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tube amp recommendation for speaker rig

post #1 of 10
5/3/06 at 9:36pm
Thread Starter 
does anyone have experience with a conrad johnson mv60se? all the reviews point towards it being a serious consideration for what i like...sweet midrange and a big 3d soundstage. i am looking used in the $1800 range...any other tubed amps to recommend for these 2 priorities...i've also considered rogue m-120 mono blocks...but i feel more comfortable with the cj brand. never heard cary or vac or bat all of which offer models in my price range on the used market.

mostly nervous how a tubed amp will drive 87db speakers. again buying used so talking to a salesman is kind of out of the box.

i can blame all of this trouble on singlepower who made me fall head over heals for tubes!!!
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post #2 of 10
5/3/06 at 9:50pm
I had the CJ 11a 70 watt per amp,moved up to the Cj12s which are 140 watt.
with a 87 db speaker the MV60se will drive them,but you may run out of headroom.
Love the Cj amps,I have owned a few.What is the speaker impedence,If it swings more then 2 ohms it will be tougher to drive.
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post #3 of 10
5/3/06 at 10:18pm
Thread Starter 
thanks bozebuttons...we met at the NJ meet a few months back...february/march. i am running spendor s8e's...they are 8 and only dip to 7...so that shouldn't be too much trouble. the dealer i bought them from uses VAC monoblocks with the classic series speakers, but they are similar in load.

what preamp do you use with them...down the road i am looking into the pv15. but that is down the road.

i now understand why people think about set systems with high imp speakers. i have fallen head over heals for spendors though and want to emphasize their sweet midrange.
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post #4 of 10
5/3/06 at 10:23pm
Bozebuttons>Are the cj's powerful enough to drive the Martin Logan Electrostats?
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post #5 of 10
5/3/06 at 10:39pm
BAT VK-60s pop up on audiogon for $1500 or so fairly often that might be an option. I had actually been considering going that route but in the end decided to buy new and bought a pair of primaluna prologue six monoblocs.
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post #6 of 10
5/3/06 at 11:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkam
BAT VK-60s pop up on audiogon for $1500 or so fairly often that might be an option. I had actually been considering going that route but in the end decided to buy new and bought a pair of primaluna prologue six monoblocs.

i thought about the BAT's...they have a great reputation. since i buy used primarily i always try and get the latest version of a component from a given company...the vk-60 is one generation old...replaced by the vk-55 (quite a bit more expensive). this is perhaps rediculous but every time i upgrade to a new amp i hear marked improvements...the cj 60se is their latest offering as far as i am aware. i was reading their web site and had to laugh because the new cost is roughly 3k and they were talking about the amp being a great starting place for people new to tube amps...or great for a second system in a seasoned audiophile's house. the day i put a 3k amp into a second system will either be the day i'm divorced or the day i have a job that is not my current one!

enough babble...how do you like the primaluna's? they've reviewed really well. i was very interested in them as well.

one other factor that i should mention...part of my special interest in cj is that thier pre amps have a unity gain setting for bypass to a HT receiver, which is a mandate for my combined a/v system...currently i am running a musical fidelity a5 integrated that has this feature and i love the flexability! it gives me tolerance by the wife...she and i both love movies.
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post #7 of 10
5/4/06 at 12:11am
Actually the vk-60 was replaced by the vk-75, the vk-55 is meant to be BAT's "entry-level" amp.

The primalunas are extremely musical and fun amps. I've been very happy with them. My speakers are rather efficient at 94db but with 70 watts the monoblocs can drive most speakers with ease.
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post #8 of 10
5/4/06 at 1:35am
How many watts do the CJ amps put out, how big is your listening room and how loud do you like it? These are all important. I have a pair of Joseph Audio RM-7/si mini monitors that have the same sensitivity and impedance as your speakers. I drive them with an Anthem Int-1 integrated amp that puts out a whopping 25 watts per channel. It drives my speakers to levels louder than I can listen to in a 25' x 15' room. It is a tube amp with 8 EL-84's as the output tubes.

So I think that the CJ amps will work for you unless you have a huge room and/or listen at very loud levels.

Regards,

-ken
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post #9 of 10
5/4/06 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 
hi ken...glad to hear of you experience...my room is similar, but with a 12' ceiling...but it sounds as though it will be sufficient. the 60se puts out 55 watts.

i just ordered the amp!!! should have it by next friday.

thanks for helping me take some fear out of the situation.

chad
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post #10 of 10
5/4/06 at 8:13pm
Hi Chad,

I'm now in a smaller room but the larger room had a sloped ceiling. At its lowest, it was probably about 8' but got up to 12' or more at its highest.

I think that it will be fine. If not, you have a reason to upgrade!

Regards,

-ken
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