Conrad Johnson Premier 12 tube monos


Has anyone heard these and/or compared to any other 6550-based amps of similar power (140 watts) range?
sutts
Tpsonic- thanks for the feedback- I actually had the ATM-3 monoblocks in my place as well for a quick session (I have also owned the ATM-4). Very 'full' sounding, but perhaps not as 'fast' as other amps I have tried- truly, I don't think I gave them enough of a chance... How do you like them vs any other tube amps you have tried?

I owned a pair of Premier 12s for several years and had a chance to compare them to the ARC VT100 mk2 and CJ Premier 140. Ran them with the GE 6550As they were originally voiced with along with an RCA double-mica black plate 5751 and military issue Sylvania 6FQ7s. The 12s are excellent representatives of the 'old world' pre-21st Century CJ house sound.

As you note, they are 'full', which I take to mean harmonically rich and a touch warm - definitely to the yin side of things. Nice bass extension though not quite as crisp on low end transients as say the VT100, yet to my ears, harmonically much more pleasing. Very good sound stage width and depth with reasonable interior dimensionality on woodwinds, choristers, etc. Not quite as resolving and not quite the punch of the Premier 140 nonetheless quite satisfying over all.

Modern day they will do fine with the Svetlana 6550C and RCA clear top 6CG7/6FQ7s. Stock they do not have an IEC plug, but they most certainly benefit from a simple rewire to a decent mid-range power cord such as a Shunyata Diamondback which will really tighten up the bass and yield better overall resolution.

Tim
AS Tim has said, the 12's are wonderful sounding tube amps.
Just make sure your speakers are not low impedance into the bass frequencies otherwise they will struggle like most tube amps.
Other than that, beautiful amps
The ATMs were very much a midrangy affair,though they did mate with the Yankee FPR 72s very synergistically.The Siemens EL-34s were a must in that amp,not the AEGs.Better drive in UL,but lost that beautiful midrange lushiness.Resale is terrible.Alot of picking a tube amp has to do with the speaker being driven-planar,dynamic or electrostatic.What speakers will you be mating up to the "future tubes"?
Guys- great responses- thanks. Speakers are 97 db 14-ohm Coincident 'Victory' model with Ribbon tweeter. On paper, you may be thinking even SET, but them seem to like more power, and my room is HUGE open concept. Preamp is modded Sonic Frontiers Line 3. I used to have the ARC VT-100 MKIII- that worked well with my Pre.

Should also mention this system is used for 2-ch HT as well, so I do appreciated an amp with low noise floor and good bass capabilities, which is why I decided to try the '6Moons SS favorite' Audiosector Pateks- running them in mono (balanced- sonically great on many fronts- however I do miss the 'X factor' of added tube dimensionality- particularily in the extra decay of the notes a good tube amp can bring).

I believe the Premier 12's are single-ended only, therefore not taking advantage of the fully balanced architecture of the preamp, however that is not 'make it or break it'- I would consider single-ended amps like the Premier 12's if they really ARE that good. Other than the ARC VT-100 MKIII, not sure what other fully balanced tube amps there are at under $5k used that are better than the ARC- I hear VAC makes great stuff, but $$$...