TAD CR-1's plus Conrad Johnson GAT and ART monos = Nirvana !!!

[joeinid]

I miss Andre. I was looking for him last week and realized it has been a while since I've seen him post.

[NorthStar]

I also like Andre very much; his music selections are a breath of fresh air (he helped me spend some of my money wisely).
...And of course he's a very nice friendly guy.
I'm sure he's enjoying life, and he's also a member at another audio forum (French I believe; I forgot the name).

Andre will pop back, when he feels like it.

[joeinid]

I can not get over how awesome these amps sound. The music just flows out so naturally. It's remarkable. The TADs literally have never sounded better. Pinch me.

[XV-1]

Joe, all your raving has got me off my ass and I just hooked up the cj tube gear.

Playing the Stones, Sticky Fingers

[LL21]

Joe, all your raving has got me off my ass and I just hooked up the cj tube gear.

Playing the Stones, Sticky Fingers

And? Comparisons to your Pass/Momentum duo?

[joeinid]

+1

Give it some time to warm up and spill the beans.

And? Comparisons to your Pass/Momentum duo?

[socfan12]

I can not get over how awesome these amps sound. The music just flows out so naturally. It's remarkable. The TADs literally have never sounded better. Pinch me.

Sounds like the CJ gear really took the much needed edge off but still retained, if not enhanced, the TADs soundstaging and imaging prowess. Wow!

[joeinid]

Sounds like the CJ gear really took the much needed edge off but still retained, if not enhanced, the TADs soundstaging and imaging prowess. Wow!

Amen. I am sure Viola is good (and I have not heard it yet) but the ART amps, especially, have been such a revelation. For my taste, the sweetness and bloom of tubes is MANDATORY on TADs.

[socfan12]

Amen. I am sure Viola is good (and I have not heard it yet) but the ART amps, especially, have been such a revelation. For my taste, the sweetness and bloom of tubes is MANDATORY on TADs.

A big 10-4 on that, buddy. I've started my homework already.

[joeinid]

A big 10-4 on that, buddy. I've started my homework already.

Very curious to see where you end up

[socfan12]

As am I! I've always eschewed tubes and swayed toward 'warmer' SS. This is a new frontier for me to even consider tubes. Lots to learn from you guys...

[still-one]

[QUOTE=joeinid;31306]Why did it take me soooooo long to realize what I knew deep down? Stick a fork in me. My CJ GAT/ART mono combo complements the TAD CR-1's so well that it's truly amazing. Any treble issues that I've complained about are GONE! The TADs truly disappear. Damn, if I had the room, the Reference Ones would be on the menu. Deep, layered and wide CJ sound stage coupled with precise vocals and instrument placement is incredible. I am a very tired and happy man.

Ah, why I love this hobby so much. There are so many options to find Audio Nirvana.



And yes Joe that is what tubes do. They virtually eliminate the need for a tweeter because everyone becomes so enamored with the gorgeous mids that with too much tube they fail to realize the top end has been lopped off. That is what I hear.

[joeinid]

Jim

If you heard my TADs and the CJ gear, I don't think you would say that. There's still plenty of energy and that's what I hear.

[Rhapsody]

[QUOTE=still-one;31554]

Why did it take me soooooo long to realize what I knew deep down? Stick a fork in me. My CJ GAT/ART mono combo complements the TAD CR-1's so well that it's truly amazing. Any treble issues that I've complained about are GONE! The TADs truly disappear. Damn, if I had the room, the Reference Ones would be on the menu. Deep, layered and wide CJ sound stage coupled with precise vocals and instrument placement is incredible. I am a very tired and happy man.

Ah, why I love this hobby so much. There are so many options to find Audio Nirvana.



And yes Joe that is what tubes do. They virtually eliminate the need for a tweeter because everyone becomes so enamored with the gorgeous mids that with too much tube they fail to realize the top end has been lopped off. That is what I hear.

Hi Jim,

I'm new here, nice to meet you. I have to respectfully disagree about tubes lopping off the top end. Sure a lot of tube amps do that but have you been listening to the latest SOTA tube amps, they do anything but lop off the top end. Of course it varies amp to amp, but there are SO many great tube out there now, just as there are SO many great new SS amps available now. Btw, would love to hear your system, it looks GREAt!!!

[Petro85]

Hahaha here come the tube guys. Lol!!!
I have an all tube setup and the highs are the best part of it.
They go right through you and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up .
But this audio hobby is all about what works best for the user.
I never have heard that ss setup that I thought I must have .
Just my opinion though, and I haven't heard much ss setups.

[cmalak]

Joe...congrats on the CJ-TAD combo. Hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time to come. Wjat is the status on the basement build-out?

[Mike]

Hahaha here come the tube guys. Lol!!!
I have an all tube setup and the highs are the best part of it.
They go right through you and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up .
But this audio hobby is all about what works best for the user.
I never have heard that ss setup that I thought I must have .
Just my opinion though, and I haven't heard much ss setups.

Truthfully, the only SS amps I've ever heard that I just had to have were D'Agostino. HiFi News called them the "maybe" best amps of all time and have them listed in their top 5 amps of all time list. You may forget the sonic qualities of other amps - but these? Never. The emotion they invoked in the three of us that day was very special. There was no starting or stopping - just continuous liquidity and flow of gorgeous sound with no loss of detail.

[Petro85]

I bet they are awesome joe , but way out of my league. I'd rather have
A few choices for that money. Lol!!
When you get a pair I'd love to come hear them.

[Mike]

[QUOTE=still-one;31554]

Why did it take me soooooo long to realize what I knew deep down? Stick a fork in me. My CJ GAT/ART mono combo complements the TAD CR-1's so well that it's truly amazing. Any treble issues that I've complained about are GONE! The TADs truly disappear. Damn, if I had the room, the Reference Ones would be on the menu. Deep, layered and wide CJ sound stage coupled with precise vocals and instrument placement is incredible. I am a very tired and happy man.

Ah, why I love this hobby so much. There are so many options to find Audio Nirvana.



And yes Joe that is what tubes do. They virtually eliminate the need for a tweeter because everyone becomes so enamored with the gorgeous mids that with too much tube they fail to realize the top end has been lopped off. That is what I hear.

Now Jim, be nice. We all love new gear. I'm delighted Joe finally discovered tubes. They do have a certain magic to them. I certainly heard no lopping off of the higher frequencies with my ARC gear, but I did with my tube Mc amps. But they delivered magic in other ways (except bass speed!). I guess no amp is perfect.

[Mike]

[QUOTE=still-one;31554]

And yes Joe that is what tubes do. They virtually eliminate the need for a tweeter because everyone becomes so enamored with the gorgeous mids that with too much tube they fail to realize the top end has been lopped off. That is what I hear.

Jim - don't you have a tube preamp? For those older Wilson tweeters perhaps?

[joeinid]

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Yes the Dagostino amps are special. I'll probably add the Momentum monos unless Bob shows me the Goldmund light. Something tells me I'm in for a treat with that baby. If the Dagostino preamp wasn't so quirky, I still might have that gear. I'd say Dan did me a tremendous favor. Big time. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Thank you Cyril.

At this rate, not until the end of the year. Depending on what speaker(s) go down there will determine the level of treatment needed. I don't want to or can't go too crazy with the room but we'll see. Once things start falling into place, it will go quickly.

[still-one]

[QUOTE=Mike;31574]

Jim - don't you have a tube preamp? For those older Wilson tweeters perhaps?

Mike
Yes I am currently using a 2300 until I decide whether if it is worth it to pop for the D'Agostino pre. Using the 808v3 as a pre-amp was very good for digital but I think digitizing the signal from the SME table was not optimum even for my occasional vinyl sessions. There are not too many reasonably priced one box pre-amp solutions out there and when its time to decide I won't lose a nickel selling the 2300.

I actually prefer the X2 tweeters to the XLF's soft domed. I do like the XLF's bass and mid a bit better but unless someone is having a fire sale I am not paying the premium to partake.

[Mike]

[QUOTE=still-one;31578]

Mike
Yes I am currently using a 2300 until I decide whether if it is worth it to pop for the D'Agostino pre. Using the 808v3 as a pre-amp was very good for digital but I think digitizing the signal from the SME table was not optimum even for my occasional vinyl sessions. There are not too many reasonably priced one box pre-amp solutions out there and when its time to decide I won't lose a nickel selling the 2300.

I actually prefer the X2 tweeters to the XLF's soft domed. I do like the XLF's bass and mid a bit better but unless someone is having a fire sale I am not paying the premium to partake.

Mc stuff has the best resale of any brand I've found. Don't discount the Classe CP800 as an all in one box solution for a great price. But you would need a phonostage like a Manley Chinook or Zesto. Classe is promising a phono stage for the CP800 - but who knows when?

I really like the tweeters in the Alexia's. I would have those in a heart beat.

[joeinid]

Bob,

I think you are spot on with your assessment. My ART amps are NOT your father's classic tube sound, far from it. It is sooooo good that it totally gets out of the way. The reviews of the ART stereo is spot on. The resolution and detail are so high that if you didn't know that it was tube based, you'd think it was great SS gear.


[QUOTE=Absolare;31560]

Hi Jim,

I'm new here, nice to meet you. I have to respectfully disagree about tubes lopping off the top end. Sure a lot of tube amps do that but have you been listening to the latest SOTA tube amps, they do anything but lop off the top end. Of course it varies amp to amp, but there are SO many great tube out there now, just as there are SO many great new SS amps available now. Btw, would love to hear your system, it looks GREAt!!!

[Petro85]

[QUOTE=Mike;31579]

Mc stuff has the best resale of any brand I've found. Don't discount the Classe CP800 as an all in one box solution for a great price. But you would need a phonostage like a Manley Chinook or Zesto. Classe is promising a phono stage for the CP800 - but who knows when?

I really like the tweeters in the Alexia's. I would have those in a heart beat.

I've recently been talked down from getting the steelhead and going for the more affordable zesto , as I was told by a certain vinyl guru that the setup I'm getting was better with zesto , and since he has both in his room with the same setup, I figured he was more knowledgable than me in that area.
Even though I've heard steelheads a few times and loved it, and never heard the zesto
So zesto is on the menu !!

[Rhapsody]

[QUOTE=joeinid;31580]Bob,

I think you are spot on with your assessment. My ART amps are NOT your father's classic tube sound, far from it. It is sooooo good that it totally gets out of the way. The reviews of the ART stereo is spot on. The resolution and detail are so high that if you didn't know that it was tube based, you'd think it was great SS gear.

What I have been experiencing over the last year or so is that the latest/greatest tube gear sounds more like great SS and the latest/greatest SS gear has several desirable tube qualities. Seems like the latest of both camps are moving to the center - pure music.

[joeinid]

For some reason, hand me a piece of gear that's gold or champagne colored and I'll love it. Add some red accents, it gets even better. Ha!

[LL21]

[QUOTE=still-one;31578]

...I actually prefer the X2 tweeters to the XLF's soft domed. I do like the XLF's bass and mid a bit better but unless someone is having a fire sale I am not paying the premium to partake.

Very interesting...I have the X1s but needed to get new tweeters (after 20 years) and ended up with effectively Maxx 3 Tweeters which descended directly from the X2 Series 2...which has worked out quite nicely. What do you prefer about the X2 Series 2 Tweeter over the XLF? As for the mid and bass, what I find they did very very well with the XLF is that the cabinetry feels even more solid and as a result, the sound literally comes straight thru, no delay, no reverb, no 'pull back' from the cabinetry in the bass area. It is also exceedingly coherent. Truly remarkable in both regards.

[joeinid]

So maybe the TAD CR-1's were not nirvana. They were good but not my cup of tea. Live and learn. I know the Strads and CJ gear will be awesome (for me). YMMV.

[sharkmouth]

Joe, luv ya to bits, but, even though you're high priced, you're still a gear slut... ........... just like me & mike & paul & mark & allen &...........

You know, what I find interesting is that I've built a system from the front end & am now just getting to the "f*ck this is really good*, part, after adding the W/Benesch combo, last!

[XV-1]

I cannot keep up with all you gear sluts, but that is just because I am envious.

the happy ending is sooo expensive


keep it up, Charlie Sheen is proud of all of you

[MDP]

Pretty funny