conrad-johnson GAT Series 2

[MylesBAstor]

The box arrived and the preamplifier hits the road tomorrow or Tuesday for a short vacation at Chez conrad-johnson.

[mep]

Awesome. Turn around time?

[MylesBAstor]

Awesome. Turn around time?

I didn't ask but figure if I'm lucky it will be 3/11. But probably the week after. Guess it depends on how many updates they are doing.

[MylesBAstor]

I didn't ask but figure if I'm lucky it will be 3/11. But probably the week after. Guess it depends on how many updates they are doing.

Looks like I may push it back a couple of days since need to finish some listening. If all works out, I'll have the Kondo Kagura SE amp and Absolare preamplifier here in the interim. Slumming it....

[Audiocrack]

Any possibilty that you give us a few of your thoughts regarding the Kondo Kagura amps, Myles? Have not heard them myself and still wondering if they are really good - which they should be of course given their price - and maybe better than eg Ongaku or Gakuoh amps.

[MylesBAstor]

Any possibilty that you give us a few of your thoughts regarding the Kondo Kagura amps, Myles? Have not heard them myself and still wondering if they are really good - which they should be of course given their price - and maybe better than eg Ongaku or Gakuoh amps.

We're pretty much of the same mindset. I have heard the Kagura amplifiers on the Magico S5 and S3s and the combo was always impressive. But as we all know, one has to hear a product in their reference system, with their front-end sources (s) with different types of music to be called a review! Anything else is no different than going to an audio show and having a fun time.

[Audiocrack]

Fair enough, Myles. But I suppose if the Kagura amps are really (very) good, you can hear their quality even if the set up is not ideal. And if I understand tou correctly, that is what they actually did.

And you are right of course, using a Kondo preamp is mandatory to get the best out of these power amps.

[Dre_J]

Looks like I may push it back a couple of days since need to finish some listening. If all works out, I'll have the Kondo Kagura SE amp and Absolare preamplifier here in the interim. Slumming it....

If that's slumming it, I'm guessing you are all for it.

Dre

[nc42acc]

Myles will CJ offer an update on the ART power amplifiers? Will you have yours updated?

[MylesBAstor]

Myles will CJ offer an update on the ART power amplifiers? Will you have yours updated?

Nothing has been announced but I would certainly consider.

[LL21]

Hi Myles,

Is the CJ GAT arriving back this week? or next?

[MylesBAstor]

Hi Myles,

Is the CJ GAT arriving back this week? or next?

I've delayed sending the GAT back until end of this week. I was reviewing the Kondo amplifiers and like any reviewer worth their salt, only wanted to change one variable at a time. So the first order of business was inserting the Kaguras into the system with the GAT and getting a handle on the amp's sound. So the sessions began with the Kagura and Kondo cabling and eventually switching speaker cables. Then Bob brought over the platforms this weekend and we placed them under the amp. He also brought the Kondo preamp and that follows next.

I do have to say that listening to a SE tube amplifier, and arguably one of, if not the best, in the world, has been a fascinating experience. That is the great thing about audio. With each new component, there's always something new to learn! And I could easily see this amplifier being a horn lovers wet dream. Like David's horn/big LAMM SE amplifiers combo. There is something magical about the SE sound. Is it that their performance is better at lower power levels? I dunno but there is real magic here.

Then this week, the Kondo M1000 Mk. 2 preamp and SUT go in and the GAT begins its journey back to cj. It will be there I reckon for at least two weeks. According to Bill, they have to move a lot of the parts from the main board to the new board. Yes it would have been easier for cj for me to sell mine and get a new GAT but I didn't want to go that way given how things are selling on Agon.

[MylesBAstor]

I've delayed sending the GAT back until end of this week. I was reviewing the Kondo amplifiers and like any reviewer worth their salt, only wanted to change one variable at a time. So the first order of business was inserting the Kaguras into the system with the GAT and getting a handle on the amp's sound. So the sessions began with the Kagura and Kondo cabling and eventually switching speaker cables. Then Bob brought over the platforms this weekend and we placed them under the amp. He also brought the Kondo preamp and that follows next.

I do have to say that listening to a SE tube amplifier, and arguably one of, if not the best, in the world, has been a fascinating experience. Not to mention the combination of Kagura/GAT was wonderful. That is the great thing about audio. With each new component, there's always something new to learn! And I could easily see this amplifier being a horn lovers wet dream. Like David's horn/big LAMM SE amplifiers combo. There is something magical about the SE sound. Is it that their performance is better at lower power levels? I dunno but there is real magic here.

Then this week, the Kondo M1000 Mk. 2 preamp and SUT go in and the GAT begins its journey back to cj. It will be there I reckon for at least two weeks. According to Bill, they have to move a lot of the parts from the main board to the new board. Yes it would have been easier for cj for me to sell mine and get a new GAT but I didn't want to go that way given how things are selling on Agon.

[LL21]

Thanks Myles. FWIW, Big Dog RJ from Australia has a friend who just bought the CJ GAT and apparently heard the Series 2. I have asked Big Dog for more comments, but his initial post suggested that there was "quite a difference" but was not sure about whether it justified the upgrade cost...as with all things, improvements come at a premium at this level...i have asked what the "significant differences" were.

[MylesBAstor]

Thanks Myles. FWIW, Big Dog RJ from Australia has a friend who just bought the CJ GAT and apparently heard the Series 2. I have asked Big Dog for more comments, but his initial post suggested that there was "quite a difference" but was not sure about whether it justified the upgrade cost...as with all things, improvements come at a premium at this level...i have asked what the "significant differences" were.

Significant differences, law of diminishing returns is something I've been thinking of doing a thread on. Maybe now is the time.

[LL21]

Look forward to reading it!