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CJ vs. BAT vs. THOR preamps, who's best?

Hi.
Looking for some input as to which of the above's top of the line, past & present preamps provide the best overall flexibility, and sonically involving presentation? ...and have the best support. Likely one of these will be paired with at least a solid state amp... possibly a tube as well if I bi-amp. Currently using VR4 JR's and if these change it will be to a little more efficient set of loudspeakers, but likely as close to full range as is possible.

I lean towards the euphonic - romantic side of things sonically speaking. And, 'gasp!' a bit towards the darker side of neutral... with needs being, very good to great bottom end and natural earthy sounding mids - no extension in the high end arena really necessary, just sweet and balanced on the whole.

I've got the VK5i, heard the TA1000 mkII, and know little about the CJ end of things other than that they invert the signal during it's development and only the BAT can afford one the use of a balanced setup... gotta go single ended with the others.

...again, support & flexibility with different amps are almost as if not as important as the sonic signature, to me.

Thanks in advance...
blindjim
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
Ive heard CJ and Thor,both beautiful sounding preamps,,geuss it would come down to which one suited your taste,and other gear,from what i can recall the CJ was a little more romantic with a beautifull decay,,Thor ,a little more neutral and very captivating,Let us know how things work out
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,479 posts
 
I have owned the Thor, CJ LS16 MKII and others. Love the Thor, but the CJ was just pure magic. So organic and musical.

The CJ would be my choice. I had both in my system at the same time and the CJ had more body and texture with all of the detail of the Thor. The Thor had more "jump" or better pace. Both great to be sure. I just think CJ makes the finest pre's going from the 16 on up!

Bill
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I haven't heard the Thor, but I owned the CJ Premier LS16 mk II and the BAT VK-51SE. I choose the BAT. The CJ was a little sweeter in the mid's, but the BAT was much better dynamically (including the bass). Both were very good preamps, and it will depend on what you want most. I loved the vocals on the CJ, but music sounded much more lively through the BAT. Ultimately I kept the BAT. YMMV.

Cheers,
John
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Thanks, Bill, and John.

wow! given what I've found out first hand in the BAT gears reproduction of music I'm a bit flabergasted to hear that another and yet, sweeter mid can be produced, apart from BAT.

I enjoy all sorts of music. All sorts. Except 'Hip Hop' & 'Rap'. ain't real big on monks doing mantras either... but mostly I live in the Blues, Jazz, Vocals area of music... though if it be a good recording, I do enjoy it immensely. Whatever the genre... even opera & classical. That's a big strectch for me as I've been known to say in the past, when asked aobut what music I have on hand, "I have both kinds, Country... and Western'. Long time since those days, though.

Mating to the solid state amp well seems the issue as personally I think any ov the three pres would float my boat, so to speak. My local CJ dealer is mostly a tube type. All the way. It's doubtful he'll ever have the P350 on hand at the same time as say a LS17, or CT6, so finding out about that part continues to elude me...

So about the service end of things and matching to solid state amps with any of these pres seems the question that is foremost my concern.... Anyone know which of these pres should not be mated to a SS amp? (likely either the BAT vk600 or CJ Premeir 350), and for a time right off, the BAT vk500 I have now)....???
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