G'day Maties, greetings from Melb;
Although I have been extremely pleased with how the system is settling in very nicely, especially the CLX's driven with CJ monoblocks, and having placed in the Genalex Gold Lions 6922 driver tubes on both monoblocks, they're sounding superb!
All was going well until... I received a call from my trusted CJ buddy, who happens to have the LP275m's and a wonderful CT5. I know this preamp very well and am very keen to go for one, since I've previously had the ACT2 for quite a number of years. Therefore, I'm well aware of the sound quality in all three preamps.
When I say three, they're as follows:
1. ET7
2. ET5
3. CT5
PV15 (currently using)
Now I have the opportunity to go for either one of these, and although I've listed them in order from 1 to 3, it doesn't necessarily correspond to their sound and my preference. Although I spent quite a while with each one of these pre's, I very much prefered the sound of the CT5, and the PV15, which I'm currently using.
I noticed the ET7 & 5 are very fine preamps, such that they bring out the best of the music, unhindered, clearer, with a very smooth overall drive factor to it, such that they control the monoblocks very efficiently.
On another note, the CT5 uses the notorious 6N30P tube, which I'm very used but was temperamental with the ACT2. Outstanding performance I must say but very erratic in reliability. Over the years the ACT2 went through a few fixes, plus an upgrade but still had its moments, and the most annoying one of them all, was that hiss...!
Now with the PV15 in place, very high level of musicality from the wonderful sounding Mullards M8080's, that lush mid-range and extended airy highs, with a musical low bass to it, not a heft and thump compared to the ACT2 or CT5, and the best of all, zero hiss!
Now my question is to the experts:
1. Is it worth while considering the CT5?
2. Should I pass on the CT5 and focus more towards the ET5 or ET7?
3. Should I just forget the whole thing and just enjoy the PV15 as is, and as I've been doing (highly recommended by the wifey).
Another thing I was wondering is at what percentage of improvement would I achieve? Would it be only around 10-15%... Unlike power-amps, where the performance improvement was much higher, therefore the upgrade was more justifiable to me and made more sense.
Am I going around in circles between these preamps, in which case I might as well wait it out and settle for a GAT ultimately.
What's the best advise here and which preamp is going to deliver the highest level of performance improvement overall?
Cheers, RJ
Although I have been extremely pleased with how the system is settling in very nicely, especially the CLX's driven with CJ monoblocks, and having placed in the Genalex Gold Lions 6922 driver tubes on both monoblocks, they're sounding superb!
All was going well until... I received a call from my trusted CJ buddy, who happens to have the LP275m's and a wonderful CT5. I know this preamp very well and am very keen to go for one, since I've previously had the ACT2 for quite a number of years. Therefore, I'm well aware of the sound quality in all three preamps.
When I say three, they're as follows:
1. ET7
2. ET5
3. CT5
PV15 (currently using)
Now I have the opportunity to go for either one of these, and although I've listed them in order from 1 to 3, it doesn't necessarily correspond to their sound and my preference. Although I spent quite a while with each one of these pre's, I very much prefered the sound of the CT5, and the PV15, which I'm currently using.
I noticed the ET7 & 5 are very fine preamps, such that they bring out the best of the music, unhindered, clearer, with a very smooth overall drive factor to it, such that they control the monoblocks very efficiently.
On another note, the CT5 uses the notorious 6N30P tube, which I'm very used but was temperamental with the ACT2. Outstanding performance I must say but very erratic in reliability. Over the years the ACT2 went through a few fixes, plus an upgrade but still had its moments, and the most annoying one of them all, was that hiss...!
Now with the PV15 in place, very high level of musicality from the wonderful sounding Mullards M8080's, that lush mid-range and extended airy highs, with a musical low bass to it, not a heft and thump compared to the ACT2 or CT5, and the best of all, zero hiss!
Now my question is to the experts:
1. Is it worth while considering the CT5?
2. Should I pass on the CT5 and focus more towards the ET5 or ET7?
3. Should I just forget the whole thing and just enjoy the PV15 as is, and as I've been doing (highly recommended by the wifey).
Another thing I was wondering is at what percentage of improvement would I achieve? Would it be only around 10-15%... Unlike power-amps, where the performance improvement was much higher, therefore the upgrade was more justifiable to me and made more sense.
Am I going around in circles between these preamps, in which case I might as well wait it out and settle for a GAT ultimately.
What's the best advise here and which preamp is going to deliver the highest level of performance improvement overall?
Cheers, RJ