CJ ACT2 with Premier 140 or 350 or LP70S?

Audioblazer

Depending on your musical preferences and volume requirements along with room size and accoustics with a 91db (Impedence ?) speakers you would probably be served very well with either tube or ss amp.

I am currently driving a pair of thiel 3.6's with a cj premier 350 and a cj premier 16lsII, audioquest amazon and volcano speaker cables and scd-1 front end. The combination of the 16 (tube-pre) and 350(ss-amp) is very involving and detailed and I would not call it thin on top but detailed and full with generous bass. I listen primarily to female jazz volcals and classical (symphonic and chamber) music.

At one time I had a premier 11a driving the thiels which obviously was not enough power to really drive them but the midrange and upper frequencies were beautiful and detailed. The 350 has all of that detail and more with much better bottom end. I would expect the premier 140 would be very nice as well so would the LP70S although I would think in the latter case the mono-blocs would be a better choice.

Downunder nice system

czbbcl, correction, the speaker sensitivity is 92db with ave impedance of 6ohm( 4ohm 20hz-150hz, 8ohm 150hz-20khz). when I was using the SET integrated amp I love the warm sound of the vocal and I listen mainly to vocal, jazz except on vinyl I do like some rock songs. That is why I wonder which is the more appropriate amp for my system. anyway, tq for yr feedbk. Happy Listening

Audioblazer

Any of them would work very well with your speakers. If you were satisfied with your SET integrated and don't mind the heat and maintenance I would go with the 140 or the LP70M (mono-bloc). I must admitt an affection for tube amps after having owned my premier 11a (still miss that amp)but my speakers are just to inefficent. I did consider heavily the purchase of a 140 prior to purchasing the 350. However, I ultimately believe I made the right choice when I hear the clarity of the bass coming from those kettle drums on symphonic music.

As you probably know the 140 is discontinued so you would have to buy used. This gives you the opportunity to sell it and not lose much if any money if you choose to resell it. Good Luck in your decision and congratultions on your pre-amp purchase. Happy listening to you as well.

Chuck

It really comes down to your ears. The 350 is an amazing amp and with an ACT2 you should be happy. Back to your ears...do you want tubes, clarity, detail, music or all of the above. The 140 is not a 350. It has a natural midrange but not all the robust and air of the 350. But, that is my opinion. It is my understanding that the LP70S will not have as much headroom as the 140 but is faster and more detailed and maybe even sweeter...teflon caps? But here is a new twist. CJ will ship the Premier 150 this spring. Using their terminology, it is a control amplifier. If I remember and have this right, it is half of the Premier 350 with the swtiching and volume control from the Premier 18. It has no gain and the volume control attenuates output. So, it is quasi passsive or a non-integrated integrated. It sounds lovely. I like this amp! One box. Great sound. More than enough power.

I haven't had an opportunity to listen to the 350, or the LP70S, however I am currently driving my 89db VR4 GEN III SEs with the 140, and think the combination works very well together. The 140 is optimized for 4ohm loads, so it shouldn't have any problems driving your Srs. In my room the 140 / VR-4 is capable of clean mid 90db output on complex music with well controlled, and tuneful bass. On the other hand you probably couldn't go wrong with the Act2 / 350 combination.