Best pre-amp with a C-J Premier 11a Amp

I used a cj premier 16lsII with a cj 11a and it was an excellent combination. You can't go wrong with a cj pre mated to a cj amp as system synergy will not be an issue and cj makes one of the finest pre-amps in the business.

Chuck 

CJ premier 16lLS has 26dB gain, relatively high but somewhat normal for CJ preamps. I wonder how much of the volume range you’re able to use before reaching ear splitting levels.
By the way, Schiit Saga might be a good option @$350 as well given it’s unity gain.

would agree with georgehifi, the 3A can sound good but is a pita to use. and those vol controls always get noisy over time.

I used to have a Prem 11a, ran it with the 3A, and a few others. Last pre I used with it was the PL Dialogue premium, which was a good match.

on the prem 11a, be sure to roll in some Shuguang nature sound outputs. they really brought the 11a to life.

Great suggestions. Thanks to all who took the time to share their thoughts. Will let all know when I decide😛

At long last I decided jump and thought my experiene would be helpful to others. For some 15 years my system was very simple & consisted of a series of mediocre CD players, an Adcom GFA 555II, played into a pristine vintage JBL Metregon, I was 2nd owner to most. I used an Audible Illusion L1 Line Stage Preamp, also 2nd owner. The AI Tube preamp made a huge improvement in the sound (to me). I’m 83 and my ears are not the best, but I’ve been listening to ‘good sound’ for 55 years‼️. Well, my current rig consists of a Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a (recently recapped by C-J). Speakers are Martin-Logan Aerius’. I have ripped some 1200 CDs to the cloud and play them back via a Toshiba Sattelite Laptop through an Audioquest Black Jitterbug & an Audioquest Dragonfly (red). I have an Arcam DVD-139 as well. Well, my AI L1 line stage preamp died & could not be fixed. So I researched other pre-amp, and there are a lot of good ones out there and several Audiogon Forum members offered several good suggestions, but in the end I leaned toward an Audible Illusions L3B because of my good experience with my previous AI preamp. The Honcho @ AI, Jerry was very helpful, and made me a financial offer I could not refuse. The build wait time was absurd, 12 weeks😩but Jerry always answered the phone & was encouraging. At long last the L3B arrived and was plugged in......and, wow! What a sound!. Clearly worth waiting for. The recent review of the L3A by Dick Olsher in The Absolute Sound was Spot On. I’d have to say I’m a happy camper and the Audible Illusion L3B was well worth the hassle & wait. Rongold