Narrowing line stage search Conrad Johnson ET-6 SE VS. Backart Labs 1.4 Rhuma Extreme
Narrowing down my tube preamp search as follows:
1. Conrad Johnson-ET-6 SE: This line stage has no balance control and is not balanced. The retail price is $5900.00.
2. Backart Labs 1.4 Rhumba Extreme: Has a balance control and is fully balanced. The retail price is $8500.00
My preferences: Seeking a fully balanced system. My seating works best when I can control the balance as I do not sit in the "sweet spot". I am looking for an accurate but tube like sound that is lush romantic, especially in the midrange. Has anybody had the opportunity to compare these two line stages? Any advice with regard to which line stage might be preferable. Thank you. My entire system is listed in my prior thread entitled seeking a tubed preamplifier. My dealer who is truly excellent recommends these 2 line stages. Seeking some guidance as to the pros and cons of each.
I haven’t heard the ET6 SE, but if I’m not mistaken, the current models don’t have the sound signature of the older c-j models. It uses a single 6922 tube. I’m not saying it’s bad, just different. Before my LTA preamp, I had a PV-14L and a Premier 17LS2. The 17LS2 had an issue and I opted to return it versus messing with getting it fixed. |
Attention @soix and others " Has anybody had the opportunity to compare these two line stages? " Read the question that the OP asked! |
@yogiboy I absolutely did read the question. The CJ doesn’t offer balanced connections nor a balance control both of which he said he wanted, and the Backert likely doesn’t provide the midrange characteristics the OP said he’s looking for (as others have also mentioned) so I recommended something I thought would provide everything he’s looking for. OMG shoot me! 🙄 He initially did not explicitly say he wasn’t open to other suggestions so recommending something that could be a better all-around solution seemed perfectly appropriate, and the OP even mentioned he appreciated my recommendation and admitted it could be a better option. If he said upfront he didn’t want any other recommendations I would not have recommended anything else, but regardless I answered the question with only the best of intentions and that may still prove to be helpful if the current options don’t work out, but all that aside I don’t think he needs you to be his mommy here anyway.
|
@soix Have you compared those two line stage preamps that the OP is asking about? Like I said, read his post. |
