Audio Note (UK) AX -Two Loudspeaker Review

So with the preamble out of the way let’s get on with the review.

The AX-Two is a two way ported box using a chipboard cabinet, VIFA paper woofer and silk dome tweeter.  Audio Note (UK)’s website is scant with details and describes the design as a “two-way ported cabinet.”  Audio Note rates the AX-Two as 90db sensitive and their 8 watt amps drive them more than capably so they should not present a difficult load.  Something that was a nice surprise is that the speakers are hand built in Denmark.  I have nothing against Chinese made products but a $1200 loudspeaker using quality drivers, connectors, and being made in Europe, does seem to me to add a bit of prestige to a field of speakers that are typically made “wherever” they can pay people as little as possible.  Theoretically, there should be an advantage to sound quality because products made in China with cheap labor ought to be able to use much better parts quality.

Audio Note (UK) speakers are designed for corners; however, I had been under the impression the AX Two was designed for free standing positioning as that is what is stated on the company’s website.  Martin Grennall of Audio Note (UK) has corrected me on this misinformation and while I had tried them in corners with success in my previous apartment on the short wall I found the speakers boomed significantly on the long wall.  So I pulled them out about 1 foot from the corner where they were happy.  I have a feeling I didn’t place the speakers near enough to the back wall.

In my current apartment I’ve run the speakers 1-2 feet from the walls for well over two years and have been pleased by the results assuming all the while that free standing was their design.  I am extremely pleased to have been corrected on my positioning misconception; I now place the speakers as close to the back wall as they will go without physically touching the wall.  There is no boom and it strangely seems to have improved soundstage depth.  Because I have an LCD television on a stand between the speaker I had to also push the television and stand right back to the wall so that the speaker’s tweeters are out in front of the television, as I was getting a benign but noticeable echo behind the television.  Wall mounting the television is probably advisable and on my to do list.

Great speakers should be chameleon-like in presenting recordings and ancillary equipment differently.  High contrast is a sign of a system’s resolving capabilities and is Audio Note (UK)’s overriding principle in everything they design.  A system must be able to contrast recordings because all recordings sound different.  The AX-Two does this supremely well within the limits of its frequency bandwidth.

Highlighting a few cross sections from various albums:

Artist:  LP – Album –Into the Wild – track “Levitator” 

This compressed rather poorly recorded album still escapes largely unharmed letting you know that the recording quality isn’t great but never becoming unlistenable.  There is a rather large amount of background noise that can be heard on some cuts perhaps due to it having being recorded live – whether intentional or not it doesn’t become an issue, though those readers with 100dB sensitive speakers may object.  Strangely part of the appeal of this album for me may in fact be that that the recording is rough around the edges.  The speed remained and LP’s soaring vocals generated high vocal impact and was very enjoyable – a track and artists that you want to turn up loud.  The AX-Two’s levitated me.  So thank you LP.  Her first full length album will be released in June and with luck the recording quality will be improved; either way I will place my order shortly. (Computer Audio 16/44.1)

Artist: Buckethead – Album –Electric Sea  – track “Swomee Swan”

One of the great electric guitarists, on an album in which you can’t judge a book by its cover.  One look at a man wearing a KFC bucket on his head and a mask that looks like something from a Halloween film, holding an electric guitar and you would suspect heavy death metal.  And while Buckethead certainly has that in his back pocket he creates some wonderfully moving pieces of music which may make you rethink your view of the electric guitar.  Finding emotion and delivering to the listener is kind of the point of an audio system.  If it can’t do that then you may as well find another hobby.  And while not very technical – the AX-Twos press the right buttons on the slow stuff and still pick up the strumming and the sound of the individual strings.  Compared to the KEF LS-50 I must say I prefer the treble on the AX-Two which seems more at ease although not soft.

Composer: John Williams – Violin: Itzhak Perlman – Album – Schindler’s List  (1,000 limited numbered edition)

The Japanese K2 HD recording is a rather stunning improvement over the original MCA album.  The violin is so well rendered on the AX-Two – not in a hyper detailed way that some speakers seem to exaggerate.  Strings are liquid and rich and the uppermost violin string is extended but never becomes screechy or thin.  The foreboding nature of John Williams’ best work is retained extremely well here.  The resolution on this and other K2 HD recordings in my collection would likely aid the playback of any system.  Nevertheless, dynamic vocals mixed with beautiful strings don’t burden the AX-Two which continues to sound far bigger than it has a right to.  The treble never falters or strains to reach the notes nor is there audible break-up.  Natural organic presentation throughout this wonderful re-mastered soundtrack.

Artist: Blue Rodeo – Album Five Days in July – tracks – “5 Days in May“ and “What is this Love“

One of the greatest bands, 5 Days in May is a relaxed ballad and indeed the entire album could be deemed as such with strong harmonica and melody throughout.  Fans of Sarah McLachlan should note that she does the backing vocals on a number of tracks here and adds her usual dose of melancholy to a somewhat melancholic album.  The AX-Two brings out the melancholy nicely with the rich mid bass keeping the vocals clear but brooding – wonderful.  It’s about emotion and sensing the hidden turmoil in the voice as piano intertwines with voice.  On ‘What is Love’ the weeping instrumental with Sarah’s sensuous voice over top makes me wish to push the repeat button and listen over and over.

Artist: Armin Van Buuren – Album – Intense – track “Sound of the Drums”

Armin Van Buuren is arguably Trance for people who don’t like trance.  Which is to say he takes a pop singer vocal and adds his blend of beats but it is recorded quite well and he manages to put in some ambience.  He uses a number of solid female and male vocalists who are kept clear in the foreground with the focus on the talent.  The synthesizer isn’t overbearing in this album and he doesn’t become as repetitive (read boring) as I find much trance winds up being — as if the album is skipping for 8 minutes.  The speaker is well balanced so it doesn’t throw the bass in your lap.  That said it offers an engaging sound because it can handle the bass depth and drive of this kind of music and once again the treble and vocals are superb.  Sometimes I found myself wondering why one needs more – but of course you do – an added 30hz and more extended treble and bigger dynamics of the AN-J can blow you into next week.  Nevertheless, the AX-Two provides more than a glimpse of this scale.  Let’s face it —  if your primary music choice is trance you’re not buying speakers with 5 inch woofers.   Still, put this disc in and turn the volume up and be mightily impressed by how truly excellent they hang in there.