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Line Stage Preamplifiers AX vs AU

Just learning a  few things about these components,,, seems to me best tube fora  linestage (PREamp term should only be applied to a  amp with phono section/ w/o phone, = Line Stage) anyway,, seems to me best circuitty for a  *passive line stage* would be the 12AU7 tube,  and not employ any 12AX7's. 
The AX ha s a mu of 100, so it really scrams and thus pushes the db level too much as it reaches the pwoer amp.
The AU has a  mu of only 15, so its alsmost passive, which is really whata  line stage should be , just passing the  signal from the source to the amp,  with the least involvement, IMHO alot of line stage amps, have too much coloration and muddiness due to the usage od 12AX7's. 
Leaving me with voting the only  line stage  employing all 12AU7 circuitry i know of under $2K as best Line stage on the market. 


https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=120
mozartfan
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
ck out the gains on this new CJ phono pre section,,wow, a  wopping 54/40 db levels,,, = packing a  punch for LP listening,, ..
the aux for cd player is at 27 db. still way too high.. at least for my preference/needs/wants/desires..... 
The Cayin is 15db,  for cd resolution, the Cayin beats out the CJ. 
That is unless you love screaming db levels for digital source..,, then yeah go with the CJ. 
My room is 10x12, 8 foot ceiling = 27db just from the linestage,, , hardly turn the gain on the vol up anymore than a  few clicks of the vol knob = too forward = not enjoyable,, would be like listening to a  CJ as main component, and the Defy just sitting there using less than a  few watts of power. = I want to hear the Defy as 1st voice, , then the digital source 2nd voice, , then the linestage circuitry as passive as possible.
https://conradjohnson.com/classic-2-vacuum-tube-preamplifier/
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
 it really scrams
READ ,, so at 100mu really SCREAMS the fq's. passing through...
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
CJ's newest line stage says **triod**, you would THINK, = A X or AU or AT,,no employs a  single 6922, which might bea  triod, i don't know,,, buta  single 6922 ina  line stage??? how is that tube , the glory of true tube circuitry?
and then read the review,
where the guy says,
The real purpose ofa  line stage is to pass the music, with the very least amount of influence/coloration** 
Yes, correct,,, But he also fails to complete the sentence,, **with the highest fidelity to the sonic fq;'s comming from the digital source,,** ahhh, thats the critical value of a  ~true high fidelity line stage~~~ , passing fq with purity, naturalness, ~~FIDELITY~~( That ancient term Philips coined wayyy back at the very beginnings,, but which has gotten toss aside , lost among high powered selling  ads, promos and such)

Price? 
ha, get out your AMEX Gold card.
https://conradjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/HiFi-182-conrad-johnson_HR.pdf
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
The Cayin SC6 Mark2, IMHO will shootout ~~any~~ preamp under say $4K,,and beat out some priced at $15K+. 
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
~~$12K~~ for those curious on the price of the ET7S2. 
Hope I'm not stepping on any USA fans toes here,,,but come on,  the Chinese  engineers /lab has the USA lab  beat by a  grand slam,,  In the shootout~~ would  have Cayin smoking  CJ's britches down before he even thought about drawing the gun....
soundstage, resolution, purirty, fidelity, dynamics, colors (Non coloration), musicality. 
One lab  would rate high,,the other lab  dismally low. 
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