The CJ website is pretty decent but I wish it had photos of the interiors.
The description of the ART88 doesn’t tell me much about why it’s so superior to previous CJ efforts. Haven’t they used nude Vishay resistors and CJ’s proprietary capacitors for many years? What’s different about the latest model?
That's a very good question mate!
In fact I agree, when you read through the other preamp descriptions, general specs and the brief write up... they all seem the same! Only thing that varies may be the tooobs themselves.
There is of course the ultimate test/ judgement, and that's the actual audition! Once you have heard the ART88 then you do realise the supreme level it's at. Then again once you've attended the demo, it's not an easy task to identify the ART88 straight away, simply because it gets out of the way! As a Wiseman once told me, the best preamp is no preamp!
The ART88 is extremely neutral, it doesn't add or remove any material from the original recording, it performs its main task of pre-amplification to the core! That's really about it, nothing more to add.
Looking at the specs and internal layout, unlike any of CJ's previous preamps, where they all use SS buffered Outputs, the ART88 is the only CJ designed preamp to use a full tube layout. There are no buffered output stages comprising of SS devices, just pure tooob finesse from Input to Output stage. Internally, you will find higher grade trannies, larger power supplies and higher voltage devices. However, that typical very highend layout is also found on the Premier 7, ART, ACT2, CT5, ET7S2, and GATS2. So no major differences here... so what's the big deal?
That maties is in the listening!
When the ART88 is partnered with other top tier gear in a well thought out system, as I said before, it's quite hard to pick out its attributes. It could be the source gear, the power amps plus speakers or cables and accessories... who knows what's doing what to recreate this fine level of playback synergy. That's where it gets interesting, every bit of control, soundstage layout, the effortless drive factor on the power amps, the ability to hold itself strong without any breakup whatsoever, doesn't flinch one bit and simply gets out of the way... now that's a bloody good preamp! And the ART88 is all of that.
Initially, I didn't think much about having an all tube preamp vs a hybrid design with tube inputs and SS buffered Outputs. If at all, I would have preferred the previous designs, especially after having owned the original ART preamp, both versions of the ACT2, the GATS1 and now a modded CT5. I'm more than happy with this one because it's a highly custom sound I've created, and I don't want to change anything at this stsge.
Only when I did get the chance to audition the ART88, holy smackaroons!!! She said... and that's all she wrote.
Like I said, the ART88 is no ordinary tube preamp or just another upgrade from the already well established CJ line-up. Oh hell no, this is one very extraordinary thing. It will reveal things in your audio spectrum like no other, it's not even funny. It elevates every minute detail onto a whole different dimension. The most challenging aspect of this particular preamp is that the rest of your gear better be on par!
There aren't any compromises at this level. An awful lot more can be written about the ART88 in the fashion of typical highend audio marketing... then all the top dogs start barking and drooling... and the "must have" syndrome begins...
In the case of CJ's newest ART series amplifiers, nothing fancy or schamcy has been written about any of it. What's the point?
I'd rather go listen and judge for myself. Those fancy write-ups I'll leave it to the well known mags and full-time Reviewers, afterall that's what they're paid to do.
In my case, I'd rather audition at length when I get that chance, even if it means having to wait a full year to make an overseas trip. It's fully worth it!
BTW, there's another chap on this forum who doesn't post much, simply because he's enjoying those finest tunes!
Goes by T-tsui, his system comprises of a full ART line-up of the ART88 and ART108A monoblocks driving the Magico Q7's with a full Nordost Odin Gold II supreme reference power loom. Now that's one beautiful thing I'd go and listen to and learn about how this new ART series amplifiers work in a top tier system like that.
I had the fortunate experience of listening to the ART series gear on equally outstanding systems. Ranging from the Magico Q series, ML Ren15a's & CLX's, Genesis speakers, AG Horns, and the French ribbon panels by Diptyque. That was my first time ever heard of this French designed panel. Wasn't really expecting any major differences between those and Alsyvox or Apogee's, which I've owned in the past. Oh my! Those Diptyque panels are something else, and the pricing is truly remarkable! Very accessible compared to most other top end panel type speakers or even other lofty dynamic driver types, like Genesis and Zellaton.
So, yes there's a remarkable achievement in what the ART88 preamp is capable of. The changes from the GATS2 are not subtle and with the ART88, it's not just the preamp itself, rather the entire ART series line-up, is at a supreme level! JF should be mighty mighty proud of his creations. I certainly would be.
Oh, for the love of tooobs... Woof!
RJ
towards CJ is knowing that I will be able to keep my CJ equipemnt in perfect condition as long as I am able to handle a soldering iron. BTW, CJ equipment is very reliable, but no tube equipment can be more reilable than the tubes we put in it. Most of the trouble I had was caused by faulty tubes.
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