1/11/2024 0 Comments Kondo audio noteIt really does come down to the quality of the transformers and the execution of the design. The ANUK version is more dynamic and has more control but is not always particularly well built. There is an interview with Kondo San that explains what he was trying to achieve, which, despite the problems of translation, can be expressed as coherence and flow. I heard the original Ongaku and the AN UK version and I think you have summed up the difference. If you ever get a chance to listen to either,do yourself the favor,it is worthwhile,but the prices are crazy.Ĭlick to expand.I think that you have nailed it perfectly. I don’t care about the politics between Audio Note UK and Kondo Japan,I never met one of them and none have ever given me anything for free.I believe,at the very top ,both are equally good,but both got a different option what is the best sound. The Ongaku Japan,could never achieve these figures,the driver stage was not powerful enough and the power supply sagged at full throttle. Just one thing,No Ongaku ever had the promised 27 watt, 18 on a good day 19 watts. It sounds so much more powerful ,it got at 3% distortions 48wattts and much more energetic and more detailed with a bottom end my S/S Accuphase A250 monoblocks don’t achieve.Yes it also got all silver transformers and just the parts cost was about $20 000 ,the most expensive was the transformers,but the price is without tubes,all the 300b and 212 are original WE.It was for the last 20 years my dream to build my own design but never had the time,now I got it,but never ever something so complicated again.1600Volt scares is very scary to work with and can jump 4 inches Just one word ,the new monoblock 212 with 2 interstage transformer 6f8g drives a interstage transformer then a 300b then a interstage transformer to the 212Western Electric tube,is way better than the Ongaku. It took me 5 month to finish and it was a lot of hard work and go sapped by 1600volt twice,not a nice experience.I believe if you got the knowledge and experience build your own,for much less and if done properly it will sound as good or better.I don’t want to hijack the thread. It is a completely different design,with interstage transformer and different front tubes.At the time I definitely preferred the UK amp,more detail and drive.The Ongaku Japan,is very slightly slow and a bit mellow and rounded off in comparison.Not the most transparent but very musical but not so accurate.Some will prefer the one and somebody the other one,it will depend on taste and speaker matching.If you know the original Ongaku design,my personal opinion is the power supply is not the best,the driver stage is also not the best.The question,would I buy any Ongaku again and the answer is no,ok now I don’t have the financial means anymore,like years ago,I am retired now,but still love tubes and love good sound.I just finished building my own single ended monoblocks,with a WE 212 tube per monoblock. I am a owner of a 1992 Ongaku made in Japan.It is a great amp,but don’t forget it was designed in the late 1970th.I will never sell it, but I only fire it up a couple of times a year.I was privileged to have the new Ongaku UK in my system for a week.
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