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Conrad-Johnson It just sounds right |
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#1
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Has anyone compared the CJ GAT or ET-5 to Audio Research Ref 5SE?
I was wondering If any members have done an A-B on the following pre-amps
ET-5 vs GAT GAT vs Audio Research Ref 5SE ET-5 vs Ref 5SE These are three units that I am Interested In buying, I know they are all over the price spectrum. I've owned the GAT, sold it, miss it and might buy another but just wondered how close I might be able to get with the ET-5 or Ref 5SE? Looking forward to your comments. Thanks In Advance AJ |
#2
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Yes
The GAT is a LOT better than the REF 5SE. I thought I would go balanced with my Dag amp so bought my dealers well burnt in Ref 5SE. What a disappointment. In direct comparison with the GAT it had nice image height however the GAT was faster, direct, clearer, more musical, where the Ref 5SE just plodded in comparison - GAT - just better. Lucky I had not sold my GAT, so sold the Ref 5SE after about 6 weeks. |
#3
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The GAT is a step above the ET5 in refinement bur the law of diminishing returns kicks in. Its definitely not twice as good as the ET5.
I have not heard the Ref5SE but a friend had one and after auditioning the ET5 he sold the Ref5SE and got the ET5. |
#4
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Quote:
And also IMHO both the GAT or the ARTS3 are a lot better than the ET-5. |
#5
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I know someone that owned both the Anniv 40 and the GAT. In his view, the GAT was far better than the Anniv 40.
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#6
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Quote:
It would be no surprise if the GAT was overall better sounding than the Ref 10. cj have had a lot of experience in Teflon caps and how large and where to put them. |
#7
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Really nice. Well done.
Cheers, Resmas |
#8
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dpham6761... Welcome to AA!
__________________
Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#9
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Having spent time expeariencing both these excellent pre's in friends systems I am a little suprised by this comment ! As I found both had their own strengths in comparison with the other, and choice of one over the other would seem to me to be mainly whether one had a predilection for a slightly more forward projecting sound stage or not.
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#10
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Maybe you can clarify your preamp comparison process a little more.
Assuming that any two systems will vary a lot i would say its hard to attribute the sound to any individual component, unless you were swapping the preamps in and out. In my system the sound character can be adjusted through simply adjusting resonance management and cable tension on my DAC. My point being that comparing different preamps in different systems, while tempting, is fraught with risk of attributing the sonics to just the preamp. If i want air and a less forward sound from my system i make sure the stiff cables to my DAC are floppy and that my Nordost sort cones are free to work as intended. If the cables are more taught and the sort cones are constrained by the little soft wedge i have under my DAC ( used between listening sessions to stabilise the DAC and stop the cat from knocking it off its place on top of my rack) the sound is forward and with less air/ reverberation ( amongst other characteristics) Different systems and rooms are bigger factors and would make any comparison of components really very hard to do reliably. |
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