Which is REALLY the best Conrad Johnson Preamp

Can’t believe no one mentioned the Premier Ten.

The Ten is the one to get IMHO. Its similar circuit as the Premier 14 but with a hand made ladder network stepped attenuator (Only one CJ ever made). I also believe there is one less resistor in the circuit in the Ten over the 14. I also prefer the good old fashion Vol Knob rather then the newer button relay setups. Blech... The Premier Ten is the best, then the Premier 3, PV-12 w/phono, and finally the PV-10b w/phono. Don’t bother with anything else.

nice we revived this old thread... 👌

but will the next reply come in 2026?  🤣

@jjss49, nope.  The next reply is in 2023.

I have had an ET3SE and the ET5.  Bought both used; $1,800 for the ET3SE and $4,200 (new/demo) for the ET5.

I  did an A/B comparison and I think the ET5 is the best bang for the buck.  It's hard to make something so subjective a linear equation, but the ET5 costs 2-3 times as much as the ET3SE on the used market, but it sounds between 5 and 10 times better; clearer, more defined soundstage, etc.

Now, if I didn't have 2 kids going to college I would be looking at a now-discontinued GAT2...

jjss49

Always good to see you. I wish that CJ would build a Reference Integrated Amp.

A model with increased current/ power output than CAV 45/45S2.

Happy Listening!

@jafant

yes i agree that would be nice but at this point doubtful is my guess

since jeff f took over the company i feel the pace of innovation has slowed significantly

perhaps it was the covid period but my sense is that they have good business exporting to asian and european markets, raised prices and cut off marginal products to stay fully solvent, minimizing new product work, at least for the time being

especially with the war and tube supplies being a mess, especially power tubes, a new tube integrated would be most unwise to launch

OK, so it's Christmas Day 2024.  I owned an ACT 2 and loved it, but my buddy needed a new preamp to replace his many moons old ARC and so off mine went to Pittsburgh.

So, what's next for my system?  :)

Thanks in advance! 

BH

I haven't heard the ACT 2.  I had a Premier 17LS2 for a short time (about a month).  The ACT 2 is better than it, I believe.

I was happy with the 17LS2.  I had upgraded from a PV-14L.  But, the 17LS2 had an issue (static), so after trying numerous different tubes, I returned it. 

A forum member from the c-j forum on Facebook recommended the Linear Tube Audio MicroZotl preamp with level 2 upgrades.  I bought one.  I much prefer the LTA to the c-j.  

From what I can glean from the CJ forum, the Art 88 is considerably better than the GAT S2.  What is a little disconcerting though is that lately I’ve seen quite a few for sale and when you consider that the run was limited to 250 units it gives reason to pause.