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Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a-a good used amp?

Hi. I am considering purchase of a C-J Premier 11a (used, there are a couple up on a-gon right now) and was wondering what the consensus on this amp is? I have relatively easy to drive Soliloquy 6.3's, and my listening tastes are mostly jazz and orchestra, at moderate volumes. I have a wonderful tube preamp (EE Minimax) that I would like to mate with a musical, yet detailed amp. I don't want something toooo lush/syrupy, but kind of a liquid, yet detailed sound (which is exactly what the Minimax is for a preamp). In my system, I have had a McCormack DNA-125 (nice amp, but not detailed enough and has some grain) and audioned a PS Audio HCA-2 (very nice amp-great detail and extension, nice liquid presentation for SS), but many owners documented troubles turned me off).

How does the Premier 11a stack up against these? Is it more "new-school" tubes (detailed with a rich presentation)or more old-school (excessively warm and lush)? Thanks!
chiho
gregadd
574 posts
 
built like a brick outhouse and will drive a nail. i just purchased a used one off a-gon. no problem. mine has kt-88's but they usually come with 6550. CJ has steadily moved away from thier house sound. You still could pick thier amps out of a crowd. not lush at all. new school i guess.
naimfan
166 posts
 
It has been a little while since I heard an 11a, but I was VERY impressed with it--it sounded great. Built well, CJ can still service them, and represent essentially "free" hifi. By that I mean that if you get one and don't like it, you can almost certainly sell it for what you own it for.

I've not heard it compared to either amp you mention, though I've heard the McCormack. I'd agree that it's closer to "new school."

Best,

Bob
lak's avatar
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lak
4,537 posts
 
The CJ 11-A is an EXCELLENT amp!
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I owned one and loved it. I was driving a pair of Thiel 3.6's and it wasn't quite enough power for them hence the reason for selling. However mid to high end detail was supberb with only the bass end lacking a bit. I listen to primarily classical (symphonic and chamber pieces) and female jazz vocals at moderate volumes. Still sorry I sold it!!!!!!! And as naimfan mentioned it is basically free hifi. I would say go for it especially if your speakers are relatively efficient.

Chuck
artmaltman
769 posts
 
Very natural sound, very lovely, a bit warm sounding, well built. VERY popular in its day and a classic. Make sure that your speakers are very efficient, or the room is small, and don't surround it with a lot of warm sounding gera as it's already warm. You want transparent cables and preamp to let the CJ present the beauty of the music to you.

BTW I usually prefer KT88's over 6550's but in the 11a and premier 12's (monoblock version) I ended up preferring the 6550. I find 6550's more neutral than KT88's and again, the 11a is already on the warm side.

The newer MV60SE might be good competition for the 11a (even that it's not considerd part of their "Premier" line). I don't see these often used though, or at the same price point.

Art
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