Conrad Johnson vs darTZeel with the Summit-X

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TjeerT

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For a long time I'm ESL-fan;
After listening 6 years (1990-1996) to the Sequel II and almost 13 years to my very lovely SL3’s, I was in for a speaker-upgrade and now have since 3 months the Summit X (in fact, it was the first sold pair in the Netherlands…).
And i like them, real giant step!!

As you see I don’t often change gear, much more I like listen to the music and so now and than playing with room-tuning and f.e. power-conditioning.
Till now my Mark Levinson no23 did the amp-work very well (already 20 years! -- from 1996 with a Mark Levinson no39 and later on a ML 390S), but the Summit-X, I think, “deserves” also an amp upgrade.

After much reading reviews (and of course this forum!!), talking and listening, I brought back, together with my very friendly dealer, my choise (in the price-range around 15.000 euro’s) to:
the Conrad Johnson combi CT5 & ET250S (250 watts into 8 ohms, 400 in 4)
and the new integrated amp from darTZeel CTH-8850 (200 watts RMS @ 8 ohms - 330 watts RMS @ 4 ohms; see: http://www.dartzeel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=32 ; overhere they have exact the same price: E 15.000).

Of course so many more company’s as a “CJ-tube-alternative”: ARC, VTL, BAT, MacIntosh, Manley (and in the Netherlands for sure: PrimaLuna!) and even more SS-alternatives. But you can’t listen & compare everything (until you’re a professionel reviewer…).

Thus Conrad Johnson, where I heard it, I liked it and you almost never read serious negative comments, specially with ELS,
and darTZeel because of worldwide praise as a top SS-amp with about tube-like “silk-sound” (this is of course for the big pre-amp & amp, but the CTH-8850 has definitly the same signature, says also my dealer, he knows the darTZeels).

Today listening:
frontend ML 390S, speakers Summit-X, Transparent & Yter interlinks and Yter-loudspeakercables, we just changed, and re-changed the amps, with normal cd’s and audiophile cd’s, all kinds of music. Listening in a normal high-end dealers listening room, no special room- or device-tuning, just interested in hearing the difference between the darTZeel & CJ-amps.

So:
Both amps did the job very, very well; both made the Summits singing & swinging! Total control, musical, fluent, very good with dynamic changes/oscillations.
Also my dealer said he didn’t hear the Summit(-X)’s so good before.

Buth then the difference between CJ & darTZeel:
for me very clear, the CJ-combi was more “open”, more air in the music, deeper soundstage, also more “loose”. You feel yourself IN the music.
With the darTZeel more looking AT the music in front of you, more “compact”, punch, other kind of control.

I guess the old story: do you like tubes or transistors? Listen for yourself!

I ordered the CJ CT5.
And the CJ ET250S? There is some doubt. Why?
CJ has also the LP140M’s… still more tubes(sound)…

Geert
 
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Hey, congratulations on your Summit-X's.

I am a total tube fan and cj makes some of the best on the planet. If the Dar T Zel could compete than it must be a special type of solid state.

I am a totally satisfed cj user and at my age and income level will never change. More importantly, if I had the dispoable income, I would be hard pressed to upgrade. cj floored me totally in the late 70's and I have never been more impressed with a demo in a dealer show room.

I have been lucky enough to listen to many tube variations and I am impressed with Mac, Audio Research, GR, and truth to tell the SET quicksilver beat my cj in listening quality (NOT with stats). So I come in with without an agenda.

When I went from solid state (Hafler) to tubes (cj) on my logans, it was a whole new improved ballgame.

Have Fun!!!!!!
 
I think you will be very happy with the CJ ET250. Please note this in not a true tube amp. This is a "hybrid" amp. The Tubes are only used for the input gain stage. The brunt of the amplification comes from FETs. I think this is a good compromise for cost –VS- Power. Again CJ is not known for making junk and I have no doubt the ET250 is a fine amp with more than enough power and detail to bring out the best in your Summit X.

The other option is to get the LP275M tube amp from CJ. Thie is a true tube amp. Not sure what these sell for in the EU?
 
The DarTZeel is a great amp, but next time you get to listen, try playing it fairly loud for about four tracks in a row....
 

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