2. amps-preamps
  3. 1070779959

CJ PV series + SS amp

I'm thinking about adding a 2nd system. I have a buddy who is looking to sell one of his 2 amps.

Bryston 3BST or Belles 150A Hotrod. He lives a ways away so I can't listen to the amps. I recall that Bryston is quite neutral sounding, maybe slightly warm. But not fimilar with the Belles.

I see CJ PV11 & 12 preamps here at a good price all the time. Can anyone( with listening experience with these amps )tell me which would be a better match with a CJ? I like it a little warm :)

LAT IC's, Kimber speaker wires, CAL Sigma II dac, CAL CL-10 transport. Vandersteen 2c speakers.

thanks in advance!
tube777
jimd
50 posts
 
Hello, I had my choice between a PV-11 and the PV-12 and my audio salesman recommended the PV-11 over the PV-12. He said that the PV-11 had a much better phono section. He is very knowledgable concerning CJ. I guess that CJ changed the materials/components for the worst with the PV-12. The materials used in the PV-11 sounded less harsh than the PV-12. You might be able to figure out the differences from the CJ website. I run my PV-11 with a solid-state amp with great success. Jim
tabu
42 posts
 
i run a pv-11 with a bryston 4b with great result
tabu
tube777 OP
20 posts
 
Thanks for the input, I read the CJ web page and I think a PV11 or a 12A would be the way to go. Avoiding the PV12, since CJ did some upgrading when they came out with the PV12a.

I once heard a McCormack with a VAC CLA-1 MKII ( defintely a warm preamp ), running through a pair of Vandersteen's I thought it was a bit to much for me.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Tube777, I'm not trying to argue with your opinion, but, I'm curious, exactly what "was a bit too much"?
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Unsound, if you come across a Conrad-Johnson PV-9a at a decent price, don't discount it just because it's an earlier model. It used very high parts quality and was built to a higher price point than either the PV-11 or PV-12. It has a delicious phono stage, if somewhat soft-sounding by comparison to some of today's best designs.
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