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CJ do deserve partial credit, for bringing me in

Posted by Luminator (A) on January 4, 2025 at 12:44:37

In Reply to: I had the Premier 18LS too posted by AbeCollins on January 4, 2025 at 11:21:56:

As a college freshman, I entered "high-end audio," during spring break 1990. But this was all at home in San Francisco.

I spent the summers of 1990 and 1991 in Honolulu, my second home, and where all of my relatives were and still are. Whereas Bay Area audio stores would not give you the time of day, Audio Directions Ltd.'s late Stewart Ono (AA's UncleStu52) understood that a college kid (a) was not going to buy anything expensive right then and there, but (b), if treated well, years down the line could spent $$$$ on audio.

Stu slapped together a VPI turntable, CJ electronics, Kimber cables, and some Vandersteen loudspeakers. This was really what "won me over," and set the expectations. Stu mentioned that he also carried Quicksilver. He said that, dollar for dollar, the Quicksilver was more accurate than CJ. But, a majority of his customers preferred CJ.

Stu also mentioned that, although CJ were known for their $$$$ models, their entry-level products were juuuuuuust within reach of those who were leaving mid-fi, and getting into high-end audio. Sadly, because high-end audio actively shunned Gen X and Millennials, the industry never expanded, and has now relegated CJ to concentrate only on $$$$ products.

At that time, partially because of the recession, audiophiles were revisiting vacuum tubes. Stu acknowledged that audiophiles were feverishly lapping up old stock Mullard and Telefunken. But Stu cautioned that you just have listen, and it depends on your gear and tastes. He said that you'd be wise to keep a supply of GE and Sylvania 6CA7 and 6550 power tubes. He said that those may never be "sexy names," but in time, people would miss and crave these tubes.

I miss the latter half of the 1990s, when I could meet other customers at audio stores, exchange numbers, and then go over to their homes. Here in the Bay Area, the more affordable CJ products seemed relatively popular. One guy in the Oakland Hills said something like, "If you're coming from Adcom and NAD, they [CJ] make a lot of sense."

For the past 20 years, I really only get to meet an audiophile, if he's dropping off cables, to be placed on the Cable Cooker.

Eventually, a different colleague brought in a Conrad-Johnson MV-55 vacuum tube amp. To hell with "accuracy," the MV-55 was a chewy-sounding amp, a lot of fun, with certain speakers. In 1996, the $1995 MV-55 was CJ's entry-level tube amp. Sure, the Premier 11A was smoother and more refined, but it wasn't as fun as the MV-55. Moreover, the MV-55 did well with the affordable and plentiful Electro-Harmonix 6SN7 and EL-34.

As for Pass Labs, they do make Class AB power amps, so I'm wondering if those do not give off as much heat as their Class-A power amps.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.

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