monitors") have very different design and functional requirements and therefore, most respectfully, I don't think AN speakers fit into the category  BBC-inspired monitors.

The classic "BBC-inspired monitors" e.g. Spendor, Rogers, Harbeth had to function well (i.e., have a very flat measured response) as monitors for real-time professional recording/mastering applications. This generally means flat response while functioning as near-field monitors e.g. in a recording studio or recording truck. The Rogers LS 3/5a's and Harbeths are a classic example of this requirements-based design embodiment, for example.

My thought is that Audio Note speakers, which have a mandatory "corner placement in a
a room" requirement does not meet the needs of these BBC-monitor specification-based speakers with respect audio/recording monitor use-case requirements.

While I've heard the Audio Notes sound very good when well set-up, the mandatory corner-placement can place restrictions on user-specific applications/preferences. As an example, AN's would very likely not work well as "BBC monitor" type of loudspeaker described in the specific use-cases cited above.


*-I use to teach a course in Engineering Project Research & Development Requirements Development in the tech companies I worked in.

Cheers and my best regards the folks here for a Happy New Year.

[rbbert]

...Yes, they are crazy priced for no reason. Nothing about them warrants that price tag, as they are not at all expensive to build.

I think this description can apply to all Audio Note products, not only its speakers.

[toocool4]

rbbert i disagree, I would say this applies to all audio gear as they are not essential to life.

Anyone can ask whatever price they want for a product, the people paying for it obviously think the product is worth the asking price.

[mick wolfe]

+1. I had read somewhere some 2-way AN speakers where inspired in the BBC LS3 as many others as Spendor, Rogers, Hartbeth, MF etc

I've always read they were a spin off of the Snell's.

[PumaCat]

I've always read they were a spin off of the Snell's.

Hmm...not sure about that. From what I recall, Snells didn't require mandatory placement in the corners of the room.

[PumaCat]

I have heard some of their speakers in the past.

They had them positioned near one corners of the room. They sounding like they were playing from the room corners. It was a, there's a speaker, and there's the other one sonic effect. Nothing about it stood out as impressive in any way.

Yes, they are crazy priced for no reason. Nothing about them warrants that price tag, as they are not at all expensive to build.

Agreed, Danny. And, I don't even want to think about the quality of parts AN used for the crossover circuit.

[SET Man]

I've always read they were a spin off of the Snell's.

Hey!

   Yes, AN speakers are based on the early Snell's speaker.

[Letitroll98]

I've always read they were a spin off of the Snell's.

Yes, the speaker mentioned by the OP is based on the Snell Type E series II speaker, one of Peter Snell's early designs.  They've made numerous models from this one design improving drivers and crossover components with pricing from the $5-6k range up to the aforementioned $42k.  The original Snell design was not meant to be placed in corners, that's something AN decided would be a good idea.  I've heard many of these models and while improvements are evident, nothing has been transformative over my original Snell Type E series IV, reworked from the original by Kevin Voecks.  AN makes some fabulous transformers.

[rbbert]

rbbert i disagree, I would say this applies to all audio gear as they are not essential to life...

Too broad a disclaimer, since little is essential to life other than food, shelter and clothing (perhaps not the last)

[Cut-Throat]

rbbert i disagree, I would say this applies to all audio gear as they are not essential to life.

Anyone can ask whatever price they want for a product, the people paying for it obviously think the product is worth the asking price.

I think this discussion is about 'Value' to the average Audiophile. In other words how do these speakers sound compared
to other offerings priced 40 times less?  Not whether an 'Outlier' thinks the product is worth the price and buys them.  This forum centers around
a lot of Do it Your selfers, that are interested in a Custom Product for a reasonable price.

With that Said, I have heard speakers that cost over $50 Grand and could readily see and hear why they priced as such.
My opinion on the Audio Note speakers that I heard, the Value was not even close to the Price being asked.

[toocool4]

Too broad a disclaimer, since little is essential to life other than food, shelter and clothing (perhaps not the last)

Okay, all audio gear is overpriced. Ask people who are happy with their Bluetooth speaker and mp3 player, they would say paying anymore is madness.

[toocool4]

Cut-Throat, they are obviously not aimed at your “average Audiophile”
The person looking to DIY something, would not even look at Audio Note so why bring Audio note into the discussion.
People perceive value differently, what someone find good value someone else may think what a complete rip-off.

[rbbert]

Okay, all audio gear is overpriced. Ask people who are happy with their Bluetooth speaker and mp3 player, they would say paying anymore is madness.

See the post immediately preceding yours 

I have found a consensus at most audiophile forums (i.e., where MP3 and Bluetooth are rarely discussed) that AN gear is a far outlier in terms of product pricing.  YMMV