The quick answer is ET5 over ET7... read on as to why I feel this way.
Yes, I have both pre's now and have had the ET7, and Gat series 2. I have a Premier 17LS/ LS2 and Premier 16LS2.
There are a few ways to go here. ET5 for the money I bought mine for $3000 is then for me the reason I got rid of the ET7 and GAT series 2. For the money its as good. As for superiority of which the GAT2 yes has it over. However the incremental differences in dollars, ET5 also wins over ET7. There is a ET7 series 2 now since early summer and no I have not listened to it. The 5 is an excellent pre, has more in it than the 7 (in my opinion they stretched the 7 too thin, took out some things that they later found out they needed and... now there is a 7 series 2. The Bass in ET5 is wonderful. Just do yourself a favor, don't go hog wild on Tube swapping with out knowing that CJ sets bias high to get the most out of things so not every tube will do well and will burn out earlier than anticipated. So, I am using an AMPREX and a Genelax Gold Lion; lots of bass. Now, another suggestion is to look to move to a CJ tube amp set up. With the right one, the Bass will be there and the mid-range/highs.
Yes, I have both pre's now and have had the ET7, and Gat series 2. I have a Premier 17LS/ LS2 and Premier 16LS2.
There are a few ways to go here. ET5 for the money I bought mine for $3000 is then for me the reason I got rid of the ET7 and GAT series 2. For the money its as good. As for superiority of which the GAT2 yes has it over. However the incremental differences in dollars, ET5 also wins over ET7. There is a ET7 series 2 now since early summer and no I have not listened to it. The 5 is an excellent pre, has more in it than the 7 (in my opinion they stretched the 7 too thin, took out some things that they later found out they needed and... now there is a 7 series 2. The Bass in ET5 is wonderful. Just do yourself a favor, don't go hog wild on Tube swapping with out knowing that CJ sets bias high to get the most out of things so not every tube will do well and will burn out earlier than anticipated. So, I am using an AMPREX and a Genelax Gold Lion; lots of bass. Now, another suggestion is to look to move to a CJ tube amp set up. With the right one, the Bass will be there and the mid-range/highs.