2. amps-preamps
  3. 185647-178394

Conrad Johnson Classic 120se vs. Linear Tube Audio 40 Reference Amps

Hi All -

I have started a few threads lately and owe many of you responses to questions. Most recently, I asked about system synergy after plugging a Conrad Johnson ART150 and finding out it didn’t quite deliver what I had hoped.

To the point, I am looking for a power tube amp with warmth, air and decay. I’m looking for an ethereal quality and not focused on bass response per se.

My current system:

Innuos ZENith
Merason Dac1
Linear Tube Audio MicroZotl preamp
Audio Hungary 100 watt power amp (out for repair, unfortunately)
Puritan 136 Filter
QLN prestige three speakers (8 ohm, 87.5 sensitivity)
Cardas Clear Cygnus speaker cables
Cardas Clear Power

Room is very large with high ceilings (11 feet)

 

The system above achieves an incredible sound to my ears - ethereal, insanely good imaging and a holographic quality, lots of air, with notes hanging in the air in a way I’ve rarely experienced. My challenge is I keep having maintenance issues with the Qualiton amp and want to have a backup amp when it’s out for repair.

I’m NOT looking for a neural sound. I have realized, for my tastes, I want an amp that facilitates a relaxing experience.

I recently demoed the Conrad Johnson ART amp and found it sounded incredibly neutral to my ears. Almost like a solid state amp…

My question to everyone, given my tastes, how would the LTA 40 Reference with Mullard tubes or the Conrad Johnson 120se sound?

I love the combo of the LTA preamp with the Qualiton amp because you get both detail and a tube tone. But I’m wondering if the LTA 40 Reference might be too SS sounding? Likewise, based on my experience with Conrad Johnson ART 150, will I find the Classic 120se also too neutral sounding - lacking what I understood the CJ warmth of glow I had hoped for?

Your feedback is much welcomed.

128x128bluethinker
bluethinker's avatar
bluethinker OP
105 posts
 

@paulcreed @cellorover @marco1 @jjss49 

Thank you all for your replies.

 

@jjss49 - Would you be so kind to indulge me with your opinion on the EL34 tube sound? I’ve been reading about it and I’m really curious. I love an airy and bloomy sort of sound with, ideally, as much decay as possible. I guess I’m a sucker for reverb and an ethereal sound. Something tells me that might not be what the EL34 tube is, but I’m curious what it might be. 
 

@marco1 - thanks for pulling all those comments from the CJ forum site. I’m very intrigued by the EL34 tube now. Per my question to @jjss49 im

wondering what that tube sounds like. 

@cellorover - I would welcome a chat, as you’ve suggested. 

 

marco1's avatar
marco1
496 posts
 

Something else you might think about trying.  Instead of using the Cygnus speaker cables look for the older model Golden Reference  which will also warm things up.

jafant
18,844 posts
 

As above, I will second the CJ CAV45 S2. It is a sweet "little" Control Amp.

I would like to see CJ add a measure more current and power in the future.

S3 perhaps?

 

Happy Listening!

jafant
18,844 posts
 

paulcreed 

 

Another +vote for Conrad Johnson, "It just sounds right"

 

Happy Listening!

lancelock
1,085 posts
 

I don't have any experience with Conrad Johnson but extensive experience with David Berning and LTA. I have owned several non-OTL tube amps and the clarity and transparency along with the sweet EL34 midrange of my ZOTL40 amp surpasses them all. I also own highly modified Altec 1570B monoblocks and they sound incredible but then, recently Mark Schneider of LTA came over for a demo of his new prototype LTA 120-watt monoblocks they made the Altecs sound broken. When doing an A/B comparison all of a sudden I can hear distortion that I didn't know was there in the Altecs. Berning’s ZOTL architecture is superior to any old-school tube amp. It's truth in transparency.

More to discover