It is difficult to compare CloneNote and StereoCoffee because they are both very enjoyable and musical.

 

The CloneNote has a 24 position switched level control and single input but StereoCoffee has a normal pot which controls current to the LDR's through a control board/power supply with 3 inputs as standard. Input switches operate by switching LDR anodes on and off instead of switching the audio signal.

 

Hidden feature:  When I recently had an input LDR die, I was still able to use my StereoCoffee by switching to another input while I waited for a replacement board to arrive from Chris.

 

From a construction point of view, the CloneNote requires some potentially tricky soldering of 24 4xlegged surface mounted miniature relays but it can be done if you take your time and plan ahead. There are also 48 resistors to sort and solder but you do end up with a pleasing sense of achievement.

 

StereoCoffee now has two fully built boards which are connected by screw terminals, except for RCA output/inputs, potentiometer and rotary input selector switch which must be soldered.

 

When I first built the CloneNote and original StereoCoffee I had 4 way floor standing speakers and a DIY tube amplifier and it was difficult to pick which sounded best because of the tube amplifier warmth and the weight of the bass.

 

I then built a Holton solid state amplifier with the same speakers and I preferred the CloneNote. The StereoCoffee was punchy and brighter but it wasn’t as smooth. In fact it was a bit too bright for me.

 

I mentioned this to Chris and a few weeks later he had updated his design. That is when I noticed the over bright sound had been tamed and they both performed almost the same.

 

However, everything changed when I bought some KEF LS50 stand mount speakers. The StereoCoffee sounded more transparent and exciting than the CloneNote which I found quite laid back and smooth but still very enjoyable. If I hadn’t heard the upgraded StereoCoffee I would have been very happy with the CloneNote.

 

Since then, Chris has upgraded the StereoCoffee dozens of times over 18 months and performance has now reached the point where he believes it has no audible distortion, colouration or noise at any level and I have to agree with him. The other amazing thing is that the width of sound stage extends 2 metres from the outside of my DIY ESL panel speakers. Separation of instruments and 3d imaging is beyond logical explanation. It seems like the StereoCoffee doesn’t exist and sound is coming directly from the recording venue.

 

My previous preamplifiers wire a DIYTranscendent Sound grounded grid tube preamp running a DIY Transcendent 'Sound Sone of Beast' tube amplifier.

 

Next was a DIY Rod Elliott solid state preamplifier. This preamp has a large following by DIY fans in Australia and I found it very impressive until I discovered LDR preamps. See: http://sound.whsites.net/index2.html for more information on Rod Elliott.

 

I have also heard a number of preamps at audio club meetings but found all of them too harsh without any emotion.

 

There are a few self proclaimed, largely faceless ‘expert’ electronic engineers, Australian and international who attack Chris and LDR preamps at every opportunity because they claim it isn’t possible to improve LDR preamp performance and they refuse to listen to one. “There are none so deaf as those who will not hear”, someone probably once said.

 

However, Chris has vast knowledge on how LDRs respond to different current and grounding conditions and all his upgrades have been made to the control and power boards not to the main LDR board with amazing results.

 

I have been lucky enough to compare every SC upgrade to the previous one and the improvements are not subtle and they are not imaginary as some experts suggest.

 

I can't describe the sound of my StereoCoffee because it doesn’t add or subtract anything to or from a performance. Instead of just listening I feel like I am sitting inside the performance.

 

Summary

If you want an exciting but smooth and accurate performance where every detail and nuance of the original recording is heard, then the StereoCoffee might be the one you but if you prefer an enjoyable laid back tube like sound then the CloneNote the CloneNote would be a good choice.

 

I hope this helps your decision. If not, just build both for under $500. I promise you won't be disappointed.

 

Cheers,

Rob

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NOTE: My speakers are DIY ER Audio 505 mini ESL panels which resolve with laser like focus so speakers with cones will perform to different degrees, depending on their quality and the quality of your power amp.

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I also have a DIY LightSpeed attenuator but compared to StereoCoffee and CloneNote the sound is thin and raw. To my ears it sounds marginally better than a switched attenuator.