Conrad Johnson Owners...

[Be Quiet...Listen]

Hi guys,

 

I've had a pretty keen interest on Conrad Johnson gear over the past couple of months and I'm wondering if there are any owners here on SNA that would be happy to give some insights into their gear. Special interest goes to Premier gear. 2's, 4's, 8's, 12's etc. I know this gear is extremely rare in Australia and I'm resigned to idea that any responses may be minimal.

 

Look forward to reading the contributions.

 

Thanks!

Edited September 22, 2016 by Be Quiet...Listen

[metal beat]

Hi BQL

 

I have been a long time conrad johnson owner ,  since 1999 where I bought the prem16 pre amp and prem 8A tube amps.  

 

cj has always sounded right imo.  Their pre amps are direct sounding and ever so slightly forward, with excellent sound staging. Their preamps since 1996 have been based on a single amplifier stage, which I believe leads to the purity of sound.  Over the years changes have brought higher levels of transparency without ever sounding hifi or lean.

 

Their amps have always been neutral and probably slightly on the sweet side.  I have only owned the prem8A ( twice) and prem350.

 

I currently own the GAT preamp and prem 8A amps with full teflon upgrade.   The GAT will compete with any preamp on the market and it will drive any amp you plug on the end of it - tube or SS.   The prem8A with teflon upgrades brings the awesome 275watts that drive most speakers and lowers noise and adds transparency and purity that the teflon caps bring.    a couple of pics below

 

conrad johnson gear is extremely reliable and cj customer support is awesome.

 

 

What are you looking at in the cj range?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2016 by Metamatic

[Be Quiet...Listen]

Thanks for that Metamatic! Much appreciated. 

You've got a great system there! I'm sure there are many SNA'ers drooling over your photos. Just great. 

 

[unclekanus]

Hi BQL,

 

I currently run a Prem. 11a on 97db speakers and I couldn't be happier. I have modded the 11a reasonably heavily as I felt it would respond well with a few choice tweaks and the quality of the iron made it a good candidate. Jupiter copper foils made for a huge improvement over the stock CJ styrenes and high voltage schottky's, some quality resistors on the grids, switching out a few power supply bypass caps and the right tubes... I can't see myself ever getting rid of this amp. In fact, I don't think I could afford anything that would knock it from its perch. Best money I've spent on something that I didn't build myself.

If you ever see one up for grabs do not hesitate! 

 

Cheers, Chris.

 

[Guest Clarence]

On 22/09/2016 at 7:56 PM, Metamatic said:

 

I have been a long time conrad johnson owner ,  since 1999 where I bought the prem16 pre amp and prem 8A tube amps.  

 

conrad johnson gear is extremely reliable and cj customer support is awesome.

 

What are you looking at in the cj range?

 

 

At that same moment, in '99, I drooled and dreamed of this combo, envying what must have been a luxurious relationship for you. Really nice to see you kept your power amp., excellent choice. Who said there's no such thing as a 'keeper' in this audioaholic realm?

 

Never quite got there myself. Bought an ART pre instead while in Portugal in '99, never backended it though. 

 

The left channel lost an input resistor or a rectifier and to my great annoyance, no.116 of 250, how could they get this single run celebratory flagship wrong for any of the run's units, went back to factory from Oz. It was the most expensive $10 circuit component I ever managed to buy.

 

The sound and maybe a Krell FPB-600 isn't the greatest synergy example but I always listened through the ART remarking to myself how like a guitar amp. it sounded. The dynamics seemed to be exaggerated, it was a lively thing and I thought it a remarkable pre. and would have one again for this very lively aspect and gutteral machine sound smoothed and rounded by the tube design. A stunning build quality matching a querky design delivering a sound of its own making. Hardly transparent but it was a great music deliverer. And maybe it was Krell's very dry, stark signal that allowed the ART to seem to sound like this delivery. Either way if I only held onto that one piece I may never have bought an M7 to front my rig.

 

Be Quiet...Listen, you are definitely looking at the right vintage, late 90's CJ is special.

 

[Sir Triode]

CJ gear used to sound very euphonic (fat sounding), their sound signature seems to have changed from the turn of the century and has become closer to neutral.

 

I have a very rare CJ EVOLUTION 20SE from the early 90s that uses nuvistors and tubes. 

Edited February 5, 2017 by Sir Triode

[metal beat]

These I would love to hear

 

 

• HOME
• EQUIPMENT REVIEWAUDIO NEWEVEN

Conrad-Johnson Design announces 40th Anniversary tube amplifiers ART150, ART300

 

Contact: Lew Johnson
conrad-johnson design
2800K Dorr Ave.
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 698-8581
email: lj@conradjohnson.com

 

April 12, 2017

2017 marks the 40th anniversary of conrad-johnson design inc. and to celebrate, we are introducing two new anniversary tube amplifiers – the ART150 and ART300. These amplifiers employ the recently developed KT150 output tubes. A single pair of KT150s produces 150 Watts per channel in the ART150 stereo amplifier, while two pair produce 300 Watts in the ART300 mono-block.

In addition to utilizing the KT150 output tubes, the ART150 and ART300 feature new input and inverter stages using 6922s for voltage gain, main power supply reservoirs boasting a more than ten-fold increase in total capacitance compared to our earlier ART mono-blocks and ARTSA amplifiers, and a new regulator circuit for the input stage power supply.

The ART150 and ART300 boast dramatic new styling, yet clearly show their conrad-johnson heritage. The output tubes are showcased behind a clear window spanning the full width of the protective tube cage, while the input tubes are enshrouded in a clear protective block.

ART150s are expected to be available for delivery by mid-May, with ART300s to follow a few weeks after. As with earlier anniversary products, production will be limited to 250 units of the ART150 and 125 pairs of the ART300. Projected US suggested retail prices are $18,500 for the ART150 and $18,000 each for the ART300s.

These new models will replace the now discontinued ARTSA and ART mono-blocks.

[Sir Triode]

Very nice design - better looking than the previous designs.

[rockpig]

I was looking at CJ tube amp as an upgrade for my system but then stumbled across the PrimaLuna Dialogue HP intergrated amp and got that.

 

Much cheaper and sounds awesome. Check the review at hifipig.

 

I upgraded from the EL34 tubes to the KT120's

Edited April 22, 2017 by spin33

[soundreference]

Great discussion on Conrad Johnson.

 

From reading through the thread there seems to be some confusion. Just so everyone is aware the USA address given a few posts up is the address for the manufacturer in America.

 

If you wish to inquire and purchase Conrad Johnson here is Australia we, Caxton Audio Brisbane and Sound Reference Melbourne, are the sole official importers (and have been for well over a decade) on Conrad Johnson here in Australia and would be happy to answer any questions, field inquiries and give quotes. We cover the entire Australian market. If you do contact the USA Manufacturer they shall refer you back to us.

 

Do beware of grey import CJ gear that might have come from China and ended up here in Australia - this has NO warranty and often may have non original CJ parts substituted resulting in poor performance.

 

[Commercial Advertising Removed]

 

 

Also while the PrimaLuna is interesting this is a CJ thread so do check out the new CAV45 it is a superior integrated Valve amp which is in stock in both Melbourne and Brisbane.

 

 

 

cheers!

[Roumelio.]

I've been looking at CJ valve preamp for a while now to fatten up my Pioneer valve amp which is sounding. Mostly I was looking at one for when I wanted a warmer sound. They make some good gear, particularly there older stuff for this purpose.