Steve Hoffman's Ongaku

[christopher3393]

29 minutes ago, mansr said:

I have nothing against SET amps on principle. It's the low power, poor efficiency, high distortion, and high output impedance I dislike. I suppose 'apogee' might refer to all those qualities taken to their extremes.

 

Clever, he-he. Think of apogee as furthest away from earth, heavenly-sounding, apotheosis. So being the best example possible given inherent weaknesses, limitations. But you knew that and clearly don't like their sound or maybe just their measurements. That would be a way of politely saying "yes, I don't like them on principle".

 

But  (regardless of occasional hints of aesthetic scotosis) you are certainly near the apogee of high-quality geeky shit-posting here in your favored domicile!

[miguelito]

On 7/29/2018 at 10:03 AM, Brinkman Ship said:

So let's look at this from a few angles:

 

-First, it still does not offend anyone that a multi millionaire receives over a half a million dollars of Audio Note, Grado, and PS Audio gear in exchange for shilling it on his forum, yet peddles for donations to run the website?

 

-Second, if there are any accountants that can verify this, but it is my understanding that any "gifts" from manufacturers must be declared as income on a tax return.

 

-In my PERSONAL opinion, Audio Note is a cult, and he and the US importer, are just preaching to the converted.

 

Much more to say later...

My only comment would be that reporting while under the "monetary influence" should render such reporting invalid. However, Ongaku is a carefully made product, and I would refrain from discrediting it just because of what you could call a "bribe" from Audio Note UK.

 

I actually own an Ongaku from Audio Note Japan - the original manufacturer. My Ongaku was made in May 2012, with an evolved but close to the original design, unlike the UK version which added some feedback.

 

Why did I buy this? Mostly because when I was a kid (in Argentina) I saw the Ongaku on the cover of a magazine and I was shocked ... "What is this thing with those huge tubes?" I always wanted one and so I purchased one when I was able to. I matched it with Avantgarde Duo Mezzo speakers, and I enjoy the music a lot.

 

As for the complicated ways of Mr Qvortrup, consider this:

 

http://gpoint-audio.com/kondo-san-testimonial-to-read-and-be-aware/

[Brinkman Ship]

9 minutes ago, miguelito said:

My only comment would be that reporting while under the "monetary influence" should render such reporting invalid. However, Ongaku is a carefully made product, and I would refrain from discrediting it just because of what you could call a "bribe" from Audio Note UK.

 

I actually own an Ongaku from Audio Note Japan - the original manufacturer. My Ongaku was made in May 2012, with an evolved but close to the original design, unlike the UK version which added some feedback.

 

Why did I buy this? Mostly because when I was a kid (in Argentina) I saw the Ongaku on the cover of a magazine and I was shocked ... "What is this thing with those huge tubes?" I always wanted one and so I purchased one when I was able to. I matched it with Avantgarde Duo Mezzo speakers, and I enjoy the music a lot.

 

As for the complicated ways of Mr Qvortrup, consider this:

 

http://gpoint-audio.com/kondo-san-testimonial-to-read-and-be-aware/

...no consider this...?

 

[Ralf11]

that guys looks like he is Shakti Stoned

[Brinkman Ship]

Latest nauseating shill thread...

 

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/audio-note-uk-an-e-speaker-choices-from-cheapest-to-most-expensive-a-handy-and-useful-chart.765769/

[jcbenten]

7 hours ago, Blake said:

 

One of our CA forum members has the Ongaku, I just can't recall his name at the moment.  If memory serves, he is running horn speakers (Avanteguard Acoustic) and possibly lives in NYC?  

 

I stumbled on this Audio Note UK factory tour and Mercedes road trip story on Sunday when I was bored:

 

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2017/08/12/audio-note-uk-factory-tours-and-life-in-the-fast-lane-with-peter-qvortrup/

 

They do a great job of creating/cultivating an "image" for the company much like you get with other luxury good companies such as Rolex, Patek, Hugo Boss, etc.  I suspect this helps to foster the cult following and mystique and encourages some to want to be part of the club.  Great marketing, but it is a necessity if they are going to sell this crazy expensive stuff, similar to expensive Swiss watches, etc.

 

What I found odd was that in the listening room of the Audio Note UK CEO, and another Audio Note distributor, the Audio Note speakers were jammed up in the corners against the wall.  Is this the preferred setup for these speakers?  If not, it seems odd to me to have hundreds of thousands of dollars of gear and seemingly ignore room acoustic treatments and speaker setup (unless these speakers sound better crammed against the wall and cluttered rooms lined with racks of vinyl improves room acoustics ).

 

 

 

 

@miguelito has that setup.  I think he is NYC area.  Maybe I will ping him next time I visit my brother:-)  He can also teach me some Physics!!

 

[miguelito]

7 hours ago, Blake said:

One of our CA forum members has the Ongaku, I just can't recall his name at the moment.  If memory serves, he is running horn speakers (Avanteguard Acoustic) and possibly lives in NYC?  

I do and would be happy to host a listening... See my signature.

[miguelito]

3 minutes ago, jcbenten said:

@miguelito has that setup.  I think he is NYC area.  Maybe I will ping him next time I visit my brother:-)  He can also teach me some Physics!!

Yes, in Chelsea, in Manhattan. Music, wine, cheese... All good things. 

[Blake]

8 minutes ago, miguelito said:

I do and would be happy to host a listening... See my signature.

 

Ah yes, it was you that I was thinking of Miguelito!

 

Only reason I remembered was that the first I'd ever heard of the Ongaku was a result of your post some years ago which sent me on a search, and we have similar taste in design/furniture so I remember your listening room pics (my visual memory is very strong).  Did you move?  The room is looking out of this world!  Nice.....

[jcbenten]

7 minutes ago, miguelito said:

Yes, in Chelsea, in Manhattan. Music, wine, cheese... All good things. 

My brother is Upper West Side ... I need to plan a trip...somehow.

[miguelito]

1 minute ago, Blake said:

Did you move?  The room is looking out of this world!  Nice.....

I moved to a spaceship...

[Blake]

1 minute ago, miguelito said:

I moved to a spaceship...

 

Hey, everyone calls my house the "fish bowl" house due to it seemingly being constructed of several stories of all windows, so I am 'out there in space' with you

 

 

 

 

[Brinkman Ship]

For good measure...

 

 

[Ralf11]

33 minutes ago, miguelito said:

Yes, in Chelsea, in Manhattan. Music, wine, cheese... All good things. 

 

and a historic site, the Chelsea hotel

[Hugo9000]

1 hour ago, Brinkman Ship said:

Latest nauseating shill thread...

 

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/audio-note-uk-an-e-speaker-choices-from-cheapest-to-most-expensive-a-handy-and-useful-chart.765769/

At least he informs us that it is "a handy and useful chart" right there in the thread title, otherwise, I'd never have guessed that to be so.

 

 

 

I suppose it's handy in that it lets one know that there are so many useful tweaks, already set up and priced, so no need to DIY it.  And useful in that it points out clearly what one's required upgrade path will be, as funds permit.

[Brinkman Ship]

43 minutes ago, Hugo9000 said:

At least he informs us that it is "a handy and useful chart" right there in the thread title, otherwise, I'd never have guessed that to be so.

 

 

 

I suppose it's handy in that it lets one know that there are so many useful tweaks, already set up and priced, so no need to DIY it.  And useful in that it points out clearly what one's required upgrade path will be, as funds permit.

It does seem to be handy and useful.

 

It is also handy in that if fulfills Daddy's obligation to shill after being gifted their flagship, or close to it speakers.

[miguelito]

12 hours ago, Brinkman Ship said:

For good measure...

 

 

70's porn?

[miguelito]

12 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

and a historic site, the Chelsea hotel

A few blocks away on 23rd St - I am on 23rd as well. Not a place you necessarily want to visit...  But certainly famous, from Tesla, to many others.

[semente]

12 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

 

and a historic site, the Chelsea hotel

 

 

[mevdinc]

I don't have enough details and not going to speculate but from what little I know it seems such a sad situation/story.
It's obvious that Audio Note Japan is the original brand but somehow AN UK continues to use the same brand. But what's surprising even more is that AN UK seems to be using the same model names for its electronics too. Even though Kondo-san claimed in the early 2000s that he had revoked the license. 
Very strange indeed.

I remember reading quite a few comments about Steve Hoffman doing most of his mastering work on the ATC monitors at one time. He was rating the ATCs very highly, obviously AN UK speakers now seem to be his favourites.
 

@miguelito, great place and system!
 

[miguelito]

12 minutes ago, mevdinc said:

I don't have enough details and not going to speculate but from what little I know it seems such a sad situation/story.
It's obvious that Audio Note Japan is the original brand but somehow AN UK continues to use the same brand. But what's surprising even more is that AN UK seems to be using the same model names for its electronics too. Even though Kondo-san claimed in the early 2000s that he had revoked the license. 
Very strange indeed.

 

http://gpoint-audio.com/kondo-san-testimonial-to-read-and-be-aware/

 

12 minutes ago, mevdinc said:

@miguelito, great place and system!

 

Thx! 

[miguelito]

Something very interesting about Ongaku...

 

Hiroyasu Kondo, the japanese designer owner of Audio Note Japan, designed the first version around 1988 or so. He chose the 211 power tube as the amplification device. This tube was used in communications equipment by the US military and was in widespread use during WW2. It is very likely that some of those tubes were on the planes that bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Moreover, to my knowledge at the time those tubes were only manufactured in the USA. Kondo San certainly knew about this history and still went ahead and used that tube in the design.

 

The 211 tubes I currently use in my Ongaku are NOS GE VT-4C, dating from 1944. NOS means "New Old Stock" which means these tubes had never been used before I purchased them. It is actually not very hard to find 1940's GE VT-4C tubes today (not cheap, a matched pair is ~$800).

 

So there you have it: Every day I turn on this Japanese designed and hand-made amplifier, designed by a Japanese designer with American designed and manufactured output tubes, with tubes that were manufactured one year before the USA dropped atomic bombs on Japan. And they amplify the sound coming from a British DAC into German speakers.

 

And it makes beautiful music.

 

I find this truly awe inspiring.

[semente]

1 hour ago, miguelito said:

Something very interesting about Ongaku...

 

Hiroyasu Kondo, the japanese designer owner of Audio Note Japan, designed the first version around 1988 or so. He chose the 211 power tube as the amplification device. This tube was used in communications equipment by the US military and was in widespread use during WW2. It is very likely that some of those tubes were on the planes that bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Moreover, to my knowledge at the time those tubes were only manufactured in the USA. Kondo San certainly knew about this history and still went ahead and used that tube in the design.

 

The 211 tubes I currently use in my Ongaku are NOS GE VT-4C, dating from 1944. NOS means "New Old Stock" which means these tubes had never been used before I purchased them. It is actually not very hard to find 1940's GE VT-4C tubes today (not cheap, a matched pair is ~$800).

 

So there you have it: Every day I turn on this Japanese designed and hand-made amplifier, designed by a Japanese designer with American designed and manufactured output tubes, with tubes that were manufactured one year before the USA dropped atomic bombs on Japan. And they amplify the sound coming from a British DAC into German speakers.

 

And it makes beautiful music.

 

I find this truly awe inspiring.

 

The whole of the Japanese culture still stands in this adoration and utmost respect for the Master artisan, whether he works with swords, combs or bonsai.

Like you I am also fascinated by this.

What led me away from the way of the Japanese audio (had a 47labs digital source and amplifier) was that the individual, or his personality, took too much prominence ultimately standind in the way of the music. Listening to this kind of equipment is like permanently wearing tinted glasses. Might be heaven for some people but I am not interested in listening to flavoured equipment, I prefer it to be as tasteless as water, distilled if possible. Give me the signal, which is the same as saying the music.

[miguelito]

9 minutes ago, semente said:

 

The whole of the Japanese culture still stands in this adoration and utmost respect for the Master artisan, whether he works with swords, combs or bonsai.

Like you I am also fascinated by this.

What led me away from the way of the Japanese audio (had a 47labs digital source and amplifier) was that the individual, or his personality, took too much prominence ultimately standind in the way of the music. Listening to this kind of equipment is like permanently wearing tinted glasses. Might be heaven for some people but I am not interested in listening to flavoured equipment, I prefer it to be as tasteless as water, distilled if possible. Give me the signal, which is the same as saying the music.

I'd say that not all japanese designs are the same. 

[mansr]

Just now, miguelito said:

I'd say that not all japanese designs are the same. 

Did anyone say they were?