Half Note Audio / Latest News

Chalice Audio SET Tube amplifiers showcase the very best workmanship, attention to detail, world class sound that sets them apart from others. Another "me too" tube they are not. The Grail mono blocks have the standard, for us, for what SET tube amplification can do. They are as sweet as the revered Kondo Ongaku and powerful enough to drive our world class TIDAL Contriva loudspeakers. Chalice Audio custom makes each unit specifically for the customer.

We have heard and are aware of the many SET tube amplifiers available, however, none that we have heard approach the Chalice Audio Grails in recreating a true musical event. Some have a magical midrange and little else. Others are seductive but lacking intellectual prowess. The Grails create a singular event wherein the dimension and shape of the instruments played are clearly discerned. The acoustic space, inasmuch as it is recorded well, comes through in a most convincing manner. The shape of a singer's lips, their distance from the microphone and the natural beauty of real instruments is the trademark of the Chalice Audio Grail amplifiers. Rediscover truth in music with Chalice Audio.

Thesis Audio turntables, from Italy, represent an extreme value in analog playback, the platter, stone, tonearm mounting base, spindle and clamp were all designed specifically to create an acutely musical event. Every facet of the Thesis turntables were designed with a singular purpose - accurate playback of vinyl... More details will forthcoming very soon.

Half Note Audio is extremely pleased to represent STYLOS sys digital to analog converters

in North America. We very nearly gave up on digital as a necessary convenience. We

searched the cost no object separate systems from Japan, Great Britain, Germany and the

United States. Nothing completely sounded like real music. Some of them had a very nice

sound but none of them conveyed the dynamics of music nor the completeness of tone and

timbre that real instruments, played by real people exhibit. The STYLOS sys HAD changed

our perception of digital. It reproduces music. Dynamics are the most natural we have yet

heard, timbre is natural and correct. Instruments are played by real people in a real space.

The New Pythagoras turntable from the passionate people at Audiostone and from the genius of Micha Huber,

the brilliant designer of the Thales Tonarm, is a state of the art, reference turntable without peer.

We are happy to announce our partnership with Audiostone of Norway. Audiostone's founder's experience in the Maritime industry, passion for high end audio, and love for music are realized in all of the Audiostone products. Audiostone worked with specialists to create a audio equipment racks for demanding music lovers. The shelves can be ordered in either wood or stone. The stone shelves are hand cut and shaped by master stone masons. The supporting steal structure is unique to Audiostone as they use only naval quality steel, until now, never seen before in the audio industry. Audiostone also specializes is isolation cones, loudspeaker stands, and cable elevators. There is a very special product in development, stay tuned for more updates!

We are very excited to offer Xavian Loudspeakers to North America! The loudspeaker market is exceedingly crowded and represents little value. We have been watching Xavian for several years now and have been impressed with the quality of workmanship that goes into each product. The joints are not simply glued, but mitered with tongue and groove joints. During our recent trip to Europe we visited the Xavian facility and found each speaker to be hand sanded, soldered, and assembled. Mr. Barletta and his team are true craftsmen. What sets Xavian apart are low distortion ScanSpeak Revelator transducers with SD-1 motors for the midrange and midwoofers and SD-2 motors for the tweeters, open basket slit-cones (to break up standing waves on the loudspeaker cone), custom machined aluminum port tubes, and high tolerance first order crossovers. As well built as the Xavian loudspeakers are their true excellence is demonstrated in their sonic presentation. They have a very natural timbre and tonality. Recently, we attended a piano concert and a wind ensemble. (It is important for us to listen to live music on a regular basis.) Upon returning, we took some time to listen to the Xavian XN125 loudspeakers. With the live music fresh in our ears we noticed a striking similarity, in timbre, tonality and presentation, albeit on a much smaller scale. We are very excited to add Xavian to our lineup and also to offer a product we feel represents high quality at affordable pricing. Please contact us for more information, Email: contact@halfnoteaudio.com.

Half Note Audio is honored to be working with Thales Tonarm of Switzerland. The impressive Thales tonearm was developed by Micha Huber. Micha, a watchmaker and design engineer for a premier design facility in Switzerland, to be the perfect tangential tonearm. Thales tonearms are hand built specifically for each turntable. They are truly one of a kind masterpieces that bring you closer to the music.

ASR Audio Systeme appointed us as their new Exclusive North American Distributor.

The gold plated PCB offers an optimal combination with the Teflon isolated massive silver wire used throughout for all signals from input to output. This change offers a very durable surface with very low contact resistance results in an even wider, more open soundstage and a smooth sound with improved bass precision and impact.

- A second XLR input and a bypass input are available for the Emitter II. The bypass input bypasses the volume control so the Emitter can be used as a main amplifier with a separate preamplifier.

- An optional Digital Control can be used to connect and control 2 or more Emitters. This has several advantages, for home cinema with 2-3 Emitters, or for using the Emitters as mono amplifiers in a 2 channel system, bi-amping, or even as bridged mono amplifiers with an output capability of roughly 2000 watts into a 4Ω load.

"Do you think that there's no such thing as a speaker that draws out the minutest of inner detail yet is always easy to listen to and extremely system-friendly? Do you swear that hyper resolution must always equate to mechanical in the end? I did. But I've just learned that I've been wrong."

"Rather than allowing the music to come apart at the seams, the Pianos steadfastly remained in charge and allowed me the deepest insight into the discs I've ever had. "

"...these speakers are cream puffs to drive. Once the Art Audio amplifier made it into the system, it never came out."

"There's something very different about these Pianos, something very special. I've never yet had to have speakers of the Piano's clearly superior -- and concomitantly costly -- caliber."

Renowned remastering engineer, Steve Hoffman, is currently using the TIDAL Amea loudspeakers for several of his remastering projects. Please visit his website for more information on his projects

"...with the TIDAL gear, there is something special going on that your ears can readily hear."

"The TIDAL Audio Impact and Preos are a wonderful combination and definitely one of the best that I’ve heard, ever."

...the Impact does a better job of communicating the emotion that the artists are trying to convey in their music."

"...someone did come away having had an experience with a truly exceptional amplifier and preamplifier … me."

"This quite simply is the best sounding amplifier and preamplifier that I have heard in my system. I have never been exposed to this level of musical reproduction in my listening room, or most of the other listening rooms quite honestly. Highs are open, extended and airy, while midrange voicing sounds very lifelike punctuated with low end that speaks with control and authority. Most importantly is the way it communicates the music to the listener. There is more of that feeling of “connectedness” with the performers than I haven't experienced prior to this combos arrival. TIDAL for this reviewer represents what musical enjoyment in the home is all about [Mike Wright]."