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VTL 5.5 VS CJ Premier 17

I have CJ electronics in my system comprising a PV-14 LS2 preamp and a 2500A power amp. I recently tried a VTL TL 5.5 preamp and thought it provided a lot more dynamics, more precise soundstage and air around the instruments. Although the highs of the VTL were a little more extended than my PV-14, I thought both had similar signatures with a sweet overall presentation.Which I like.

I haven't tried a Premier 17 ls or even a CT6 in my system and live away from CJ dealers. The VTL 5.5 has a lower MSRP than both upgrades I could make with CJ. Should I grab the VTL without looking back or should I go for a Premier 17 or CT6 and grab one without giving it a listen ?
andr
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
Yeah the CJ Premier 14 is a very warm preamp with the traditional CJ Premier 11/12 sound of the EL34's... The Resister volume control is physically really loud and it doesn't provide a wide range of increments. The newer CJ gear is more transparent and more neutral. Since you have compared it, the VTL 5.5 is also the more romantic of the VTL preamps in sound (it's not warm) but when you hear the VTL 6.5 (you realise what it does wrong(only if you have 20hz speakers the bass is a little flabby but it could have been my input tubes..)) The VTL 6.5 is a STUNNER!!! But it better be for the price it commands, the VTL 5.5 with a phono preamp is a bargain!
andr OP
109 posts
 
HAHA Dopogue,

Well my old geezer buddies are both over sixty and miss their Premier 14s. I'll have them look at this thread and ask them to finally evolve !

Regards !
pops
2,277 posts
 
Andr, don't give up on the premier 14, I've had one for years. I am a fan of the CJ musicality matched up with the articulation of a solid state amp. The premier 14 would be a big upgrade to the PV14 in every respect.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
FWIW ... I heard some cj systems not long ago... the 14 preamp, the 17, and one of the ct's... the $7k one, and the preamps were on various cj TUBE amps… the CT was on the new 170 wpc tube amp from CJ.

If neutral is the goal, these newer tube units from CJ sure offer that. If I hadn’t seen these were tubed units I’d have said it was all solid state gear from the sound I heard. Given that I’d opt for SS, this was at a dealership too, BTW. I wasn’t impressed…. Apart from the fact the 170 wpc CJ amp was driving some Quaad looking black speakers … from Australia I think.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Seriously, the difference between the 14 and the 17LS2 is not between a tubey and SS sound. I never found the 14 especially tubey and I owned it for 6 years. Not a bad linestage at all, though some of my more critical audiobuddies would beg to differ, but the 17LS2 is simply more open and dynamic with better bass and all-around more musical, however you define that. Part of the difference is the tube complement. Whatever you think of the 6922/6DJ8 family used in the 17LS and CT6, they're a darn sight better-sounding tubes than the 6GK5s used in the Premier 14. Dave
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