2. amps-preamps
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Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a-a good used amp?

Hi. I am considering purchase of a C-J Premier 11a (used, there are a couple up on a-gon right now) and was wondering what the consensus on this amp is? I have relatively easy to drive Soliloquy 6.3's, and my listening tastes are mostly jazz and orchestra, at moderate volumes. I have a wonderful tube preamp (EE Minimax) that I would like to mate with a musical, yet detailed amp. I don't want something toooo lush/syrupy, but kind of a liquid, yet detailed sound (which is exactly what the Minimax is for a preamp). In my system, I have had a McCormack DNA-125 (nice amp, but not detailed enough and has some grain) and audioned a PS Audio HCA-2 (very nice amp-great detail and extension, nice liquid presentation for SS), but many owners documented troubles turned me off).

How does the Premier 11a stack up against these? Is it more "new-school" tubes (detailed with a rich presentation)or more old-school (excessively warm and lush)? Thanks!
chiho

Showing 1 response by zaikesman

zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Chuck: I have it on authority from somebody at CJ that Lew Johnson personally considers the new solid-state Premier 350 to be CJ's best sounding amplifier ever, period - tubes or no! Haven't heard it myself though.

BTW Chiho, if you think your DNA-125 lacks some detail and refinement, I'd ask if you've upgraded the power cord, and if you leave the amp permanently powered-on. If you do both of those things, these qualities will improve markedly. I haven't compared the 125 to a Premier 11a, but can tell you that it beat an MV-55 in my system in terms of detail (but so would an 11a, and the 125 still doesn't sound like tubes of course, though it sounds like very respectable SS).
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