Conrad-johnson TC5 or Cary SLP 05 ?

Audiofreakgeek
Also CT 5 offers totally modern feature set, remote imput switching, theater bypass while the Cary only offers remote volume

To be clear the SLP-05 offers home threater bypass via switch on the front panel.

Personally i didn't like the CT-5. Being a single gain stage the CT-5 inverts signal polarity and its high output impedance means care is needed with power amplifier selection. The SLP-05 is also a proper two box design and IMHO overall does music better.

I agree with kiwi, though I am a CJ fan the high output impedance limits versatility with amp choices.

Now, I'm becoming confuse. What's the name of the great Chinese philosopher? Just joking.

Must read again all the replies on the thread "Phase inverting problem". Seems like I'll meet the same problems.

Thanks everybody for their clever opinions.

Kiwi...I dind't know that preamps need to be in two boxes to be 'proper' designs. Seems to be that's simply wrong. There are hundreds of FINE preamps built in one box out there. Also, the CT-5's output impedance of 800 Ohms isn't 'high', its more like 'medium'. There are lots of preamps out there with OIs of more than 2000 Ohms. THOSE preamps demand attention to the cable and poweramps they're driving.

And this 'issue' about signal polarity is just silly. Just once, when you install the preamp in your system, need you pay any attention to this. Once the speakers are reconnected, you jsut forget about it.

Mesael, pick the preamp you want, but the 'issues' above ought not to be considerations for you. C-j makes EXCELLENT-sounding preamps and has for decades. Here's mine.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/C-j%20equipment/Inrackclose_800w.jpg

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Jeffrey...You need to relook at the CT-5 measurements. The output impedance rises to over 1800 ohms at 20Hz and yes I have a personal preference to keep the power supply in a separate box to the sensitive audio circuitry. Ultimately though the SLP-05 sounded far more musical to my ears than the CT-5 so i bought the former not the later. The OP has asked for an opinion and he has mine.