I've owned the CAT, I currently own a Sonic Frontiers Line 3, a Hovland HP-100, a Blue Circle, I just sold an Aesthetix Io phono stage and have heard the cj you mention. In my own system, (Lamm M1.1s, Sonic Frontiers Transport 3 and Processor 3, VPI TNT-V and Hales T8s) the Hovland is my favorite. It is wondefully liquid and musical but has a great extended high end that is not bright or edgy. I think it is more detailed and extended than the cj, less in your face forward than the CAT, more musical than the Line 3. BUT, if you like the cj sound or your system tends toward the bright or over-analytical, you may be happier with the cj. Also, if you do analog, the phono section in the Hovland is INCREDIBLE!! I do not feel I have lost anything by selling my $7,000 Aesthetix Io (even though the Hovland is only $6,500 for both line and phono stage). Again, system matching personal preferences and musical tastes all make for having to take this advice with a grain of salt.
