Conrad Johnson PV8-Preamp
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:12 pm
The PV8 came up on the market from 1988 to 1990,following the PV5 and I got this unit 2years ago close to a Uk "gentleman" who had been using this unit for 20 years partnered with an ADCOM GFA 555 amp and a pair of BW801 lounspeakers. He was absolutely enthousiast about the sound of this preamp and decided to sell it due to the lack of space within the house for the whole system.....he had to choose between the CJ ...or his wife! (not the same kind of love) 
Apart from the technical specs, the separate units or combo has to be designed in using "button" I absolutely need to turn a" button" and not a "remote " it is psychologic....
the PV series from the PV1 to the PV12 suits to me in term of sensitive control.
Second standart feature of the PV8 is the quality of the phono stage integreted since the vinyl is an alternative to 30% of my current recording support linked in interface with a MC cartritge T20 transformer (low impedance) Ortofon to keep" full tube" cicuit from very low signal input adjusted to the line level...
In the other hand the whole set of tube remains original GE 5751,5965 and practical experience shared with a number of users confirms that the PV8 gives its best with GE tube and pay justice to its original sound character.
lisening:
For those who know the "old "CJ sound I would say that the PV8 (as well as the PV9A )has a unique capabilitie to higlight the rythm ,strong matters and" space breathing" between instrument, the trumpet energy is "organic" (chet Baker solo ) or the guitar in the Blues OF BB king is ....the attacks are impressive, the weight of the music effective. this characteristic come from of the frequency response whitch has a little "loundness effect" and gives the "rock and roll character of the PV8 different of the PV5 (ah PV5 lovely cymbals decay!)since less "caramel" and more neutral. The PV8 is less accurate /transparent than the PV11or PV12, the soundstage larger but at the end we need both.
Its current partnership with the MV60SE gives a well balanced and natural sounstage with strong dynamic to lead many kind of loundspeakers
Anyway ,at the end as told me one of my friend who had all the CJ range, a CJ is always "musical" what ever the generation is....
Apart from the technical specs, the separate units or combo has to be designed in using "button" I absolutely need to turn a" button" and not a "remote " it is psychologic....
the PV series from the PV1 to the PV12 suits to me in term of sensitive control.Second standart feature of the PV8 is the quality of the phono stage integreted since the vinyl is an alternative to 30% of my current recording support linked in interface with a MC cartritge T20 transformer (low impedance) Ortofon to keep" full tube" cicuit from very low signal input adjusted to the line level...
In the other hand the whole set of tube remains original GE 5751,5965 and practical experience shared with a number of users confirms that the PV8 gives its best with GE tube and pay justice to its original sound character.
lisening:
For those who know the "old "CJ sound I would say that the PV8 (as well as the PV9A )has a unique capabilitie to higlight the rythm ,strong matters and" space breathing" between instrument, the trumpet energy is "organic" (chet Baker solo ) or the guitar in the Blues OF BB king is ....the attacks are impressive, the weight of the music effective. this characteristic come from of the frequency response whitch has a little "loundness effect" and gives the "rock and roll character of the PV8 different of the PV5 (ah PV5 lovely cymbals decay!)since less "caramel" and more neutral. The PV8 is less accurate /transparent than the PV11or PV12, the soundstage larger but at the end we need both.
Its current partnership with the MV60SE gives a well balanced and natural sounstage with strong dynamic to lead many kind of loundspeakers
Anyway ,at the end as told me one of my friend who had all the CJ range, a CJ is always "musical" what ever the generation is....