G'day to all tube lovers, and c-j fans.
Ok, well after a good break and few weeks off it was a real treat to experience some great new gear from c-j. The list as follows:
power amps: LP260m, ARTsa+, ART monoblocks, LP125sa, and ClassicSE, plus Lamm monoblocks (dealer's personnel system with Quads! too exciting to even talk about...).
Preamps: ACT2 series 2, ART, GAT and ET5, and a few other preamps lying around from Audio Note, McIntosh and Ayre.
Speakers: various types & brands from, SF & ML's to Wilson's; to mention some that stood out were Quad, Martin Logan, and the new Alexia and Duette.
Digital Sources: ranged from Puccini & Weiss Dacs, music servers from Naim & Wadia, and SACD units from McIntosh, Meitner, Ayre and Marantz.
Analogue Sources: mostly two brands from VPI, and another personnel favourite from Linn. A few other ones hooked up from McIntosh and Project used for demo as well.
Cables and Interconnects: mostly from Nordost, and MIT, including a few iterations from Transparent and Audioquest.
Power conditioning / AC power distribution blocks: mostly from Nordost, Transparent Tec, and MIT.
One thing I noticed, the people that mostly dealt with c-j gear, had the simpler systems installed, and the demo was outstanding! One that remains faithful in terms of actual scale, and very high quality palpable imaging was with Quad electrostats, the GAT and Lamm signature series SET monoblocks. Another fantastic overall sound, which to me also had zero listener fatigue, was the new Alexia or was it the Shasha series III..., they nearly look alike. Another fantastic system for a dynamic driver type, the Duette, which to me outshines other expensive driver types by a far margin! Yes, I think it was the Alexia and they are beauties! Driven with the ART amps and GAT, this was an exceptional performance with classical music.
Another thing I noticed, is that the S-pore dollar and Aussie dollar are not too far away. Just a few bucks difference, and it seems like our $AUD has definitely dropped... At the end of the day, my dealer buddy did give me a fantastic offer for the ARTsa but I was too fixated on the Lamm's! I also did a quick costing on shipping, insurance and customs clearing, nope not worth it. Plus after sales service is going to be a question when I need it in Aus. So, I just headed to Tiffany's and bought the "good wife" a nice diamond ring, and yes, she's dam happy!
I have decided to hold off all purchases, since my new experiences with SET amps from Lamm, in a proper set up with the very same electrostats that I have worked so wonderfully well, has now put me completely off the rails... Although the ART amps were awesome, plus the new LP260m's, that GAT and Lamm combination is something like honey drizzled on your favourite Ben & Jerry's!
A new target has been formed gentlemen! The Lamm it is; but for now I am totally content with my humble MV60se, ACT2 and Quad combination, just one thing missing, ah! yes that cigar and scotch...
Have a good one fellas, enjoy your music.
Cheers, RJ
Ok, well after a good break and few weeks off it was a real treat to experience some great new gear from c-j. The list as follows:
power amps: LP260m, ARTsa+, ART monoblocks, LP125sa, and ClassicSE, plus Lamm monoblocks (dealer's personnel system with Quads! too exciting to even talk about...).
Preamps: ACT2 series 2, ART, GAT and ET5, and a few other preamps lying around from Audio Note, McIntosh and Ayre.
Speakers: various types & brands from, SF & ML's to Wilson's; to mention some that stood out were Quad, Martin Logan, and the new Alexia and Duette.
Digital Sources: ranged from Puccini & Weiss Dacs, music servers from Naim & Wadia, and SACD units from McIntosh, Meitner, Ayre and Marantz.
Analogue Sources: mostly two brands from VPI, and another personnel favourite from Linn. A few other ones hooked up from McIntosh and Project used for demo as well.
Cables and Interconnects: mostly from Nordost, and MIT, including a few iterations from Transparent and Audioquest.
Power conditioning / AC power distribution blocks: mostly from Nordost, Transparent Tec, and MIT.
One thing I noticed, the people that mostly dealt with c-j gear, had the simpler systems installed, and the demo was outstanding! One that remains faithful in terms of actual scale, and very high quality palpable imaging was with Quad electrostats, the GAT and Lamm signature series SET monoblocks. Another fantastic overall sound, which to me also had zero listener fatigue, was the new Alexia or was it the Shasha series III..., they nearly look alike. Another fantastic system for a dynamic driver type, the Duette, which to me outshines other expensive driver types by a far margin! Yes, I think it was the Alexia and they are beauties! Driven with the ART amps and GAT, this was an exceptional performance with classical music.
Another thing I noticed, is that the S-pore dollar and Aussie dollar are not too far away. Just a few bucks difference, and it seems like our $AUD has definitely dropped... At the end of the day, my dealer buddy did give me a fantastic offer for the ARTsa but I was too fixated on the Lamm's! I also did a quick costing on shipping, insurance and customs clearing, nope not worth it. Plus after sales service is going to be a question when I need it in Aus. So, I just headed to Tiffany's and bought the "good wife" a nice diamond ring, and yes, she's dam happy!
I have decided to hold off all purchases, since my new experiences with SET amps from Lamm, in a proper set up with the very same electrostats that I have worked so wonderfully well, has now put me completely off the rails... Although the ART amps were awesome, plus the new LP260m's, that GAT and Lamm combination is something like honey drizzled on your favourite Ben & Jerry's!
A new target has been formed gentlemen! The Lamm it is; but for now I am totally content with my humble MV60se, ACT2 and Quad combination, just one thing missing, ah! yes that cigar and scotch...
Have a good one fellas, enjoy your music.
Cheers, RJ