Sanders -VS- CJ

[JonFo]

Cherian, great to hear that your lovin' this new CJ.

It looks nice and it even matches your pre

Congrats!

 

[DTB300]

I have been listening to this bad boy for the last 5 hours. I love this amp even more now. :rocker:

Wow...awesome. You look very sick to me...looks like you will need to take the rest of the week off. :rocker:

 

[Gordon]

Cherian,

I like your gear rack. Could you give me some info on it?

Gordon

 

[eknuds01]

http://www.adonacorporation.com/photos.html

See the link, Gordon.

Erik

 

[DTB300]

Gordon...they are located up here in Silver Spring, so if you like the Adona stuff, you could probably save some serious shipping charges and come pick them up.

 

[David Matz]

too bad that you could not make it Sunday. I setup a bunch of impromptu bass traps to see if they improved things. Man did they make a difference in cleaning up the bass and really expanded the soundstage. Then when David brought his Ayre CX-5 and Bat preamp that added a big jump again. It was the some of the best sound either one of us has ever heard.
QUOTE]

Amen. Between Burke's and my components and bass traps, it was by far the best system I have ever heard. This includes all the mega buck systems in audiophile stores that have ultra expensive systems in untreated rooms.

 

[David Matz]

I have been listening to this bad boy for the last 5 hours. I love this amp even more now. :rocker:

Cherian,

This is exactly how I feel. We all tend to fall in love with our stuff. The only thing that may be better (not different) are the Ayre monoblocks or the Krell Evolotion stuff.

Wait till you hear the giant killer Ayre and the BAT VK51 SE. I know you bleed champagne CJ colors, but I think the BAT preamp has even better synergy than the equally or lower priced CJ preamps with the CJ 350. The BAT has most of the CJ's texture, but is much more dynamic and detailed. You will have new respect for your Monoliths.

 

[jtwrace]

Cherian,

This is exactly how I feel. We all tend to fall in love with our stuff. The only thing that may be better (not different) are the Ayre monoblocks or the Krell Evolotion stuff.

Wait till you hear the giant killer Ayre and the BAT VK51 SE. I know you bleed champagne CJ colors, but I think the BAT preamp has even better synergy than the equally or lower priced CJ preamps with the CJ 350. The BAT has most of the CJ's texture, but is much more dynamic and detailed. You will have new respect for your Monoliths.

David,

Easy on the guy...he just spent $5000 on that amp.

 

[Cherian]

For the cost of a Bat VK-51 you can almost get into a CJ ACT 2. Not that I'm getting either any time soon. For now I'm very happy with the sound. This is not to say I would not like to listen to other equipment.

 

[David Matz]

For the cost of a Bat VK-51 you can almost get into a CJ ACT 2. Not that I'm getting either any time soon. For now I'm very happy with the sound. This is not to say I would not like to listen to other equipment.

I was speaking in the context of the next shootout... Also, it's no fun getting all of the stuff at once.

As for the two preamps, I think the BAT is the way to go if you are talking about ACT 2 Series 1. If you are talking ACT 2 series 2, I think the BAT Rex would be more realistic competition.

I hope you are getting some sleep... The CJ 350 is one fun toy

 

[Bernard]

.. Also, it's no fun getting all of the stuff at once.

Very true. I have always regretted getting my TT upgraded and my MLs at the same time. That way I was not able to appreciate their individual contribution separately.

 

[Cherian]

I agree. It is enjoyable to see and hear a system evolve. I feel my system is grown for the better. Most of the changes have made a sonic improvement. Some did not. This is what is so fun and enjoyable about this hobby.

 

[Cherian]

Took another quantum step forward towards audio bliss. I changed out my Conrad Johnson PV14L pre for a Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS. The difference between the two is huge. Still has the silky smoothness of the CJ sound but with tons more detail. The premier 16LS has been called the single chassis version of the ART. I can only imagine what the ART sounds like. I’m so pleased with the evolution of my system.

 

[David Matz]

Took another quantum step forward towards audio bliss. I changed out my Conrad Johnson PV14L pre for a Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS. The difference between the two is huge. Still has the silky smoothness of the CJ sound but with tons more detail. The premier 16LS has been called the single chassis version of the ART. I can only imagine what the ART sounds like. I’m so pleased with the evolution of my system.

Cherian,

Congratulations! I can't wait for the next shootout - Monoliths vs. Summits. I will bring the Ayre, and maybe the BAT.

 

[tonepub]

Having owned, the ACT 2 (Series 1 and currently series 2), the VK 51SE, the Aesthetix Callisto signature and a lot of time spent with the ART3, I think you will respond to one more than the other.

They are all quite good, but all are a bit different in their presentation.

Much as I love my ACT 2 and prefer it to the other three, The Callisto signature is pretty awesome as well... and worth checking out, you might really like that one!

Good luck on the hunt. Any one of these four are fantastic and significantly more revealing than most of the other stuff on the market.

The REX is basically a VK-51SE with an outboard power supply, so if you prefer the BAT sound, that will give you a bigger, weightier sound than the 51, but due to it's newness will be hard to find used. Even the ACT 2 series 2's are still hovering around 10-11k used.

The Premier 16LS is a great pre, but really shares little with the ART other than some of the case work and the attenuator circuitry.

Another reason I like the ACT 2 over the others is only four 6H30's which are very robust. My Callisto was the king of "airiness" but I have my system on 12 hours a day and 22 tubes didn't make sense for me....

If you listen less, who knows!

Let us know which one you prefer...