2. amps-preamps
  3. 150745-121

can someone answer me this.....

i have done some extensive research and talked to quite a few people who own or have had this preamp.  I recently came into a conrad Johnson et 3 se, nt much clarity,the bass is muddy and the presentation is dark, ive read where some claim the system is to bright.  ive also read where its good to get a specific type of tube.  I don't want to do that just yet because im trying to learn the units characteristic.  I wonder if its not quite broken in yet.  maybe the impedance thing that Im just learning.  steve mccormck suggested that I try some after market power cord, that I ordered.  
assoc. equipment
McCormack dna 500
oppo 203
alon IV's
acoustic zen interconnects
I make my own speaker cables …..
no wires are touching, none are on the carpet or floor.....
kennesawjet
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@millercarbon   Hmmm.  Must be nice to be THE authority on wire.  We have quite a few folks here who make their own gear including cables and have achieved high levels of sonic reproduction. Who are you to say otherwise???
jengelmann's avatar
jengelmann
58 posts
 
I purchased some used Bob Carver amps that sounded as you described. Running to Klipsch Cornwall’s. Rolled several sets of tubes. +1 on the new production Gold Lions. I also have Manley tube phono stage. Came with Tungstram 6922 tubes. Didn’t take long before I replaced with Gold Lion tubes. There is a chart on the internet that shows relative gain for bass, mid and highs.  Gold Lion tubes where shown to have nearly equal gain in all three ranges. My listening to some of the others shown in addition to the Gold Lions seem to agree with what was reflected in the chart. 
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
Did you invert both your speaker wires at the speakers?
The ET3 Preamplifier is phase inverting.This is conveniently done by reversing the positive and negative connections to your speakers (be sure to reverse both channels).
When the system is in the correct phase, transients will be noticeably cleaner and more sharply defined. - not all recordings are phase correct so
listen to several before concluding your investigation of absolute phase.       Best
 JohnnyR
Post removed 
safnz
15 posts
 
audioconnection +1
I have an old CJ Classic pre, and always forget to invert phase when shifting it around. I've even written "Invert Phase you Idiot" on a label on the back :-)Hopefully your problem is as simple as that.

I have also played with the valves over the years, and agree that they can make a huge difference. Some new manufactured one like the JJs and Electro-Harmonix make the Classic too bright for me. I have ended up with some NOS Mullards that sound just right. With the right valves, my pre is definitely not muddy and dark.
Good luck.
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