Told you Dopogue. Your conviction is awfully contaminating. Can't argue with you. From what I understand, from you and my buddies, Premier 14 is the last preamp of the old CJ sound. Long time adepts of this brand consider it as the last affordable (on the used market) bloomy, syrupy CJ preamp. For them,everything after that one became too detailed, focused, in brief too neutral and SS sounding.
I'm kind of stuck in the middle. My buddies have been of CJ for more than 20 years and they are the ones that introduced me to tube sound, their own tube sound. But it doesn't mean I am a pure CJ adept and I'm exploring. For the time beeing, I've discovered the VTL 5.5 is the closest thing to the old CJ sound with a little less roll off in the highs. It's dynamics and airness is probably close to a CT6 or 17 LS1. But how far is it from those, sonically considering the MSRP is lower than the CJ's. I know, mainly from your comments, that the 17LS2 is going to bring everything further. It is a classic and a long term investment but will it chase out my good buddies from my listening room ? HAHA that could be a break ! I know it is going to be more neutral, more neutral than the 17 LS1 but I don't know by how much.
The thing that confuses me is the fact you changed from your praised 17 LS2 to a Calypso. Now that one I've tried in my system and I got fatigued in 10 minutes. Much too detailed in the highs for me. I couldn't hear the richness of the midrange anymore, totally eclipsed by the incredible dynamics in the high and lower frequencies.I'd probably appreciated it more with some tube rolling or cable changes but still. If you tell me the 17 LS2 represents the rest area between a syrupy Premier 14 and a Calypso, well I know at least on which road I will keep rolling.
Thanks for all comments until now !
