SoulNote

Soulnote is a High-End audio brand, headquartered in Sagamihara-city, Kanagawa, JAPAN その魂を蘇らせるために

TO REVIVE THE SOUL OF MUSIC

All music is a work of art, a legacy of humanity. And even the souls of musicians who are no longer with us are indeed recorded in their masters. If there is no audio device to revive the soul, it will be lost forever. That must be avoided at all costs.

Soulnote Philosophy

Soulnote believes in keeping the dynamic performance of the original waveform as the most important for music playback, which is, however, still unmeasurable by any of the conventional methods.

At Soulnote, only listening dominates the determination and improvement of a circuit, selection of parts and mechanical construction. This approach is a kind of antithesis against the supremacy of static performance.
 
Kato made a hypothesis about a counter-concept which he called dynamic performance. The adoption of the NOS (non-oversampling) mode for PCM playback in digital-to-analogue conversion as well as a non-NFB (without negative feedback) circuit in amplifiers come from this hypothesis. Indeed these worsen the measurement results in static performance, but a remarkable improvement can be recognised in a dynamic one.



M3

A single push-pull output stage with 4-stage Darlington can-type transistors. We decided that single-end and single push-pull output was indispensable in creating an emotional musical experience, thus eliminating the “blurring in the microscopic time domain” so often symbolised by improvements in sound quality through high-end clocks. Nevertheless, we still had to overcome the relatively low levels of current provided by the typical single push-pull configurations. As a result, in the M-3 we introduced industrial grade can-type output transistors with a relatively small Cob and large current flow.

 

 

 

 

“"The turning point came when I was appointed as Chief Engineer of SOULNOTE in 2016. I was entrusted with everything from product planning, electrical design, structural design, sound quality management, and promotion, all in one place. At that time, Nakazawa had only one thing to say to me. Make SOULNOTE the best audio brand in the world."
- CHIEF DESIGNER KATO

Demo Solutions to reduce extra pages

(Only the current Accordion is open for reading when selected – all other Accordions will close automatically to reduce clutter)

SOULNOTE is a high-end home audio brand by CSR, Inc. headquartered in Kanagawa, Japan. CSR was founded in 2004 by the former members of Marantz Japan. It now has around 50 employees.

Hideki Kato has been the Chief Sound Manager since 2016. He has had a long professional career since the late eighties, being deeply involved in the development of the legendary A-10 amplifiers by NEC as well as the LHH series by Philips – whilst keeping himself behind the scenes.

After graduating from the graduate school of Tottori University, Kato joined NEC in 1989, where he worked in the Audio Engineering Department.

With and after NEC’s withdrawal from the audio business, he was transferred to Nippon Marantz. There, he was in charge of the development of non-feedback power amplifiers for professional use and the PHILIPS LHH series.

In 2005, Nakazawa called Kato was invited to join CSR, where he was in charge of SOULNOTE design. The turning point came when he was appointed as Chief Engineer of SOULNOTE in 2016.

He was entrusted with everything from product planning, electrical design, structural design, sound quality management, and promotion, all in one place. At that time, there was one overarching aim…Make SOULNOTE the best audio brand in the world.

“Well, “number one in the world” was boss Nakazawa’s favourite phrase, and while it may seem like a wild idea, I had an idea how to make it happen. We would properly explain the reasons for the discrepancy between specifications and sound quality, which is the biggest mystery in the audio world, achieve unprecedented sound quality using methods that other manufacturers would not (or could not) use, and present it to the world. If we could do that, I really thought we could turn the world’s perception of value upside down. I understood the reason for the discrepancy between specs and sound quality, and that is the basis of SOULNOTE’s current design philosophy. And now I have the environment to make it happen.”

To find out more about Soulnote, visit their website here – https://soulnote.link/

D1N – D/A Converter

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

Compatible with 32-bit/768 kHz PCM and 22.6 MHz DSD (DSD512) sound sources.
A perfectly balanced discrete non-NFB D/A converter using independent monaural modes equipped with non-oversampling mode.

A1- Integrated Amplifier (SOULNOTE 10-year Anniversary Model)

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

E1 – Phono Equalizer (SOULNOTE 10-year Anniversary Model)

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

Building upon the circuit layout of our legendary ph1.0 Phono Equalizer.
An upgraded phono equalizer that pursues the unlimited possibilities of analog recordings.


D2 – D/A Converter

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

A DDS using the LMX2594 super low jitter features with external clock generator inputs. A perfectly symmetric, discrete non-NFB D/A converter that uses a total of four ES9038PRO circuits and supports non-over sampling.

A2- Integrated Amplifier

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

Every SOULNOTE technique has been lavishly incorporated into the current culmination of our perfectly balanced non-NFB technology.
This integrated amplifier is loaded with a variety of monaural drive and power amplifier modes, like the new BTL/bi-amp setting.

E2 – Phono Equalizer

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

The E-2 supports both conventional MC/MM cartridges and DS Audio photoelectric cartridges through technical collaboration with DigitalStream. This is an all-in-one phono equalizer that enables playback using a full range of phono cartridges.

S3 – Super Audio CD Player

Premium Silver/Premium Black

The ultimate digital playback system with clock synchronization.
Extremely powerful Super Audio CD player that reproduces delicate natural sounds and liveliness.

Z3 – Network Transport

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Flagship Network Transport developed to maximize ability of ZERO LINK
by eliminating any bottlenecks at the development stage

D3 – D/A Converter

Premium Silver/Premium Black

The ultimate D/A converter with ZERO asynchronous circuits

* This unit will not operate unless connected to a 10 MHz external clock generator like the X-3. The X-3 is sold separately.

X3 – 10MHz Clock Generator

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Born out of discovery of World-first designing principle
It’s an incredible breakthrough in designing Clock generator.


P3 – Preamplifier

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Fully integrated ultralow-loss custom relay RSR-2-12D and naked foil resistor . A monster preamplifier for truly live and enjoyable music performances


M3 – Monoblock Power Amplifiers

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Newly incorporated industrial grade can-type output transistors to achieve a perfect non-NFB single push-pull structure. Monoblock power amplifier that lets high-end speakers around the world provide playback bursting with emotion.

(Manually open and close each Toggle to view)

SOULNOTE is a high-end home audio brand by CSR, Inc. headquartered in Kanagawa, Japan. CSR was founded in 2004 by the former members of Marantz Japan. It now has around 50 employees.

Hideki Kato has been the Chief Sound Manager since 2016. He has had a long professional career since the late eighties, being deeply involved in the development of the legendary A-10 amplifiers by NEC as well as the LHH series by Philips – whilst keeping himself behind the scenes.

After graduating from the graduate school of Tottori University, Kato joined NEC in 1989, where he worked in the Audio Engineering Department.

With and after NEC’s withdrawal from the audio business, he was transferred to Nippon Marantz. There, he was in charge of the development of non-feedback power amplifiers for professional use and the PHILIPS LHH series.

In 2005, Nakazawa called Kato was invited to join CSR, where he was in charge of SOULNOTE design. The turning point came when he was appointed as Chief Engineer of SOULNOTE in 2016.

He was entrusted with everything from product planning, electrical design, structural design, sound quality management, and promotion, all in one place. At that time, there was one overarching aim…Make SOULNOTE the best audio brand in the world.

“Well, “number one in the world” was boss Nakazawa’s favourite phrase, and while it may seem like a wild idea, I had an idea how to make it happen. We would properly explain the reasons for the discrepancy between specifications and sound quality, which is the biggest mystery in the audio world, achieve unprecedented sound quality using methods that other manufacturers would not (or could not) use, and present it to the world. If we could do that, I really thought we could turn the world’s perception of value upside down. I understood the reason for the discrepancy between specs and sound quality, and that is the basis of SOULNOTE’s current design philosophy. And now I have the environment to make it happen.”

To find out more about Soulnote, visit their website here – https://soulnote.link/

D1N – D/A Converter

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

Compatible with 32-bit/768 kHz PCM and 22.6 MHz DSD (DSD512) sound sources.
A perfectly balanced discrete non-NFB D/A converter using independent monaural modes equipped with non-oversampling mode.

A1- Integrated Amplifier (SOULNOTE 10-year Anniversary Model)

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

E1 – Phono Equalizer (SOULNOTE 10-year Anniversary Model)

PLATINUM SILVER / BLACK

Building upon the circuit layout of our legendary ph1.0 Phono Equalizer.
An upgraded phono equalizer that pursues the unlimited possibilities of analog recordings.


D2 – D/A Converter

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

A DDS using the LMX2594 super low jitter features with external clock generator inputs. A perfectly symmetric, discrete non-NFB D/A converter that uses a total of four ES9038PRO circuits and supports non-over sampling.

A2- Integrated Amplifier

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

Every SOULNOTE technique has been lavishly incorporated into the current culmination of our perfectly balanced non-NFB technology.
This integrated amplifier is loaded with a variety of monaural drive and power amplifier modes, like the new BTL/bi-amp setting.

E2 – Phono Equalizer

PREMIUM SILVER / PREMIUM BLACK

The E-2 supports both conventional MC/MM cartridges and DS Audio photoelectric cartridges through technical collaboration with DigitalStream. This is an all-in-one phono equalizer that enables playback using a full range of phono cartridges.

S3 – Super Audio CD Player

Premium Silver/Premium Black

The ultimate digital playback system with clock synchronization.
Extremely powerful Super Audio CD player that reproduces delicate natural sounds and liveliness.

Z3 – Network Transport

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Flagship Network Transport developed to maximize ability of ZERO LINK
by eliminating any bottlenecks at the development stage

D3 – D/A Converter

Premium Silver/Premium Black

The ultimate D/A converter with ZERO asynchronous circuits

* This unit will not operate unless connected to a 10 MHz external clock generator like the X-3. The X-3 is sold separately.

X3 – 10MHz Clock Generator

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Born out of discovery of World-first designing principle
It’s an incredible breakthrough in designing Clock generator.


P3 – Preamplifier

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Fully integrated ultralow-loss custom relay RSR-2-12D and naked foil resistor . A monster preamplifier for truly live and enjoyable music performances


M3 – Monoblock Power Amplifiers

Premium Silver/Premium Black

Newly incorporated industrial grade can-type output transistors to achieve a perfect non-NFB single push-pull structure. Monoblock power amplifier that lets high-end speakers around the world provide playback bursting with emotion.

"The P-3 SE sounded like a pure tube preamp. It had all the features of a smooth, fluid, color-rich tube. Its space was excellent, but it did not lead the sound far into the stage, but rather widened and stretched it around me. The dynamics was fantastic and gave the taste of being close to live instruments."
- HIGH FIDELITY MAGAZINE

SoulNote Dealers

New brand – see dealers section.

SOULNOTE DEALERS  ADDRESSPHONE
The Audio BarnThe Threshing Barn,
2 Feltimores Park,
Old Harlow CM17 0PF
01279 454860
Acoustic StreamsCumbrae, Lower Drift,
Penzance TR19 6AB
01736 368004
Audio TherapyNewcastle-upon-Tyne
*By Appointment*
07976 496218
Lotus HifiWalton-on-Thames
*By Appointment*
07887 852513
Martins Hifi85-87 Ber Street
Norwich NR1 3EY
01603 627010
Midland Audio ExchangeForge Lane, Belbroughton
Worcestershire DY9 9TD
01562 731100