No sound

Thank you for the suggestion of the Sys.  I’m  just recovering from a hip replacement then dislocation, so I really can’t get into the insides of my system very easily, but I can hire someone to do  it.

I’ll experiment as much as I can.

Well, I got the system hooked up properly and the loud tone is back.  So I assume the problem is with the preamp, which I’m going to bring to to be repaired.

I’ll have to wait 4-6 weeks! for the repair. I already ordered the Schiit Sys but it’s not coming until next Friday.  At least I should have some sound.

@jetter

Thanks for the reply.

Neat looking preamp!

Well, I hooked up the Sys, and lo and behold, I got sound.  Of course it’s primitive compared to my CJ preamp but over all, not too bad.

Thanks to @jetter for the suggestion.

Now I find it’s not so primitive.  It sounds damn good!

@jetter 

Yes it is!

@lanx0003 

i have a Conrad-Johnson tube preamp which is out for repair for an extended time. That’s why I got the Sys, so I could listen to music.  Of course the tubed CJ is much better, but the Sys is a very good stopgap until I get the CJ back.

It’s very interesting to to hear the set effectively without a preamp. The signal is direct from the amp and the DAC to the speakers. The Sys is a passive unit and ostensibly adds nothing to the sound. So the sound is extremely clear but cold. It lacks the pleasing coloration a preamp brings. 
Certain recordings (especially older ones). don’t seem to need the coloration and sound just fine.

It sounds better than it has any right to sound.

@cdc 

Yes it’s amazing.  Especially good on LP’s.

i still think my original preamp does a little better, on sound staging and highs.  
 But the direct transmission is incredibly clean.

Strangely, the SQ with the Sys is improving greatly.  I don’t know if it’s breaking in (I didn’t know a switch could break in) or I’m getting used to it.

@cdc 

Thanks for your interest and comments.  Although with the Sys the system sounds very good, I still sense a lack of highs and sound staging which the preamp brings.

As per another thread I posted concerning appreciation of the music, ironically I’m finding it easier to get into the music now that I’m not fussing over sound staging and other audio niceties.

Well, the repair the CJ is finally taking place The repair store had to send out for NOS parts because the unit is so old (even though it has newish Teflon caps.). It should be ready by next week at the latest.

I want to point out how the perception of our equipment changes over time. I’m getting so use to the sound of the unit without a preamp to the point that I’m accepting it as good sound.  It reveals something about our hobby.  When we get new equipment we often say “let it break in.”  And lo and behold, it sounds much better over time.  Is it that were really fooling ourselves, and that it’s simply a matter of us getting use to it?

Just food for thought.