Nice one Lloyd!
Sorry for the late reply and thanks for your PM. (was a bit busy with work and all that, plus we have had a superb week of finals in both AFL (Aussie Rules footy) and the NRL (National Rugby League) and most superb of all- the Melbourne Storm won! I am a huge fan of the Storm and I used to play the game myself, once very long ago...
Speaking of "superb" CJ has made many superb sounding preamps- Premier 6, PV12, 16LS, Premier 14, CT5, ACT2 and the legendary ART preamp, which I have had the pleasure of listening /co-owning along with a superb ribbon transducer from Apogee (Diva's). Now this system is no more and my pops is also getting along... times have changed, priorities have changed, systems have changed and will continue to evolve, no matter what series is offered...
One thing for sure is- when I first heard the ART pre, I knew straight away that this is something that allows the music to flow unhindered in total engagement, captivating your full attention and will allow you to relax and listen into the music, not just listen. It will stir all the emotional content found in good recordings and deliver the artistry behind what the artist/s are trying to portray through a high quality recording. Even though bad recordings would still sound pretty good on the ART pre, high quality recordings are just marvelous to listen to and appreciate what the original artists are presenting in whatever form/type of music they represent. (hence, why that unknown Iranian group on a well recorded CD sounded superb on the CLX's in Kostas system, and my old pops had heard music like this live when he actually visited Iran back then.)
After the ART pre, many other high quality pre's came and went, plus my own system changed over the years, and I relocated countries over the years and now I have the most simplest of all systems I ever had, and enjoying it more than anything I have previously ever owned. I must though, there will never be another ART pre...
Until, I actually had the absolute pleasure of listening to the GAT2, which was after having the GAT1 at home for a very short while. 4 weeks was all I had with both of these units, and the moment I powered up the GAT2- oh my golly! this is the ART sound in its best form! The ART pre has been re-lived / resurrected and continues to forge ahead by conveying the music in its purest form. It will not color any notes, it will not boost or enhance any notes, rather it will simply deliver what's on the recording.
A good mate of mine who used to work at CJ before, and was the technical chief at the time (Ed D) told me that the very basic job of a preamp is for switching between sources, and whiles switching it must not alter the signal in any way, unless it was designed to, in which case it would have a "signature" sort of sound. He also mentioned, that if you could do without a preamp or line stage altogether, this would be the cleanest possible path however the gain stage would be non-active, hence may lose some initial output. If transducers are of high efficiency and are capable of capturing every single note and the rest of the system can deliver what's on the recording to "your" personal listening levels, then this added gain stage is not required.
The ART, GAT and GAT2 are based around this design principal, keeping active circuits as simple as possible, with only one active gain stage- should deliver the cleanest possible path. The ACT2 on the other hand was like a PV12 on steroids, and to me I actually preferred the Classic pre (no remote, no balance control, no bells & whistles) just a simple level & input selector- is all that is required from a "good preamp." Now, having the CAV45 with a high efficient speaker system, I don't need a pre and I find the level of clarity second to none.
With your current system- Wilson & Gryphon, and now with the GAT2, this will be all you would ever require to capture the best from your favorite recordings. The Wilson's don't miss anything, they are very transparent and will deliver all that is required (as you are aware of). The Gryphon amp is one superb beast that can drive and control the Wilson's to great affect, and to top that all up, you have the GAT2 that will hold everything nicely together. It will offer you more transparency, greater resolution and some superb depth in soundstage that you would have thought was already at its best- until you heard the GAT2. This my friend is the arena of the ART pre, and only the ART was able to deliver that, and with a top notch speaker system, that realization is quite apparent.
Enjoy to the fullest Lloyd, for it won't be long until CJ tops this one, and it will take quite a huge effort to better it, even if attempted. The GAT2 has not only replaced the ART but also improved on it in every sonic sense. Not to day that the ART is not up to par- it certainly is! and will remain as one of CJ's massive cornerstones in reference quality pre-amplification.
The GAT2 is just a slight notch above that, in terms of finer tuning.
When I had to return the unit back to the original owner, (who returned from his overseas trip), I just couldn't let it go... It had such a huge affect on me and the system, without it was like losing a component altogether and one that made the system so utterly transparent, it was hard to imagine listening without it! Anyway, as my priorities changed, life's events also changed, and now I find myself enjoying the music once again.
Keep this one Lloyd, for you don't know what you've got until you've lost it! This one's a keeper and as I said before and my good mate Ed, there will never be another ART, but then there's the GAT series 2, ah! Nice one CJ and well done to Lew and his team- superb!
Cheers and all the best Lloyd, you will be amazed at what it will do for you in time to come...
RJ
