G'day Ron,
Great to see this comparison, have certainly lived it one way or the other...
I've not used the 750 series but similar topology in the older Manley 350 designer's reference series (built by VTL). Used these monoblocks with Infinities and Magneplanars MG3.5/R. This is going back to the hay day of the late 90's. Great BIG sound- that's about it! After a while changed speakers though, prior to having the CLSIIz's. Ventured back into Infinities and this time a smaller system, which was the Ren 90. Once again, big sound, greater speed than the Beta's but lacked transparency compared to stats. Preferred the ribbons, so I kept the maggies since they lasted longer in the tropics compared to stats, such as Quads & ML's.
Preamp used was always a CJ, and at that time, if memory serves correctly, it was CJ's PFR until I eventually settled for a PV12. The VTL's drove everything effortlessly but lacked speed, resolution and musicality. Eve Anne (Manley President) advised to dump the old 350's and go for the newer 250 or 500 series. Another chap at the time, who owned another maggie system (MG20) as well as Avant Garde Duo's, upgraded his Melos mono amps to VTL 600 series, which were later upgraded to the Ichiban's. He just loved power and nothing else! Thunderous dynamics and super fast acceleration from the Duo's but there was no music, just a massive wall of sound that would knock you out cold!
Definitely not my listening taste at all! Few months after, I acquired a brand new CJ Premier 11A, and my golly, was that what I called music! Later on, I managed to acquire the premier 12's in mint condition, and I thought that was it! Until, again the bass bug bit me, and after a while I ventured towards the MF2300 driving the bass and prem 11A driving the mids & highs on the MG3.5/R's. That was it! Until I migrated to Aus and sold off everything, and basically had to start the craziness all over again...
During that time, when the economy was going somewhat great back in home town, I did venture into the Spore dealer and auditioned the premier 8A's, plus the newer VTL line up. Fast fwd 15 years, and once again during my travels through Spore, I auditioned the ART monoblocks and top of the line VTL's, including the ARC gear.
In one simple sentence- "nothing compares to the level of pure refinement and musicality than CJ!"
If you really want to enjoy your music and get that total emotional experience with a superb level of liveliness and realism, CJ will deliver, as they have been for several decades. I also understand that you are quite familiar with CJ's older MV series amplifiers...
The Premier 8's and now the latest ART amplifiers are like no other, to me they are in a total different league. And with the right set of transducers, they will produce pure wonderful music. The most enjoyable systems I have owned and had have always included CJ gear somewhere along the chain.
Cheers Ron, and trust you get to audition the ART's in their true form, you WILL be amazed.
RJ
Great to see this comparison, have certainly lived it one way or the other...
I've not used the 750 series but similar topology in the older Manley 350 designer's reference series (built by VTL). Used these monoblocks with Infinities and Magneplanars MG3.5/R. This is going back to the hay day of the late 90's. Great BIG sound- that's about it! After a while changed speakers though, prior to having the CLSIIz's. Ventured back into Infinities and this time a smaller system, which was the Ren 90. Once again, big sound, greater speed than the Beta's but lacked transparency compared to stats. Preferred the ribbons, so I kept the maggies since they lasted longer in the tropics compared to stats, such as Quads & ML's.
Preamp used was always a CJ, and at that time, if memory serves correctly, it was CJ's PFR until I eventually settled for a PV12. The VTL's drove everything effortlessly but lacked speed, resolution and musicality. Eve Anne (Manley President) advised to dump the old 350's and go for the newer 250 or 500 series. Another chap at the time, who owned another maggie system (MG20) as well as Avant Garde Duo's, upgraded his Melos mono amps to VTL 600 series, which were later upgraded to the Ichiban's. He just loved power and nothing else! Thunderous dynamics and super fast acceleration from the Duo's but there was no music, just a massive wall of sound that would knock you out cold!
Definitely not my listening taste at all! Few months after, I acquired a brand new CJ Premier 11A, and my golly, was that what I called music! Later on, I managed to acquire the premier 12's in mint condition, and I thought that was it! Until, again the bass bug bit me, and after a while I ventured towards the MF2300 driving the bass and prem 11A driving the mids & highs on the MG3.5/R's. That was it! Until I migrated to Aus and sold off everything, and basically had to start the craziness all over again...
During that time, when the economy was going somewhat great back in home town, I did venture into the Spore dealer and auditioned the premier 8A's, plus the newer VTL line up. Fast fwd 15 years, and once again during my travels through Spore, I auditioned the ART monoblocks and top of the line VTL's, including the ARC gear.
In one simple sentence- "nothing compares to the level of pure refinement and musicality than CJ!"
If you really want to enjoy your music and get that total emotional experience with a superb level of liveliness and realism, CJ will deliver, as they have been for several decades. I also understand that you are quite familiar with CJ's older MV series amplifiers...
The Premier 8's and now the latest ART amplifiers are like no other, to me they are in a total different league. And with the right set of transducers, they will produce pure wonderful music. The most enjoyable systems I have owned and had have always included CJ gear somewhere along the chain.
Cheers Ron, and trust you get to audition the ART's in their true form, you WILL be amazed.
RJ
