Audio Note UK IZero Integrated Amplifier Tube Amplifier Review

The above music admittedly plays to the strength of lower powered SET amps and micro dynamic nuance, but what about music with more drive and oomph? Well here of course is where the IZero had more trouble with the Wilson Benesch Vectors. At higher level the IZero sounded a little more constrained – though I was surprised how loud I could get the Vector before the bass began to compress. Considering it was a large room I suspect in a normal living space the IZero would be able to drive those floorstanders quite nicely.

As before, I will highlight three albums used for more taxing evaluations across three distinct recording types and genres from a first rate test record recording to a somewhat compressed rock album to a well known Jazz artist: The ABC Records “Western Electric Sound System Test Record 10 Live” (HD Mastering) is one of the few test records that I actually like listening to in that not only is it superbly recorded but the music is also quite good. I also used a new album that I was not too familiar with in an attempt to follow Audio Note UK’s philosophy of “Comparison by Contrast” (http://www.audionote.co.uk/articles/art_audio_hell.shtml ) with the new Killers Album “Battle Born.” Lastly, the wonderfully recorded and lesser known Pat Metheny and Anna Maria Jopek album “Upogenie.”

The Western Electric album I found to be quite interesting. The song Hindaa from the Bonia Trio. Male vocals in the mid low bands were rendered well with both my Audio Space and the Audio Note UK IZero. Interestingly, the Audio Space had two male singers shifted mostly to the to the left speaker. I noticed this when I brought the album to the California Audio show (including listening to Audio Note UK’s pricier system). In every stereo where I used this track the lead male bass singer mostly came from the left channel while instruments and one singer came out hard through the right speaker. One notices the lead singer as a result and nearly forgets about the accompaniment and the other vocalists.

It’s a terrific recording and indeed Audio Space demonstrated their amplifier with this recording and impressed me quite a bit. With the IZero the lead male voice was shifted more to the center, and the other singers separated left and right thus giving a sense of a an actual trio.

Further, I could listen to all three singers individually. I didn’t really notice big changes like this on any other recording so it’s one of those interesting oddities. The soundstage may be argued as being somewhat vague as a result. Regardless, I preferred the end result here even if it accomplishes it in a less precise manner.

With Taiko band’s “Monochrome II” this is a nice drum agitation piece that had plenty of dynamics and I found the IZero to offer a richer, deeper presentation than amps at this price typically muster. The Audio Space Mini-2SE does a fine job here as well if a little thinner in the upper mids on sticks but solid nonetheless. Rounding the album out is Handel’s Suite in F Major- Variation II and Vivaldi’s La primavera” which were both enchanting open and possessed a large stereo spread. The dynamics here were impressive but the edge goes to the IZero again on nuance and simply hearing more subtlety and layers than with the Mini 2. The Mini 2 could create the macro dynamics and drive but not the lower level finesse. Granted, the Mini 2 does have cap upgrade options and a world of better tube options available to arguably get some of this finesse back.

The Killers are a rock band with a more than respectable lead singer. The album is somewhat hit and miss with recording quality and sounds thinner and more compressed than any of the others. Still, it is enjoyable enough on both amplifiers though the treble is grittier through the Audio Space. “Deadlines and Commitments” is probably the best track and fortunately it seems to be one of the better sounding cuts. The speed of drums and guitar is very solid and both amps could play satisfactorily loud to get the typical rock drive. But head bangers may wish for a larger speaker/amp combination — perhaps an Audio Note UK AZ-Three as opposed to the standmount if you plan to play hard rock, metal or generally very loud levels. The Mini-2SE could play louder when set to the ultralinear mode – however ultralinear mode was tiring. The IZero may add a slight warmth that allows poorly recorded music not to get completely unruly. Or it may be that because the IZero doesn’t add its own artifacts it merely seems to be kinder to poorer recordings. That’s an argument for another day.