AUDIO NOTE AZ-THREE

Second-hand. In good conditions. Shows signs of wear as visible in the photos. Original packaging not included.

The Audio Note AZ-Three is a floorstanding loudspeaker that fully embodies the British brand’s design philosophy, combining refined technical solutions with a practical approach aimed at delivering the best possible sound performance within its price range. The design was born from a clear objective: to create a compact, efficient, and responsive loudspeaker capable of reproducing a wide frequency range even in real-world, untreated domestic environments. To achieve this, Audio Note critically revisited the classical principles of rear horn loading, making significant changes to the shape and design of the rear horn opening, and leveraging room placement — such as positioning near a wall or in a corner — to dramatically increase low-frequency efficiency.

The AZ-Three features a quasi-parabolic rear-firing horn configuration, designed to interact with the back wall and enhance output by up to 3–6 dB below the cutoff frequency. Despite this, it retains a domestic-friendly size thanks to an optimized internal geometry that reduces the horn mouth area without compromising low-end extension.

Equipped with two drivers per cabinet, the AZ-Three is both highly efficient and easy to drive, making it particularly suitable for low-power tube amplifiers such as those in Audio Note’s Zero series. Nonetheless, it also performs impressively when paired with small transistor-based electronics or higher-end amplification. The tweeter used is the same model found in the more advanced AN-J and AN-E speakers, delivering refined and detailed high-frequency performance. The woofer and crossover are built to Audio Note’s high standards, incorporating selected components, air-core inductors, silver-plated binding posts, and internal wiring with Audio Note’s AN-D cable.

Compared to the more compact AZ-Two, the AZ-Three not only has a larger cabinet but is also designed to reduce enclosure coloration, despite the increased volume. This results in a more neutral and controlled sound, with deeper bass extension and more precise treble, offering an emotionally engaging listening experience across a wide range of musical genres.

Thanks to its room-friendly placement, high efficiency, and solid build quality, the AZ-Three is an excellent choice for those seeking a floorstanding speaker that offers high performance at an accessible price point.

Technical specifications:

• Nominal impedance: 6 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 94 dB for 1 Watt at 1 meter
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz; ±6 dB in-room
• Minimum amplifier power: 7 Watts RMS per channel
• Maximum amplifier power: 125 Watts RMS per channel (unclipped); peak
• Driver complement: 8" paper cone woofer with foam surround; 1" polyamide dome tweeter
• Dimensions per speaker: 1000 mm (h) x 280 mm (w) x 320 mm (d)
• Weight per unit: 24 kg