Went to buy Vandersteen 2C speakers and came home with a conrad-johnson Premier 11A.


I found a great deal on a pair of Vandersteen 2C speakers with Sound Anchor stands.  I didn’t need them, but they are identical to a pair that I had back in the 90s.  While I was there, the seller mentioned that he had an amp that he wanted to sell.  It was on a shelf in a basement collecting dust.  The price was right, so I bought it.  He said there are about 40 hours on the tubes.  Hopefully, the caps are ok.  I’m thinking I’ll try a Wiim Ultra streamer with volume control just to see if everything works.  I have old preamps by NAD and Rotel, but they aren't good ones.

Is there anything special that I should do before firing up the old girl?  This is my first tube amplifier. 

sls883

Hang on to those puppies!  Tube's can stay static, power off, for a hundred years!  Once those Svetlana tubes warm up, at night time, the plasma created inside due to electrons moving in the vacuum will emit a beautiful purple lavender glow, and actually swirl slowly like a mini tornado.  No other 6550 I've found does that.  Buried in some back up hard drive I have flip phone camera shots of them in action.  They don't do them justice!  Let me know if you wish to sell those rare vintage tubes!!

@quincy thanks for the information! I guess I got lucky.  The seller estimated that he'd put about 40 hours on those tubes. 

sls883

My pleasure. After you have lived with the CJ Premier 11a for a period, I would send her back to the factory for Teflon upgrade. Thank me later.

 

Happy Listening!

Friend 

 

Congratulations on your Conrad-Johnson purchase.  For what it is worth - the brand has been in the game a very long time and stands behinds its products from its Fairfax, Va location.  I echo sls883's suggestion of getting it serviced by Conrad Johnson if you feel that it will be a keeper.