2. amps-preamps
  3. 1313869701

Need advice on CJ preamps

I currently have a conrad-johnson classic SE preamp. I am very happy with the sound. However, the lack of remote is a major problem for me. I have no other experience with CJ preamps so I would appreciate some advice from people with more ownership experience.

I want to upgrade to a CJ preamp that has a remote. I can go as high as $2400 used. I'm looking for basically the same rich sound this clasic SE preamp has but with a remote. If I could pay to just add remote capability to this preamp I would gladly do it, but that is not possible so I must upgrade. Which CJ preamp?

One other option is to save up for a new ET3 SE, but it's currently out of my price range.

Thanks for any advice! : )
jaxwired
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
i owned the pv14l...on its own, it is a warm, smooth pre...but in comparison to ARC Ref 3 or the later CJs, there is a clear fuzziness...i would def go with Bob Backert to mod it.
dwr
113 posts
 
Yes Lloyd thats exactly what the mods cleared up so to speak. The pre now uses 12au7 tubes and with the circuitry they modified the preamp sounds just fantastic. That was the decision I made when I had this piece modified, either keep it and have it modded or sink the equivalent amount into an ARC unit.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
You want to go with the 17ls II. The series II version has the teflon capacitors which many people feel are an improvement over the 17ls. I haven't compared the two.

You should be able to get one in the $2400 - $3000 range, I'd guess.

It uses 4 6922 tubes, so if you want to tube roll keep that in mind.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
One more thing. The 16 and 17ls (I and II) make a clicking sound when the volume is changed. Some people find this annoying and don't like these preamps for that reason.

Apparently the people at c-j felt that the sound quality that this volume mechanism produced justified the noise. Maybe someone can explain more about it.
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
Dwr,

what you describe is exactly what many people have described with Bob's work...great! and Enjoy!!!

Tomcy6,

i'm no techie...CJ use switching relays to increase the sound, where the unit switches on and off each relay as it steps up the volume. that is the clicking noise. Someone has to take it from here as to why individual relays are better...less circuitry in the way?
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