Should I get the Art Audio Jota

Jbello is simply incorrect.

The Jota will drive the Mini Utopias effortlessly. I've driven far more difficult loads to paint peeling levels with it.

Disclaimer: Art Audio retailer.

Thank you for your posts everyone. Does anyone else feel like Misskuma - that the cj/AA pairing doesn't work?

Phaelon, I have read from the review in 'Enjoy the music' that the CJ 17 LS inverts the phase. You need to take that into consideration and reverse the speaker terminal connections.
The Jota has an input sensitivity at 400 mV (0.4V). This would mean that probably you can run the Jota without a line stage by either:
- use a passive volume control stepped attenuator and selector like Goldpoint or other passive pre-amp or
- order the Jota with that same type attenuator (if your intention is to order it).
Then you may just not need the CJ.

Hi Phaelon,

I agree with Misskuma, the CJ will probably assert it's own approach to sound over the Art Audio Jota. I've tried several preamps ahead of my AA PX-25 and the sonic influences are readily apparent. I ended up going with a passive transformer volume control to retain the transparency and tonal purity.(not suggesting you should do the same)

But, there's no way to know until you try. Test it out, but I would highly suggest using a preamp intended to be used in a SET system. Or, at least one that was designed with SET in mind as an option. There are certain unique aspects or traits (and highly desirable ones) that just are not existent in many PP amps. It is important that they are preserved.

There are plenty of choices significantly different from CJ. Consider an Art Audio, Shindo, Air Tight, etc.

Of course, any well-designed, well-executed, linestage should perform well in any system and let through everything preceding it. I think most of us will agree that there are many that fall short of this.

OK, maybe I'm thinking wrong. I've been considering the 17LS a strength in my system and my intention was to maximize it's virtues with an amplifier upgrade. I wasn't aware that there were preamp designs specific to single ended amps.