Power amplifier
typical
Among the 25 power amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
Same circuit topology as P2 SE but with EL84 (PSE) replacing 5881. EL84 PSE delivers 10W vs 18W for 5881 PSE. Sonic character: more delicate/airy mid-treble vs P2 SE's slightly fuller body. AN UK positions as Level 2 entry power amp.
CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FIT: 10W output mandates ≥94dB sensitivity speakers. Excellent partner for AN-E (96dB) and AN-J (94dB) — within AN UK system. Sub-93dB speakers will struggle in anything beyond small rooms / nearfield / quiet-listening. Same 100kΩ + 430mV input as P2 SE.
Assessed against 18 rivals across the sixty systems: 4 head-to-heads won, 53 lost.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
controlled... not boomy or muddyStereo Times (Yan) 2015
8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the NVA S80 Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
With the Neat Iota 2, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the NVA P50 MKII, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Neat Iota 2 gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.
SET 8W/ch maximumAudio Note P1 SE specs
5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
With the Neat Petite Classic, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Neat Petite Classic gives up timing and drive under the Characterful weighting.
THD just 0.002% at 1kHz, S/N >112dB A-weightedAudio Tailor 9000P review + manufacturer specs
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Leema Neutron, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
controlled... not boomy or muddyStereo Times (Yan) 2015
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
With the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature gives up timing and drive under the Intimate weighting.
fast, propulsivePROXY: NVA S80 / INT400
3 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot clearly.
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
only matched in terms of dynamicsStereo Magazine 2021
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
SET 8W/ch tube power amp, classic Audio Note voicingAudio Note P1 SE positioning + Hi-Fi+ reviews
nothing soggy or slow, played rhythmically demanding musicStereophile, Dudley, 2004
1 lost· 2 won · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up timing and drive under the Cavity-Native weighting.
class-leading composureWhat Hi-Fi? 2022 (combo)
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Neat Petite Classic, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
SET 8W/ch maximumAudio Note P1 SE specs
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot clearly.
1 lost · Twin Arms
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · BBC Sound
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot by a whisker.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Audio Note P1 SE is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Audio Note P1 SE takes the slot clearly.
SET 8W/ch tube power amp, classic Audio Note voicing Audio Note P1 SE positioning + Hi-Fi+ reviews· Harmonic texture
SET 8W/ch maximum Audio Note P1 SE specs· Physical impact
single-ended magic to shame transistor amps Stereo Times (Yan) 2015· Tonal body
sounds deeper than the reference amps Stereo Times (Yan) 2015· Bass extension
controlled... not boomy or muddy Stereo Times (Yan) 2015· Bass control
does not slam you in the chest Stereo Times (Yan) 2015· Physical impact
| is monoblock | False |
|---|---|
| is balanced internal | False |
| is dual mono | True |
| power class | A |
| power 8ohm w | 10.0 |
| power 4ohm w | 10.0 |
| damping factor | 6.0 |
| accepts rca | True |
| accepts xlr | False |
| accepts din | False |
| input impedance rca kohm | 100.0 |
| input sensitivity rca mv | 430.0 |
| speaker terminal type | binding post |
| speaker terminal count | 1 |
| gain db | 25.0 |
| snr db | 85.0 |
| thd pct | 0.3 |
| frequency response hz | 20/30000 |
| dimensions mm | 295/140/450 |
| weight kg | 17.0 |
| power consumption w | 90 |
| sold as pair | False |
| notes |