Conrad Johnson vs. McInosh....


Hi Friends,

If you were to buy a brand based on musical involvement would you go CJ or Mac for amplification? Thanks for your opinions.
Is CJ equipment reliable? Does one outweigh the other in reliability?
128x128trumpetbri
Have owned both and still do. Enjoyed both but would say each has evolved their sound. Both well made and good resale tho Mac has edge there. I am partial to Mac for musicality and sense of zero fatigue listening and like both as and tube. For cj partial to tubes, modern sound. Ultimate thing is your ears and eyes. How does it sound to you and if looks are impt how do you like them.
The Classic 2SE is the biggest improvement I've ever realized in an upgrade. IF you can live without remote you will not be disappointed. My DAC and a few sources of mine have remote volume so it didn't matter to me.
For "musical involvement", on the preamp side, I like CJ tube preamps the most (ART and ACT2.2).

On the amp side, I have owned both Mac and CJ, and like the sound of both. It would depend on the speaker I was using.

My tastes in amps for the last 4-5 years has gravitated toward DHT (SET) "and" Pass's XA.5 series.