2. amps-preamps
  3. 1146335975

CJ ACT 2 v. VTL 7.5 v. ARC Ref 3

I am thinking of moving to a replacement tube pre with remote. My current Wyetech Opal, which is awesome and which I love dearly, has no remote and back problems are now leading me to a pre with remote.

I have a CJ PF-R in BR system and like the "old" CJ sound -- to a point. Have not heard VTL 7.5, but have heard an ARC Ref 1 and it seemed a bit on the sterile side. Don't know Ref 3's "character"

Any comments on strengths/wealnesses among these 3?

System:
Krell 300cx amp
Dodson 218 DAC
CEC TL-1X transport with RAM mods
MAC MR80 tuner
Von Schweikert VR5 HSE spkrs

Valhalla, Elrod Statement and Sig PC's
Stealth Sextet Digicable
Valhalla, AQ SKY IC's
PAD Venustas spkr cables
Original Shunyata Hydra

Thanks for info. This will be a traumatic change.

Neal
nglazer
bkonig
127 posts
 
I am not a CJ fan. I had the ARC Ref2 in my house for a week. It vas very good but not great. I do not know how the Ref 3 compares to the 2. Never heard the VTL, but owned the BAT51SE for a while. It was a superb pre-amp. Only sold it to get the new Dartzeel pre-amp, which makes everything else I heard sound veiled (Dart lifts many veils), unfocused, grainy and electronic.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the cj would be the one to get. one of most neutral cj pre's ever. the problem with the above mentioned dartzeel is twofold......long term service is a big question mark for the money spent, and the resale is tragic (check audiogon used)..... sonically the cj is warmer than the arc or the vtl......but not the blooming type of warmth associated with vintage cj.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Neal, I have taken delivery of an ARC Ref 3 in January and am absolutely enthrolled by it. My search has lasted about three years, and has included several linestages, including VTL 7.5 and ARC Ref 2 Mk. 2. I did not consider CJ ACT 2 in the end because I wanted to create a fully balanced system. ARC Ref 2 Mk. 2 I could never decide if I liked or not. VTL 7.5 was marvellously musical but a little overly sweet with slightly dampened transients. Please note that my listening experience with VTL 7.5 was in the Summer of 2004. Since then VTL seems to have introduced an update to the 7.5, hence my impressions may no longer be completely uptodate. My search for a linestage picked up in tempo during last summer. I have created a relatively long discussion thread on my experience that contains lots of interesting comments from a number of very excelletnt audiogoners. You will find it at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1123254379&openmine&zzGuidocorona&4&5#Guidocorona
I'd be glad to add any info you will still need.
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