CJ PV12 AL verses CJ PV12 L

The PV-12L (c. 1993) is the line stage version of the PV-12. In 1997, these were upgraded to the PV-12A and AL models. The upgrades involved improved volume control circuits and a new biasing circuit for the input amplifier of the line stage to eliminate local feedback from the voltage amplifier.

The PV12AL is an upgraded version of the PV12L.

This is from the Conrad-Johnson website:

"The PV-12 superseded the PV11. Like its predecessor, it featured zero feedback circuits, and passive equalization in the phono stage. For the PV12, critical plate resistors are a special laser-trimmed metal foil type chosen for their extremely low noise and low inductance. The balance control is an eleven-step switch incorporating discrete resistors.

The PV-12L is a line stage version of the PV-12 without the phono section. The PV-12A/AL upgrade consisted of upgrading the volume control circuit and incorporationg a new biasing circuit for the input amplifier of the line stage. This new arrangement eliminates local feedback from the line stage voltage amplifier."

The PV12 and 12A have a phono stage and line stage, the PV12L and 12AL are line stage only with no phono stage.

Hope this helps.