That is very interesting, LL21!
I am wading into the vintage tube waters, and I hope not to drown in cost and confusion.
I am wading into the vintage tube waters, and I hope not to drown in cost and confusion.
That is very interesting, LL21!
I am wading into the vintage tube waters, and I hope not to drown in cost and confusion.
Thank you for that background, LL21.
Jim White knows I'm going to use the .23 mV output ZYX, so I'm sure he will do his best with the tubes. The stock tubes may well be perfectly okay. I have enormous confidence in Jim. I am certainly hoping that the stock tubes will be all I need.
But I am taking Kedar's and Greg Beron's suggestion to acquire some vintage tubes as back-ups. I am going to have the Io forever, so there's no harm in having a small collection of vintage tubes for it. I suspect those tubes will only get more rare and expensive over time.
So I decided after 330 hours to try a pair of 1960s Mullard 7DJ8s from Brent Jessee. This is especially a personal choice. Note: Before upgrading to CJ GAT 2, I had fine tuned my system (incl CJ GAT 1) to my ears...and this included 1960's Mullards in the GAT 1.
I did not necessarily know what to expect...in fact, given how amazing the stock Philips were (far more successful imho than the stock ElectroHarmonix stock tubes for the original CJ GAT 1)...i was kind of expecting to be putting the Mullards back in the box and returning them to Brent.
After an hour with the Mullards...so far, so fantastic. Again, its a personal preference plus, I suppose i had voiced the entire system including Mullards in the original CJ...and thus when the GAT 2 came back, on certain reference tracks (opening of Track 1 Clapton Unplugged), the audience clapping and whistling was just a teeny, teeny, TEENY bit hollow, and a bit sharp with the stock Philips in...which still sound amazingly good by the way...but just the teeniest bit sharp to my ear.
But with the Mullards, that whistling and clapping in that opening track is 'perfectly' back to natural to my ears. Who knows...maybe that track should be bit a bit sharp, but given that when this track is natural...i also find many of my other albums also sound natural (to me)...hey, that works for me.
Just another data point for those fellow CJ GAT 1 and GAT 2 owners.
The CJ GAT is one of my all-time favorite preamps. The GAT2 must be simply stunning!
Ken
Yes, the GAT is no doubt at its very best in top end pre-amplification. The series 2 is stunning no doubt, takes whatever left off in compromise to its original design and then the series 2 takes over from there. Very nicely making all the elements fits really well together.
Enjoy LL21- things will take a bit longer for you to realize its full potential.
Cheers, RJ
g'day Lloyd,
I definitely came across this as it was announced on cj owners forum as well- spearit sound was closing. When I saw their prices on the Art & the rest of the line , I nearly drove off the freeway!
Unfortunately I cannot purchase from overseas bypassing our local importer Caxton Audio / sound reference. they are the main importers / distributors for cj, and I personally know these chaps since 2004. I been one of their good customers paying in high priced Aussie $$$ for cj gear...
There are a few people over here who have done this and imported into Aus. The moment they get to know, which eventually happens, due to tube replacements and so... caxton won't touch it! no warranty either and definitely no service support. I think they want to do things ethically and what is right by protecting the local business.
if this wasn't an issue, I would have had both the Gat and Art in one purchase, no sweat!
another major problem is cost-insurance-freight referred to as cif. This is another point where customs slams heavy duties knowing that you have purchased something of high value into the country from overseas. Some people go to the extent by "under-invoicing" the actual bill, to avoid such fees. but actually this is deception and I for one certainly don't want to be in trouble waters with customs officials. they're not dumb when it comes to high valued items.
hence, why I always say how dam lucky you guys are in the US of A!
high-end bargains all the way...
Cheers LL & enjoy that Gat2
RJ
Just as a sanity check, i put in one Mullard (Left Channel) and one stock Phillips (Right Channel). Infinite repeat of various passages where Left and Right seem to carry the same signal. No question now...for me and in my system...the Mullard adds the right amount of additional tonal depth and 'power' behind guitar strings that bring greater realism to the presentation. There is no question that at first listen, one might sense detail/air around the Philips...but upon closer listening the detail is comparable, but the Mullard 'weight' in the tones/notes is very very critical (to me) in ensuring that presentation has the 'weight' and impact of live. The Philips is incredibly nimble and really gives the overall presentation of clarity/transparency...but in the final analysis (to me and in my system) is just a shade 'lite' in comparison with the NOS Mullards.
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