CJ CT-5 vs. CT-6


Good Day All-

owners, is there a difference (other than cost factor) between
the Conrad Johnson CT-5 and CT-6 preamp(s)?
128x128jafant
Jafant,

You will have to ask Bill or Lew the specific reasons why these two products were released in the same time period at the upcoming CES show in January. I believe that they were appealing to two different markets: the CT-5 to the A.R.T. inclined crown, and the CT-6 to the budget/high-end crowd, where CJ has always excelled IMO but seldom sells enough units to be profitable.

Both amps are excellent. But in my opinion the CT-6 is simply too close to the sound of the CT-5, compared to the difference in original price. It's an even better bargain now, as the street price seems to have depreciated a little more than the CT-5.

I wouldn't kick either one out of bed.
LOL. I presume that you are wearing the requisite fake arrow-thru-the-head while you typed this?
I guess I would qualify as a owner of both the CT6 & CT5 so I will comment. I owned the CT6 with a pair of Harbeth SHl5's and it was an outstanding performer. I then switched to a very revealing speaker and with the CT6 something was missing. I then bought a CT5 and with my new speakers the magic was back. Moral of the story if you have really revealing speakers the CT5 will shine otherwise the CT6 will sound great with a less revealing speaker.