Blog #5
The time has come...
At last! The big day has arrived to drive the 150 miles and 3 hours to Partridge Green, just outside Brighton, UK to collect my system!
My small Toyota parked outside Audio Note (UK), space in the car was a real concern with a whole system to collect so I stripped it internally as much as possible not wanting to leave any component behind!
Once inside I met Audio Note (UK) Sales Manager Micky Seaton who has been incredibly helpful to me over the last 6 months with my blog and selecting my system. I didn't realise when I arrived, he would devote the entire day to me for a very extensive factory visit AND fully set up my turntable in the afternoon as my skills in that department are now distinctly lacking! Many thanks Micky, now THAT is customer service.
Firstly Micky and I went to the kitchen for a very welcome cup of tea and a chat. This definitely was necessary as I was admittedly a bit overwhelmed finally being in Audio Note (UK) HQ after so much anticipation.
Myself and Darko Greguras, Audio Note (UK) research and development engineer
December 2025
After a minute or so, a human whirlwind called Darko Greguras blew into the kitchen with an Audio Note (UK) customer Alan in tow. (Hello Alan nice to have met you).
Darko is possibly one of the most energetic people I have ever met and having never met me before, unprompted, proceeded to get out his phone and show me pictures of new projects he'd been working on. Fascinating and a great start to the visit.
As a humorous aside, as Micky and I walked to the start of production, we passed through the staff rest room which had chairs/tables/microvaves/sofas, etc., and a side room. What piqued my sense of humour was that in the restroom, there were two TT3 turntables on the tables and the side room contained the following system, including a magnificent pair of AN K/LX loudspeakers in gloss palisander perched on a pair of AN E stands, lovely TT2 deluxe and other AN components in varying stages of completion. Imagine being on your lunch break and having to move a TT3 out of the way to enjoy your microwave chilli con carne: Now THAT is what I call a restroom ladies and gents!
Various AN components in side room, I had a few enjoyable minutes discovering the equipment within. Also I have never seen gloss palisander finish before, I can confidently assert they are even more jaw dropping in the flesh than this picture.
Now into the factory...
Firstly we visited Scott who was engaged in making copper foil capacitors. He'd clearly made one or two in his life and the consistency and beauty of these components was breath-taking. I also noticed for the best results the well tried balance of using machines to do certain tasks and making by hand for other tasks. Thank you Scott for your time.
Next, we visited Barry who was making transformers, the beautifully created examples on his desk in the picture above were going into some very lucky customers Audio Note (UK) MEISHU KONZERTMEISTER. The picture does not do justice to just how hefty and meticulously crafted they are. Just look at the sizeable ring binder behind for scale purposes. With his eagle eyes, Barry immediately picked out my partially hidden Seattle Seahawks logo on my T-shirt, and I noticed his Seahawks woolly hat hung up, good spot Barry and nice to have met you!
Leaving Barry I couldn't help immediately noticing the items in the 6 pictures above. Micky explained they were all for the new field coil loudspeakers, the castings made specifically in the Black Country for their sonic properties, the carefully wound coils, the integration of the two and finally into a hemp coned drive unit. The last picture is the transformers awaiting placement into their respective field coil external power supplies
(1 per speaker). I have only briefly heard Audio Note (UK) AN E field coil loudspeakers and that was at a show but the sound quality and technology interests me greatly.
I then met Paul, who was in the early stages of working on a MEISHU SILVER amplifier.
He then pointed to a MEISHU KONZERTMEISTER he had just finished on a nearby shelf. Micky explained this was to be the new Audio Note demonstration unit, the current one having been sold. The difference in content from the picture below to a fully ready MEISHU (apart from valves, see picture below) is indeed stark! I do indeed take pleasure in just marvelling at the skill involved in constructing such an object d'art, an ability far beyond my talents.
Paul graciously putting up with a man in a raincoat
Completed MEISHU KONZERTMEISTER (apart from valves) ready for a life of show and demonstration duties. What can you say, this IS a work of art indeed!
​I then realised I was within arms reach of 3 levels of MEISHU! Level 3 - MEISHU PHONO Silver (£15800 RRP as of Dec 2025), Level 4 - MEISHU KONZERTMEISTER PHONO (£48000 RRP as of Dec 2025) and the unicorn that is the Level 5 - MEISHU KAPELLMEISTER PHONO (£92500 RRP as of Dec 2025).
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As an enthusiastic customer, being surrounded by such exotica was pretty much like ticking items off my bucket list of faster than a horse racing commentator in full flow. Micky said the KAPELLMEISTER was truly exceptional and really sang when surrounded by Audio Note components of a similar level. I've yet to hear it, but I'd imagine paired with AN E field coil speakers would be mind bending.
Lovely MEISHU KAPELLMEISTER in aluminium spotted waiting on a shelf. Now I'd love to hear this.
We then moved on, and I was really interested in chatting to Paul, who was explaining to me why and how he was upgrading a COBRA integrated amplifier, when I heard an increase in volume of excited voices from a neighbouring aisle. Like a magpie in a jewellery shop, my attention flitted to this new stimuli. On looking round the corner I saw Darko had just swept into the room with a DAC he'd been working on and was busy plugging it in to listen and assess his new upgrade. You can just see a small evaluation system above Darko (red fleece). As an Audio Note customer and enthusiast, my happy brain was pushed into overtime as it was sucking all this goodness up like a sponge. To be observing and listening to this ongoing R&D once again ticked another box on my rapidly filling bucket list!
Next was components store which I was really looking forward to seeing first hand, having watched blogs/videos of this enormous collection of rarities. It has expanded hugely and relocated since I last visited 25 years ago. Jay very kindly took the time to guide us on a very detailed and informative tour (thank you and much appreciated). There is so much stock you could have a blog solely on this stockroom. Huge rolls of AN V cable, boxes of tantalum resistors of every conceivable value and the fabled Fort Knox containing the silver components behind a hefty locked cage door, it was a true audiophile's nirvana.
We then visited Alfie and Jake working hard on their individual projects. Alfie (with cap) told me proudly he was a Seagulls fan (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) and was busy working on the mechanical design of transformers to produce the beautiful item bottom left of picture. Jake meanwhile was wiring a TT3 turntable. I noticed 2 things, 1) the wiring he did was exceptionally neat and 2) his work desk was exceptionally neat! I'm sure those things go hand in hand. Lovely job both, and nice to have met you.
Next we moved into the warehouse heaped high with interesting items ready to ship. 2 things particularly attracted my notice, 2 very very substantial wooden cases for the top of the line LEGEND monoblock power amplifier and this substantial pile on a pallet below.
My first sight of my system, boxed and ready to go! As a point of interest to Toyota (UK) sales department, this is exactly the same size as the carrying capacity of a Yaris. A useful tip when looking to sell cars to Audio Note (UK) prospective owners.
While I was in the warehouse I couldn't help saying hello to Danny who was sporting a particularly appropriate shirt bearing in mind where he was working! He was polishing fascia plates and was really helpful and informative. He made a final good impression on me before I loaded my car, left AN (HQ) and headed to Mickey's office a short drive away where he was going to very kindly set up my turntable.
Overall impressions....
What a great day! Does it get any better for an Audio Note (UK) enthusiast?
My overwhelming impression of Audio Note (UK) HQ was one of an understated excellence. Everyone I met oozed enthusiasm for their area of expertise combined with an innate friendliness and willingness to share with me.
I took many photos and spoke to many more people than I mention in this blog, to those I missed, I apologise profusely.
What's in blog # 6?
I had a feeling I would have a lot of content for this blog, I wasn't wrong!
Blog #6 will cover visiting Micky's brilliant office/audio workshop where he expertly set up my turntable plus the system unboxing on my return home.
It'll be a good one! See you soon, have an excellent New Year and 2026
Happy Listening!