Search found 205 matches

by tonye
Fri Feb 23, 2024 12:34 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: Suggestions on a preamp for CJ 2275SE amp?
Replies: 54
Views: 4258

Re: Suggestions on a preamp for CJ 2275SE amp?

A PV10 for $1300 is way OVERPRiCED. The seller is fishing for fools.

I got the PV9, with phono stage, which is a much better preamp. At the time, the pV9 was 3200 bucks. Over the years i've added the full Teflon cap job and complete restoration from the Factory ( by Ed himself ). The diodes and ...
by tonye
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:52 pm
Forum: Preamps
Topic: ET3SE volume gain settings
Replies: 7
Views: 949

Re: ET3SE volume gain settings

Thanks guys.... I'll write this down somewhere.

Yes, it seems like my memory is not shot yet! ;-)

Combined with a DIY First Watt F4, ( unity gain ) the ET3E and PV9 will put out a lot of power! At full output into 98 ohms, the combination could put out 50w, but the F4 is current limited... so with ...
by tonye
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:14 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: ET3SE volume gain settings
Replies: 7
Views: 949

Re: ET3SE volume gain settings

Hmm... no, not the fixed gain phono stage. That's the gain from the cartridge level to the line level.

I'm asking about the gain of the line stage. The volume operates on a resistor ladder. I think each "step" is like 0.7db, or something like that.

There are 99 steps, I think. Unity gain is around ...
by tonye
Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:57 pm
Forum: Preamps
Topic: ET3SE volume gain settings
Replies: 7
Views: 949

ET3SE volume gain settings

I know I asked this before, and someone answered it, but I can't find it.

What are the gain settings for the ET3SE?

I think it's unity around 64 or something like that?

I'm having some issues using a somewhat picky SIT amp with 28db of gain... it has smoked twice already (*)... so I need to ...
by tonye
Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Audio Research CJ synergy
Replies: 15
Views: 30996

Re: Audio Research CJ synergy

To be honest.. I'm not sold on current ARC gear at all. They've gone too High End... I prefer the old D70/D125 and VT50/100/200 sound... and the Classic 30/60. The amps were simpler, less money spent on cosmetics, more money spent on the stuff inside.

Although. the D70-II is, IMHO, still the best ...
by tonye
Fri Dec 29, 2023 7:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Audio Research CJ synergy
Replies: 15
Views: 30996

Re: Audio Research CJ synergy

For many years, I've had an ARC D70-II and a CJ PV9. For about 20 years they were tied together. At some point I updated the PV9 with teflon caps, while the D70 was on a 3-4 year diet of Sovtek/Svetlana 6500 and ancillary. The PV9 also got Russkie tubes, but I sourced those from the factory.

The ...
by tonye
Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:00 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

Try the old Aleph 2 amps... excellent over the Maggie 1.7s.

However, for the Maggies 3s and above you need more power.... Aleph 1.2s if you can find them.

As I recall, the XA amps go into push/pull?
by tonye
Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:38 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

What was the preamp in that system?

Solid state can be good, but it has to be class A and then the components need to have been chosen.... I find tubes and FETs go hand in hand very nicely.

If you can find one, try the First Watt SIT-1, 2 or 3.. Solid state triode sound. You will need 90+ db/w ...
by tonye
Fri Nov 10, 2023 12:50 am
Forum: Preamps
Topic: PV8 in need of transistors
Replies: 3
Views: 1724

Re: PV8 in need of transistors

by tonye
Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:59 pm
Forum: Non-CJ Products-Audio
Topic: Interconnects Needed, Recommendations?
Replies: 9
Views: 3894

Re: Interconnects Needed, Recommendations?


Hello All,

My System consists of an ET5 and pair of P12's. Holo Spring 3 DAC and my own DIY 12/3 speakers. I want to upgrade my interconnects. I currently have VanDen Hul from the 1980's. Need recommendations for a RCA budget $650 (prefer used) 1.5m. This will go between DAC and Pre. Thanks ...
by tonye
Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:25 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

The "premade boards like the NC122MP" are eval boards.... so that's how they work. Fun stuff to play with.

BTW, I literally smoked the right channel of my super duper macho XA-252 SIT ( a clone version of the Pass Labs XA25 with SIT ). The builder burnt it in for two weeks, but when I got it, I put ...
by tonye
Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:59 am
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

This "tube" is NOT a tube... it's a Class D device using a MOSFET and a solid state filter... somehow housed into a tube like enclosure.

I happen to have an NCore eval board, NC122MP OEM, which puts out 125 (4 ohms) wpc and with the case runs about 500 bucks.... there's also the NC250MP OEM which ...
by tonye
Wed Sep 27, 2023 7:33 pm
Forum: Preamps
Topic: ET3 On The Way...
Replies: 20
Views: 13986

Re: ET3 On The Way...

@paolo.... if you plan on keeping the ET3, i STRONGLY recommend the SE upgrade.

Besides, you get to have fun with Jasmine. ;-)
by tonye
Wed Sep 27, 2023 4:45 pm
Forum: Preamps
Topic: ET3 On The Way...
Replies: 20
Views: 13986

Re: ET3 On The Way...

What do you mean preamp at "1 or 2"...

You mean the ET3SE display at "1" or "2"?

The gain of the Premier 11 is 25.7 db, that's almost a 20 time gain on input to output.

The gain of the ET3SE line stage is 25db as well.... so you got a maximum system gain of 400x (in volts) from source input to ...
by tonye
Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:55 pm
Forum: Member Presentation Thread
Topic: First CJ on the way - CAV45 S2
Replies: 4
Views: 2938

Re: First CJ on the way - CAV45 S2

Congratulations... welcome to a more straightforward sound, brighter than the Cayin. Outstanding soundstaging.

The "integrated" form factor, ie: "control amplifier" is very optimized design with just the gain you need. Less overall gain that "standard" preamp/amp combos so they have less noise ...
by tonye
Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:21 pm
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

There's nothing wrong with long posts... so long as they are not long rants. I like to think about things... and one of the issues that I have with the "instant gratification" crowd is how they limit their reactions ( I won't call it thoughts ) to 256 character text messages. I truly enjoy long ...
by tonye
Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:19 am
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

RJ, Roberto, et al-

I'm not saying that tubes don't sound good... in fact, a tube push pull design will outdo the vast majority of SS designs (0), even stuff being sold into the Ultra High End to people who have lots more money than brains. But, there are SS designs that are not mainstream that ...
by tonye
Mon Sep 25, 2023 12:36 am
Forum: General Discussion - CJ related topics
Topic: Oh! For the love of tubes!
Replies: 87
Views: 56976

Re: Oh! For the love of tubes!

Look, I like the sound of tubes.... BUT, anyone who says there's no SS competition just hasn't listened to a SIT amplifier....

Imagine triode like sound with 35 wpc and reliability.

The problem? Well, they are unobtanium, they don't make them any more. If you look you can find them, still. But ...
by tonye
Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:31 am
Forum: Member Systems Gallery
Topic: Mini System with PV-14L and MV-55
Replies: 25
Views: 11495

Re: Mini System with PV-14L and MV-55

Yes, those ML speakers with their ribbon have been on my radar for a while too. Every so often they go on sale or you find a used pair.

BTW, did CJ ever build a tuner?

I got the PV9 and the MF2100 that I could set up with my ADS L810s. Running an Android->USB-OTG->Nuforce uDAC2 for analog ...