2. amps-preamps
  3. 1159151935

Conrad Johnson Act 2 series 2 First Impressions

This will be an ongoing thread as I will periodically post my impressions as this unit breaks in . I owned the Act 2 series one for over a year and became quite familiar with its strengths and sonic character. The Act 2 series 2 has just arrived and I have 90 hours on it thus far . What is immediately obvious is the improvement in the midrange to the lower midrange . The notes and their color are fleshed out with greater ease and immediacy . I was listening to Diana Kralls Steppin Out and on virtually the entire disc , the difference between the two units is startlingly obvious. There is more depth and decay to acoustic bass notes imo. The brushes as they glide across the drum kit reverberate for a longer period and her voice has more of her chest in it. This is not to slight the Act 2 as I loved every second I listened to it . Its just that this new preamp is digger deeper in the midrange. The Teflon caps in their new gear takes 300 hours to break in in my experience so this observation is initial and superficial . I just wanted to begin this in public so those interested could follow my journey. More to come after 150 hours. Thanks .
brainwater
jtimothya
612 posts
 

Here is some info about the differences in the ACT2.2 upgraded from the original:
- improved power-supply architecture;
- eight-fold increase in size and upgrade from polystyrene to Teflon for the capacitor by-passing the input filter;
- upgrading the remaining capacitors in the audio circuits from polystyrene to Teflon;
- improvements in grounding;
- added internal shiled results in a 5dB noise reduction.

Fwiw, I'm running the 'NOS' 6H30П-DRs - *maybe* they yield a faint increase in higher frequency extension. Now that the price has really jumped on these - purportedly the last stock available - I'm not sure there is a lot of payback for this tube roll in the ACT2.

I really wanna hear the new CJ TEA1 phonostage - anyone had a listen yet?

Cheers,
Tim
rb99
39 posts
 
Tim,

Have you tried any treatment to the tube pins? It seemed to make a bigger difference then the DRs and cheaper.

Do you know what the 2.2 upgrade will cost?

Thanks
rb99
39 posts
 
Tim - Brent answered the cost question in his previous post - apologies
jtimothya
612 posts
 

Rb99 - yes, I used the Walker SST on tubes across my valve gear. It does seem to make an improvement. I'm not entirely sure if the effectiveness wears off after a while, or maybe I just got used to it. Haven't tried the uplevel or gold versions. I'm using a Shunyata Helix Python on the ACT2 - its an excellent power cord.

And fwiw, the price Brent cited is the same as I've heard.

Cheers,
Tim
downunder
1,329 posts
 
Tim

Do you have any details on the cj phono stage including cost. full tube, or hybrid like the Ph7?. more than one input?

Looking to replace the PH7 all ready ? :)

BTW, after a couple of weeks listening to the PH7 at home, it is everything you said it was in the review. Don't really want to play the Xono anymore - and that aint chopped liver.

not quite ready to pull the trigger on the ph7, but I could happily live ever after with it. brings new found respect to the aluminium foil sounding ARC.

cheers Shane
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