The system on demo yesterday featuring Audio Note's top-range CDT5 CD transport and Audio Note DAC5 Signature, FM 268 Line Stage, two pairs of the FM 111 monoblocks with speaker cables and interconnects from FM Acoustics, sounded very true to life and just right.
There were a few other systems that sounded impressive by being extremely clear and clean but the FM Acoustics, undoubtedly aided by the Audio Note CD transport and DAC, sounded more organic even though the images were not as hyper etched out as a few other high-end systems. It also had the tendency to make the listener tap his feet to the rhythm of the music.
The other super systems sounded like expensive, high-end high-quality hi-fi equipment; the Audio Note/FM Acoustics/Avantgarde set-up made me feel as if I were in the audience listening to a live show.
Frankly I thought having two pairs of the FM111 monoblocks was overkill - one pair would have been more than sufficient given that the Avantgarde speakers are extremely sensitive - around 104dB.
The speakers are highly revealing too, especially on the upper-mids and treble and a lesser solid-state amplifier would have made it sound bright, shrill and piercing - just like what the valve amps did in the previous AV show, which was peculiar since valves normally sound warm and pleasant. The FM Acoustics did what the valve amps failed to do - tame the Avantgarde speakers.
