2. amps-preamps
  3. 1003096305

c-j buffs: MV-55 vs. Premier 11a

Anyone auditioned (preferably owners) conrad-johnson's two recently discontinued stereo tubed amp offerings head-to-head in the same system? I am an MV-55 owner who is very happy with the sound (fed from my c-j PV-8 pre-amp, through Thiel CS2 2 floorstanding 3-ways via all-Cardas Cross), but may be needing more power soon, and am considering the Premier 11a. I know the Premier ought to be better in theory, but apparently some folks have demurred - true or not, and if so, why? Also, anybody tried rolling tube types on the 11a? All input from those with personal experience is much appreciated! Thanks, Alex
zaikesman
lec1989
5 posts
 
You have a very similar system as I got(same speaker and I have Premier 11a). If I have to choose, I will choose Premier 11a especially if you own the Thiel 2.2 as the 11a really is a match in heaven with the 2.2. MV55 is good but not as relax and effortless if you crank up the volume or listen to soft rock.
sharri
114 posts
 
I've owned both and used them in the same system. I found the 11a to be much much better than the MV-55, all the way around especially in the bass.
I had an 11a for 2&1/2 years and really enjoyed it.
Then I got a BAT VK-60, and that's a very big step up.
The price for an 11a and a vk-60 are now really close now in the used market.
billimbriale
21 posts
 
I owned both the 55 and the Premier 11A at the same time. Speakers were stock Acoustat 1+1s. I found the 11A superior in the bass: tighter sounding, but not too tight and of course it had more power.
However in every other way and overall I clearly preferred the 55. Through the 1+1s, it was richer, brought out the lower mids, and was generally more musical.
zaikesman OP
3,017 posts
 
Update, inspired by Billimbriale bringing this thread to my attention again: I indeed moved to a larger room last summer and needed more power (boy, did I need more power!), and solved this by going to VTL MB-185 Signature monoblocks. These not only took care of my power desires for all but the most irresponsible of volumes (which my speakers can't do anyway), but they improved on the MV-55's sound quality across the board. I think I would have had to have gone to Premier 12 mono's to compete with C-J, but even those are less powerful and more expensive. (For the record, the preamp is now a Levinson 380S and the speaker cables Acoustic Zen Satori, both clearly improvements as well. And I can finally play with power cords on my amplifiers! :-) Thanks again to all who responded! (Some of whom I haven't seen posting for quite a while now...)
shahens
27 posts
 
I had posted a similar thread a while ago
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1035511228&read&keyw&zzmv-55
I don't have a personal experience with the 11s, but from what I read, you will get more power and bass with the 6550, but you will loose the liquid midrange and highs of the EL34 out of the MV-55. Now if you are lucky, you might find a premier 11Xs which I believe are modified to accomodate EL34s. The solution I decided to go with to increase power was to ad a MF2250 to run the low end and anjoy the MV55 for the mids and hight (bi-wired configuration). great combo IMO. keep us posted of what you endup doing.

regards
shahen
More to discover