new CJ sound compared to old CJ sound

From my perspective the short answer to your questions is: Yes.

On the CJ web site is a link to a Martin Colloms review of the ACT2 which includes comparisons to the ART and the 16LS. My own review of the ACT2 at soundstage.com does a direct comparison between the ACT2 and 16LS series 1. (Sorry for being a tout, but it seems relevant :-). Sounds like you've plenty of experience with CJ gear.

I have not heard the CT-5 yet - it is quite new and I don't believe CJ is advertising it just yet. A report I've had from someone who has heard it lends credence to the notion that the CT-5 is to the 16LS as the ACT2 is to the ART. Hope this helps.
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Tim , I just finished reading your review of the Act 2 in Soundstage . Wow. You nailed the review in convincing fashion. Having lived with the Act 2 as well as the Premier 350 for the better part of 1100 hours now I can faithfully say your experience mirrors my observatiions regarding its performance. I have the new Lp 140m monoblocs coming soon and will put them on my Pipedream 21 towers and move the 350 to the subs. Can you spell CJ Nirvana? i am so enamored with their new gear i hate to even dress for work. music has NEVER been this much fun for me . Again , thoughtful and complete review !

Hi Brainwater, Tim and Fjn, I've had the Premier 7b in the past. I think it was (and still is) a fine preamp. But to much hassle with tubes, so I changed to solid state (Accuphase C-290V, which is also very good). In my opinion the older CJ's have lots of air surrounding instruments and voices. I thought it could be a bit of false (artificial) "halo" or "air" somehow generated by the tube design I suppose, because it could be heard on nearly every recording. It was certainly pleasant but probably not what one hears in real live.

I also own a CJ Premier 8s amps, driving them with a Hovland HP100 with great results... but.. I am sure I will be in the ACT/ART camp soon enough.

New vs. old???.. I do feel that since the sonic signature of the Premier 8 leans toward the soft, rich & harminic side, a LIVE presmp helps.. I should go for the "new" option in your case.

Regards

Fernando

The new gear incoroporating the teflon cap and latest generation topologies is a more refined sound and I find it a brilliant compromise between their famous richness and hyper transparency. Somehow , they have managed the near impossible which is to marry the two extremes without the sound drawing attention to itself nor abandoning the objectives of accurete musical reproduction. Be warned however that the teflon caps need at least 100 hours before you even LISTEN , and 500 before critical evaluation of the components can be made . Also , I run in system a minimum of an hour before settling down for a session and it continues to improve for at least 4 till it levels out and is constant. Its a little work for sure but nothing worth having comes without some kind os fight. This is a ring i climb into daily.