|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
Model: | CT 5 |
Category: | Preamplifier (Tube) |
Suggested Retail Price: | $8500.00 |
Description: | pre amp |
Manufacturer URL: | Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J) |
Review by Jack D II on January 17, 2010 at 13:14:58 IP Address: 74.248.242.75 | Add Your Review for the CT 5 |
I came from a Stereophile Class A Conrad-Johnson PF R solid state pre amp which I had owned for 10-12 years to the CT 5. A noticeable step up, but not one that blew me away immediately. After almost a year with the CT 5 I'm still noticing improvements in the sound. That sound is as neutral as I can imagine and has a marvelous offering of the lowest level detail which makes the music live. Taunt, fast , full bass and treble even I can listen to for long periods of time. At 71 I'm not supposed to be able to hear things like the triangle as it fades or other very high sounds. HA!! The PF R was as neutral but not so life-like. The C-J people are great to deal with. Whether cd or vinyl (or whatever) the CT 5 is so god that I seriously doubt that it can be improved upon for less that 5 figures and not the low five figures either. And you would have to have incredible ears.
Product Weakness: | It takes 45 or so seconds for the unit to produce after turn on. |
Product Strengths: | beautiful, musical, neutral sound with all the lowest level detail it takes to make the music come alive. |
Amplifier: | Marsh Sound Design A400 |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | C-J CT 5 |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Nottingham 294 w.294 arm |
Speakers: | Dunlavy SC IVs |
Cables/Interconnects: | Hero and Harmonic Tech Silway II |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | jazz, classical, rock |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 18 x 16 x 7'8" |
Room Comments/Treatments: | none |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 10 mo. |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Shunyata and Monster 3500 |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
I have a CT-5 also. I've run it with SETs, pp tube amps, and ss amps and it always sounds nice.
Excellent to see you are 71 and still discovering new things.
...and still be hearing ANYTHING. :-)
Only a few years to get there for me.
-------------------------------------------------------
Tin-eared audiofool and terrible competitive-pistol shootist.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffreybehr
But then I'm 80 :-)
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: