Hey mate, how's it going?
Yes I understand when you say someday, as it would be a definite upgrade to the series 2 but I could happily live with just the Gat and Artsa, one superb pre-power combination I have tried with the quads, simply marvelous.
The Kondo amps are a completely different league of its own. The materials used are probably the best and most expensive in the world to use in audio design. pure silver wire right throughout, plus some very exotic caps that I have never seen before. I wouldn't compare Kondo to cj simply because the price points are too far. top of the line Kondo monoblocks called the ongaku go for around 200 grand! This is even more than the Lamm's, and the Lamm's were one glorious amps that I liked very much. The Kondo entry level is their overture amp- EL34 push-pull ultralinear 32w/ch integrated but boy does it sound more like a 100 watter! it has multiple transformers something like 4, plus the materials used are superb. The workmanship is second to none and Australia doesn't have a service centre, if there's a problem you have to ship all the way over to Japan hq. The starting price is around 32 grand, there is a demo unit that I can get for around 20 grand and I was extremely tempted BUT I have to give thought first to the loveable wifey and daughter before just going after audio. This is something I have decided and not to just jump into things.
but my golly that Kondo is something else. The entire presentation and presence is so lifelike you can get up and touch each performer. right now, how I have listed my top 3 in amplification is as follows:
1. cj- Artsa and Gat s2 as overall best sound for value.
2. Lamm ml 2 or 3 series in terms of flexibility and the ability to drive even difficult loads. of course comes at a price but there are Lamm hybrids available to choose from a range of ss amplification that can drive difficult loads and sound equally impressive.
3. kondo- ongaku, kogaru or their entry level overture are remarkable! The price is definitely ridiculous but the sound & soundstage is nothing like I've heard before.
in terms of what I or normal people with families could afford to be sota, my first choice would no doubt be cj. Having said that, if only I had a few extra dollars- the kondo would be number one. frankly speaking, I don't think there is anything out there that comes close or could compare because kondo was not made to compete or compare, rather to be submerged in the very essence of music.
I only listened to the kondo amps with sf strads and the maxima, I can only imagine how they would sound through top of the line stats or magnepans or other top notch speakers like avant garde horns...
they are something remarkable and something you actually don't see all the time. The other thing is many get it confused over Audio note because at one point they were working together long time ago. AN se amps also looked the same but by far they sound nothing like a kondo design. as you say Lloyd someday is definitely "someday".
Cheers mate and take it easy.
rj