CJ premier 8 - please share your comments

Thanks sirspedy - Yes, I know the booklet and read it (this is my second pair of Avalon spkrs, first I got the Avatars some years back).

Problem is that my listening room IS also the living room, not too much room to play with (I won the battle with my wife of not placing ivory elephants on top of the spkrs already !!!)

Saying that, I also feel that I can play with some inches here and there and tune the speakers to a better positioning, taking into consideration all your comments here.

Thanks again.

BTW - I managed to extend the trial with the dealer for a couple of days more.

Fernando

Last day listening notes :

I think I have now a clear perspective of the differences between this very good amplifiers (I love this hobby!).

The PASS amp is really one of the best SS amps I have had in my system (just second after the Gryphon Anthileon I had some years back with Avalon Avatars). It has a great grip of the musical performance, exploding dynamics but easy to the ear, Very liquid midrange presentation and very neutral.

The CJ amp is a surprise for me, I have had many tube gear and never lasted for a long time with me due to their intrinsic euphonic presentation. The CJ is not a neutral amp, but it posses a magical presentation that makes me enjoy the performance, the lyrics, the strings--- the musician intention. It lacks the bass control and extended highs of the PASS, and I am having a hard time of deciding which to keep!!! (I need to plunk 3KUSD + the X250 to keep the CJ.)

A will appreciate a final word in this thread prior my decision, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience on all the above messages.

Fernando

Fernando, it seems that you do indeed have a good grasp of the differences between these two amps. I don't think I can help you any further on the choice you need to make; that choice will depend on your listening/sonic priorities.

As you say, the Premier 8 is not neutral in the way of the Pass, nor is it a classically tubey sound. There are some other tube amplifiers that are more neutral and that may have greater bass control (examples, Atma-Sphere MA-1/MA-2 OTLs, BAT 150se, C-J Premier 140), but that is not your consideration today.
.

What would be an approx. cost for re-tubing both Premier 8-s?

One way to get this estimate would be to check with C-J on the current cost of their replacement tube set: RTPR8 (with 6550 output tubes):
703-698-8581 or service@conradjohnson.com
.