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Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a-a good used amp?

Hi. I am considering purchase of a C-J Premier 11a (used, there are a couple up on a-gon right now) and was wondering what the consensus on this amp is? I have relatively easy to drive Soliloquy 6.3's, and my listening tastes are mostly jazz and orchestra, at moderate volumes. I have a wonderful tube preamp (EE Minimax) that I would like to mate with a musical, yet detailed amp. I don't want something toooo lush/syrupy, but kind of a liquid, yet detailed sound (which is exactly what the Minimax is for a preamp). In my system, I have had a McCormack DNA-125 (nice amp, but not detailed enough and has some grain) and audioned a PS Audio HCA-2 (very nice amp-great detail and extension, nice liquid presentation for SS), but many owners documented troubles turned me off).

How does the Premier 11a stack up against these? Is it more "new-school" tubes (detailed with a rich presentation)or more old-school (excessively warm and lush)? Thanks!
chiho
steelhead
318 posts
 
I bought one in the nineties used and love it. It didn't quite have the grunt to power my ML ReQuests full range, but it is simply great on the panels now that I have the Hafler to tame the woofers.

Absolutely trouble free and real nice with Ei KT90's from upscale.

I lugged it over to a friends who had two Adcom 555's powering his Maggie 3.5's and he was sold. He ended up with Cary V12 monoblocks (great looking AND sounding) for the maggies but the tubes sold him.

If I ever sell mine it will probably be to move to 12's or if lucky 8a's to go full range tubes.

have fun
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Brainwater

Boy, I couldn't agree more. CJ designs just have a musicality about them that I believe most others simply can not match. As they say "It Just Sounds Right." So what amps are you buying it sounds like a pair of Premier 140's in monobloc. I am currently utilizing an MF2500a / 16lsII combination. I am looking to upgrade to the premier 350. I love tube amps but with the way my system is racked there simply isn't the room for a tube amp let alone tube monoblocs. Plus tube amps and my wife do not mix. Good Luck and yes I am envious.

Chuck
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Chuck: I have it on authority from somebody at CJ that Lew Johnson personally considers the new solid-state Premier 350 to be CJ's best sounding amplifier ever, period - tubes or no! Haven't heard it myself though.

BTW Chiho, if you think your DNA-125 lacks some detail and refinement, I'd ask if you've upgraded the power cord, and if you leave the amp permanently powered-on. If you do both of those things, these qualities will improve markedly. I haven't compared the 125 to a Premier 11a, but can tell you that it beat an MV-55 in my system in terms of detail (but so would an 11a, and the 125 still doesn't sound like tubes of course, though it sounds like very respectable SS).
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,083 posts
 
Chiho
How would you characterise the sound of the 6.3's? Two friends of mine say they were too boomy to be enjoyable.
irishdog
88 posts
 
I have had my Premier 11a for quite a few years since I bought it new. It and the Mac C-2200 pre-amp make beautiful music together driving my Genesis V's.
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