Thread: GAT and ART monos are home .....

Update...

Getting close, but as luck would have it (or I should say "my" luck) things always take a bit longer than planned.
'reason for the delay is shown in the pix.

Ray,

They look beautiful. I am so sorry for the broken tube. Maybe if your replacements don't show up today, I could lend you a quad from one of my amps.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Ray,

They look beautiful. I am so sorry for the broken tube. Maybe if your replacements don't show up today, I could lend you a quad from one of my amps.

I'm still hoping against hope that at least one KT120 will show up today..Thanks Joe!!! what a great offer, I'll suffer a few more days, but if by next week this time I'm still tubeless, I'll take you up on the offer...haha

Just let me know if you need/want them. You could try Dave Lalin the Audio Doctor @ New Jersey Home Theater Installers | Best Home Theater System NJ | Home Theater Systems, Custom Home Audio Installations

If not for Joe pointing it out I would be staring at the pictures scratching my head all day.

Sorry to hear Ray. Hope you're up and running shortly.

Originally Posted by mdkim

If not for Joe pointing it out I would be staring at the pictures scratching my head all day.

Sorry to hear Ray. Hope you're up and running shortly.

Originally Posted by mdkim

If not for Joe pointing it out I would be staring at the pictures scratching my head all day.

Sorry to hear Ray. Hope you're up and running shortly.

Michael, I'd have never spotted it either !!

How are these doing Joe? Any changes still going on with break-in? I've heard CJ gear can take a long time to settle in. How many hours do you think you have on them now?

Hi Doug,

OMG! They sound awesome. But with all my gear (I know, I know) I rotate through the different combos. I go about a week on with them and a few weeks off. The heat is not as bad as I thought, but they sound glorious. I feel bad for Rayoooo. One of his amps had to go back to the fatherland. I probably have 300 maybe 400 hours on them. I've never noticed them sounding bad, but always get better and better.

Originally Posted by dlb2

How are these doing Joe? Any changes still going on with break-in? I've heard CJ gear can take a long time to settle in. How many hours do you think you have on them now?

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Doug,

OMG! They sound awesome. But with all my gear (I know, I know) I rotate through the different combos. I go about a week on with them and a few weeks off. The heat is not as bad as I thought, but they sound glorious. I feel bad for Rayoooo. One of his amps had to go back to the fatherland. I probably have 300 maybe 400 hours on them. I've never noticed them sounding bad, but always get better and better.

That's awesome Joe. I'm glad they haven't given you any reason to chuck them out, of course I never thought for a moment that they would. And about all your gear, I know many of us here like to give you a hard time about "all your gear" and I'm guilty as charged, but to be able to allow yourself to have ample gear to swap in and out is a real treat. It's so nice to have options. I think of it as a cyclist who has a garage full of bikes because each serves a different purpose. Will one do the job? Sure it will, but why put limits on what makes you happy?

Ha!

I could think of worse hobbies. Yes, the ART monos are the most natural, refined, layered, organic, grainless and smooth amps I've ever had/heard. They are keepers.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Doug,

OMG! They sound awesome. But with all my gear (I know, I know) I rotate through the different combos. I go about a week on with them and a few weeks off. The heat is not as bad as I thought, but they sound glorious. I feel bad for Rayoooo. One of his amps had to go back to the fatherland. I probably have 300 maybe 400 hours on them. I've never noticed them sounding bad, but always get better and better.

The ART was delivered back to CJ on Friday, I think they are closed Fridays, in any case I didn't hear anything back, hopefully today.
Interestingly enough, the failure, was in the same tube socket where the defective tube I received initially was located. Of course I can't be 100% sure of any relation, but it does give me pause. The initial defective tube was in realty not a big deal other than waiting over a week for a replacement, This second issue is a bit more concerning. I know these things happen, so I'm hoping this will be the end of it. I don't know why however, I can't seem to rid myself of a nagging concern. I was thinking of a Summer amp anyway, 'now thinking of a big Bryston.

I was speaking with an old friend over the weekend, he's been using and spec'ing for professional use, Bryston for years. As I'm telling him my story of woe with Tubes, he starts whispering in a spooky airy voice: "Bryyyyyyssssstttooon" '' I may just get a Bryson Stereo Amp and be done with it.

Thank goodness I live fairly close to CJ, shipping was a mere $200 one way. (CJ to pay return) I guess the assumption is that if you buy these types of Amps, $200 should be chump change.

Ray - the Bryston 28 is terrific. I wish I owned a pair!

Mike

+1. I still want to hear 28's in my system.

Ray,

I am sorry for your amp problems. The tube maintenance thing has always worried me but in all my research, CJ gear has been very reliable. We need to check out some Bryston gear.

Originally Posted by Mike

Ray - the Bryston 28 is terrific. I wish I owned a pair!

Mike

My initial thought was along the lines of a 14B SST2...
The 28s would be way overkill power-wise, however if they are better sounding, then it'd be a must.
...don't mean to hijack the thread though... Once I figure out the next move I'll be looking for advice and help!

Edit:

hahaha, 'not sure what came over me there, what am I talking about? 28's it'd have to be.
Why would I now start thinking about logic, overkill and economy at this point anyway. hahahahaaaa

Originally Posted by joeinid

Ha!

I could think of worse hobbies. Yes, the ART monos are the most natural, refined, layered, organic, grainless and smooth amps I've ever had/heard. They are keepers.

as someone who has owned a lot (and still does), your compliment is pretty high praise indeed!

...in fact I was just emailing a friend of mine about my beloved Gryphon Colosseum...where i feel exactly the same way along with my CJ GAT. But I said if I knew for sure i'd keep the X1s or end up with XLFs...I would certainly be curious to know how the ART monos or Zanden 9600 monos sound with them, since the big Wilsons are pretty straightforward to drive and have exemplary reputations for working well with top end tubed amps. Would they have a bit more magic somewhere? Possibly...I cannot say. That said, I have so much magic, I am perfectly satisfied just listening to music...and in fact, loathe to change ANYTHING for fear of messing something up. Moving a single isolation base 1 inch can screw it up now...so I am leaving it. Plus, I am NOT sure big Wilsons will be here forever, so nice to have the option of near-endless current to drive most speakers well.

Originally Posted by LL21

as someone who has owned a lot (and still does), your compliment is pretty high praise indeed!

Hi Lloyd,

Thank you. You know the sound of CJ with the GAT. The ART monos are wonderful.

Originally Posted by Rayooo

The ART was delivered back to CJ on Friday, I think they are closed Fridays, in any case I didn't hear anything back, hopefully today.
Interestingly enough, the failure, was in the same tube socket where the defective tube I received initially was located. Of course I can't be 100% sure of any relation, but it does give me pause. The initial defective tube was in realty not a big deal other than waiting over a week for a replacement, This second issue is a bit more concerning. I know these things happen, so I'm hoping this will be the end of it. I don't know why however, I can't seem to rid myself of a nagging concern. I was thinking of a Summer amp anyway, 'now thinking of a big Bryston.

I was speaking with an old friend over the weekend, he's been using and spec'ing for professional use, Bryston for years. As I'm telling him my story of woe with Tubes, he starts whispering in a spooky airy voice: "Bryyyyyyssssstttooon" '' I may just get a Bryson Stereo Amp and be done with it.

Thank goodness I live fairly close to CJ, shipping was a mere $200 one way. (CJ to pay return) I guess the assumption is that if you buy these types of Amps, $200 should be chump change.

Unfortunately the odd tube failure is part of owning a tube amp. You do need a few replacement tubes as cover for the 16 power tubes in the ART. Replacing tube on cj gear is so damm easy.
Personally I found the kt120's more prone to failure than my Winged C or Tung Sol 6550's.

I have owned the prem8a's for over 10 years and only one failure ( outside of bad tubes). Cj gear is extremely reliable.

I am sure your failure on the ART will be fixed quickly by cj.

Btw, it is great to have a SS summer amp thou :-) it also helps with that boredom we all seem to have with the same gear after a while

Cheers

Isn't tube rolling & matching supposed to be fun after all? ...Isn't part of the all process of choosing tube audio components?
...Not just 'warm' sound.
...Just like turntables and tonearms and cartridges and phono stages and speed accuracy.