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Simaudio P5 or Conrad Johnson ET5

I currently have the CJ 17LS and like it a lot but I do feel like it may be the bottle neck in my system.  Therefore I am looking to replace with something that can provide better detail and dynamic.  The ET5 seems like a natural candidate but its weakness is that it does not offer balance connection which in itself could be the bottleneck.  The P5 is a two chassis design and has the sound somewhere between tube and solid state.  
The P5 used would be around 2K and the ET5 would probably around 4K or a bit less if I am lucky.
My current amp is Simaudio Moon W3.  The DAC is Ayre QB-9 DSD.

What are some of the alternatives with about the same price?
andy2
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Another option, not discussed enough IMHO, would be upgrading what you currently have with premium parts. You might be amazed as to what is possible. I’d call Bill Thalmann of Music Technology, Backert labs and Jeff Fischelk at CJ for different options. IF you like what you have why not consider improve/upgrade with better caps, resistors, diodes and wire along with other improvements that might be available relative to your situation. Buying into an unknown quanity may or not work out but will most certainly cost you more. Good Luck!

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1graber2's avatar
1graber2
303 posts
 
There are a lot of great preAmps in that price range. 
But ive had the P-5, and it’s quite a bargain at $2k, 
 because of how good the detail and soundstage is
pops
2,275 posts
 
Can’t say enough about my ET5.  Open, spacious, dynamic and crystal clear.  Teflon capacitors make a huge difference over previous CJ preamps.    

I have not heard the  Sim.      
andy2 OP
1,555 posts
 
Thanks for the responses.  I really want to buy the ET5 but I feel like its lacking of balance connections may present a problem down the road.  A couple of more candidates are the SimAudio P7 and Ayre K-5xe.  Although I have not heard these but knowing their sound, the Ayre K-5xe probably will be slightly more cooler sounding vs. the P7.
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