Aesthetic Calypso or CJ Et3 or Primaluna Dialogue 3

2nd Note;
my reference demo as of this date is a CJ ACT2 Series2 pre-amp (until I can audition an ART or GAT) with the CJ Premier 350SA power amp.
Eggleston speakers and Audience cables/cords round out the system.
I played everything-Classical, Rock, Metal and Jazz- all sounded excellent and never disappointed. Played very loud as well w/o issue!

Additionally,
I have demo'ed the Aesthetix Calypso in an all Aesthetix system w/ Vandersteen Treo/Quattro speakers and Silent Source cables/cords throughout.  A very nice, all tube system. I did not spend as much time w/ this system, as I did, with the CJ system. If I can answer any further queries let me know.  Happy Listening!

Jfant;

Your dancing down my trail!!!, too
I'm starting to drill down to my preamp.
I thought I wanted to get a "  CJ pv17ls" until I saw how many caps are in the units

I've heard nothing but, superlatives on the 16 & 17's and think it's my best sound choice.  The thought of replacing all caps as they get old( lots of $$) scares me?
They are of the ART series, but no one has any to listen to!!!

ive listened to a all CJ et3 & et5( Teflon caps) with Treos( non Ct).   It sounded harsh on the highs to me. Treo CT's are way smoother to me
The et3-5 bad taste was probably the system synergy

Ive also listened to the Calypso..... very, very nice & tending that way now
Richer sound to me, between a ARC ls26 and Prumaluna that I heard all together 

Primalunas are clean and sharp in some systems and smooth and warm, like I want, in others.      Tube rolling?   Not sure

so, Still fumbling around but did buy a Meridian Explorer2 dac
i heard nothing but good about the aprodizing filter & Meridian
It DOES make rock albums sound very, very nice ( 2-7k range) and smooth
and Its the cheap one!!!!
plus Tidal is streaming MQA now and it DOES  live up to hype. 

Im thinking I'll buy my Preamp at AXPONA in April ( all in one spot to listen and pull trigger)

keep me informed on on the ART sound profile when you find one 

jeff

ps:are you Ready to pull trigger on new stuff yet?      Or still in my fumbling stage?
 

I just saw a Ohhhhhhh boy!!!!!
cj 350 amp?
that is supposed to be "the 2nd coming" of perfect

How does the ACT sound compared to ET3-5?

Ps: I've given up on ripped CDs since Tidal Streaming
The quality of recordings is way, way better than ripped " crappy" cd's in my opinion
Ps: Meridian soundstaging from DAC is HUGE!!!

The PL has positive reviews.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/primaluna-dialogue-three-preamplifier#tfVTpJZkJFcE8rzP.97

The newer Dialogue Premium gets listed if you have patience, but they seem to go quickly.
I picked one up recently, with plans of transitioning from a PL Dialogue Premium HP Integrated, to PL HP monoblocks.

Regarding your specific match up-I can’t provide technical reasoning other than the PL probably won’t be a "wrong" choice,only your subjective approval.

If you’re not fussy about "Made in USA" credentials, the PL should be a consideration based on performance/value$

The PL is equal or maybe kills CJ on build quality.