I BELIEVE YOU'RE ON TO SOMETHING HERE FOR SURE. i'M NOT SURE IF THE BUDGET IS GONNA NET YOU WHAT WILL FLOAT YOUR BOAT OR NOT. i HOPE IT DOES.
There sure are a lot of combinations that will accomplish your goal. I do feel however, having just those pieces you heard that sounded so good would be best though.
I'll assume you demo'd the Cj items & DAC on your own speakers... and budgetary issues demand a piece be dismissed to achieve that end, and you chose to subtract the CJ 17 pre. to do it.
I heard a system once which floored me, or at least was one I became very impressed by... just as you have recently done.
I spent some time trying to emulate that sound using other gear... and a lot of money too. I would have been far better served to recreate the sound with those components that 'sent me', rather than trying to emmulate them with other pieces.
That CJ AMP should not be to difficult an amp to find preowned. The CJ 17 pre is A BIT PRICIER NOTE PERHAPS.
As you plan on going HD based music, I'd say get a DAC such as the Bel Canto DAC 3, (albeit good luck getting it for the previously suggested $1500... but then, who knows?) and get the CJ amp.
That is a situation I can and have used with my tube amps. The BC DAC3 and tube amps.... no preamp... and right off my personal confuser!
You can even hook a subwoofer to the DAC3 as well, as it has two sets of outputs albeit, one pair SE and one set XLR!
I'd suspect this path will not only gain you the warmth in tonality, but with far better detail and sound stage depiction... not to mention the far greater bass impact the DAC3 will add to the event.
ONce the DAC 3 + CJ 60 or some other tube amp is in place, address the power cords on each, and then the ic.
There after, if desired, a speaker upgrade maybe, and following that a preamp if other analog sources are to be added... IF NOT, YOU COULD BE WELL ON THE WAY TO BEING DONE RIGHT QUICK WITH AN EXCELLENT SOUNDING RIG.
The Bel Canto D3 brings a lot to the table when used with tube gear. A lot. It reduces jitter to near nothing, and is very versatile.
If you can't find a CJ 60, a BAT VK60 might well do you as it meets your budget, and is a truly balanced amp which will be a benefit using the BC DAC3's balanced outputs!
The VK 60 also can be rolled to sound very rich and warm, or quite the contrary, nimble and fast. I've had the VK60 too at one time. I now have Dodds.
Do have fun no matter what your choice is, and good luck.
There sure are a lot of combinations that will accomplish your goal. I do feel however, having just those pieces you heard that sounded so good would be best though.
I'll assume you demo'd the Cj items & DAC on your own speakers... and budgetary issues demand a piece be dismissed to achieve that end, and you chose to subtract the CJ 17 pre. to do it.
I heard a system once which floored me, or at least was one I became very impressed by... just as you have recently done.
I spent some time trying to emulate that sound using other gear... and a lot of money too. I would have been far better served to recreate the sound with those components that 'sent me', rather than trying to emmulate them with other pieces.
That CJ AMP should not be to difficult an amp to find preowned. The CJ 17 pre is A BIT PRICIER NOTE PERHAPS.
As you plan on going HD based music, I'd say get a DAC such as the Bel Canto DAC 3, (albeit good luck getting it for the previously suggested $1500... but then, who knows?) and get the CJ amp.
That is a situation I can and have used with my tube amps. The BC DAC3 and tube amps.... no preamp... and right off my personal confuser!
You can even hook a subwoofer to the DAC3 as well, as it has two sets of outputs albeit, one pair SE and one set XLR!
I'd suspect this path will not only gain you the warmth in tonality, but with far better detail and sound stage depiction... not to mention the far greater bass impact the DAC3 will add to the event.
ONce the DAC 3 + CJ 60 or some other tube amp is in place, address the power cords on each, and then the ic.
There after, if desired, a speaker upgrade maybe, and following that a preamp if other analog sources are to be added... IF NOT, YOU COULD BE WELL ON THE WAY TO BEING DONE RIGHT QUICK WITH AN EXCELLENT SOUNDING RIG.
The Bel Canto D3 brings a lot to the table when used with tube gear. A lot. It reduces jitter to near nothing, and is very versatile.
If you can't find a CJ 60, a BAT VK60 might well do you as it meets your budget, and is a truly balanced amp which will be a benefit using the BC DAC3's balanced outputs!
The VK 60 also can be rolled to sound very rich and warm, or quite the contrary, nimble and fast. I've had the VK60 too at one time. I now have Dodds.
Do have fun no matter what your choice is, and good luck.