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Review: Conrad-Johnson MF2550SE ...
- Thread starter joeinid
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CDLehner
New member
I've considered this piece (not sure I'd go for the Teflon, in the SE...but the 2550 in general).
I'm a big fan of C-J; tried 3 of their pre-amps (ET-2, Premier 18, and ET-3), 2 of their power-amps (MF-2250A and 2500A)...and the really outstanding, CA-200 "Control" amp.
Ultimately, they weren't quite my cup of tea; but I would never call them, anything less then fantastic. Like a really good movie...and you can appreciate how good it is; even though it's not exactly your thing.
I gotta tell ya; it's not like, they did a whole lot...in the style department...as far as updating the look, of the 2550/SE. I'd be hard-pressed, to drop the $4k/6k; when I could buy a MF-2500A in good shape...and send it to C-J for a re-cap.
The thing, was a big, heavy...muscular beast; probably just one notch, below the venerable Premier 350.
Stereophile, logged its numbers...as such:
...the MF2500 reached 309W into 8 ohms, one channel driven, and 295Wpc, both channels driven. It wasn't shy at 4 ohms, and the shared power supply was man enough for 451Wpc into 4 ohms. Playing music-related (IHF toneburst) signals, the MF2500 pushed 24.9dBW into 8 ohms (315W) and 24.77dBW into 4 ohms (600W), but began to current-limit a little into 2 ohm loads with 23.9dBW (976W) available.
Oh man; did I just talked myself, into trying it again...for a 3rd time :disbelief: Maybe the only other, better dollar-to-power unit (excluding class-D, of course)...is its cousin, the McCormack DNA-225/250.
I had the 225 once; what a MONSTER! Here are John's number, on it...
...maximum power raised was 262W into 8 ohms (24.2dBW), 430W into 4 ohms (23.3dBW), and 795W into 2 ohms (23dBW, only one channel driven). With a low-duty-cycle 1kHz toneburst, which generates results that more closely resemble what happens when the amplifier is amplifying music, the DNA-225 was revealed as a powerhouse. No less than 303W were raised into 8 ohms, with 575W available into 4 ohms, 1018W into 2 ohms, and 1532W into 1 ohm. :amazing::whoa::shocking:
I'm a big fan of C-J; tried 3 of their pre-amps (ET-2, Premier 18, and ET-3), 2 of their power-amps (MF-2250A and 2500A)...and the really outstanding, CA-200 "Control" amp.
Ultimately, they weren't quite my cup of tea; but I would never call them, anything less then fantastic. Like a really good movie...and you can appreciate how good it is; even though it's not exactly your thing.
I gotta tell ya; it's not like, they did a whole lot...in the style department...as far as updating the look, of the 2550/SE. I'd be hard-pressed, to drop the $4k/6k; when I could buy a MF-2500A in good shape...and send it to C-J for a re-cap.
The thing, was a big, heavy...muscular beast; probably just one notch, below the venerable Premier 350.
Stereophile, logged its numbers...as such:
...the MF2500 reached 309W into 8 ohms, one channel driven, and 295Wpc, both channels driven. It wasn't shy at 4 ohms, and the shared power supply was man enough for 451Wpc into 4 ohms. Playing music-related (IHF toneburst) signals, the MF2500 pushed 24.9dBW into 8 ohms (315W) and 24.77dBW into 4 ohms (600W), but began to current-limit a little into 2 ohm loads with 23.9dBW (976W) available.
Oh man; did I just talked myself, into trying it again...for a 3rd time :disbelief: Maybe the only other, better dollar-to-power unit (excluding class-D, of course)...is its cousin, the McCormack DNA-225/250.
I had the 225 once; what a MONSTER! Here are John's number, on it...
...maximum power raised was 262W into 8 ohms (24.2dBW), 430W into 4 ohms (23.3dBW), and 795W into 2 ohms (23dBW, only one channel driven). With a low-duty-cycle 1kHz toneburst, which generates results that more closely resemble what happens when the amplifier is amplifying music, the DNA-225 was revealed as a powerhouse. No less than 303W were raised into 8 ohms, with 575W available into 4 ohms, 1018W into 2 ohms, and 1532W into 1 ohm. :amazing::whoa::shocking:
annapolis Raider
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- Dec 14, 2013
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+1
CDLehner
New member
Only took 15 months, lol; but I just picked up an 2550SE :yahoo1:
CDLehner
New member
It's here; but I probably won't hook it up, until tomorrow sometime.
Since I packed up the Classe combo (CP-700/CA-2200); I've taken the opportunity, to listen to my "crappy", old PrimaLuna ONE IA
and "crappy" Luxman L-550AX...
Both of which, sound great...in their own right. I guess it's true what they say; speakers, speakers, speakers...and the Twenty 26s are the shizz (and apparently, can be driven...by just about anything, lol).
CDLehner
New member
Oh, WTHell; there's just this big, empty space anyway 
CDLehner
New member
Someone asked...for a pic of my 26s; and I figured I'd kill 2 birds, with one stone.
Like I told Jax, about the 2550SE: It may not be cool, and hip; or have any pizzazz. But damn does it sound good! :audiophile:
Like I told Jax, about the 2550SE: It may not be cool, and hip; or have any pizzazz. But damn does it sound good! :audiophile:
- Thread Author
- #14
I have never heard the current CJ solid state amps but I can totally agree. CJ gear sounds damn good! Thank you Chris for the update. Now you got me thinking.
CDLehner
New member
Now all I need...is a box-full, of good 6922s
Jack
Active member
Chris
Does it only take one 6DJ8 family tube? Also will it run the 7DJ8's without issue? If so check Uncle Kevin's website for the Phillips and Matsushita 7DJ8's. Both really good tubes in the $30 range. Phillips more of a R&R tube and the Matsushita more of a Jazz tube. Also check Tubmaze on E-bay and see what he has. He tests them and listens to them too.
Does it only take one 6DJ8 family tube? Also will it run the 7DJ8's without issue? If so check Uncle Kevin's website for the Phillips and Matsushita 7DJ8's. Both really good tubes in the $30 range. Phillips more of a R&R tube and the Matsushita more of a Jazz tube. Also check Tubmaze on E-bay and see what he has. He tests them and listens to them too.
CDLehner
New member
You guys tell me? Will C-J units, typically take a 7DJ8 in place of a 6?
What are the advantages and disadvantages, of the 7-volt versions...vs. 6?
Jack
Active member
Chris
I don't know about CJ preamps as I have never owned one, but I have run the 7DJ8's in preamps from Kora, Music Reference, and Sonic Frontier with no problem and MDP is running them in a Manley phono stage. Main advantage now is price difference. You can just call Kevin and ask if nobody has tried it. I would suspect that someone on A'gon or Audio Asylum has tried it if nobody here has.
I don't know about CJ preamps as I have never owned one, but I have run the 7DJ8's in preamps from Kora, Music Reference, and Sonic Frontier with no problem and MDP is running them in a Manley phono stage. Main advantage now is price difference. You can just call Kevin and ask if nobody has tried it. I would suspect that someone on A'gon or Audio Asylum has tried it if nobody here has.