Conrad Johnson: New Preamp Flagship - ART88

[Big Dog RJ]

230 volts is fixed in germany, most of the time 237 volts come here out of the socket. For old devices(220volt), I have a variable transformer so that I don't have to tinker with the device.
Did you ever mesurement what comes out?

Ah, that sounds like you've got it under control.

Re. To voltage measurement/ fluctuations
Most definitely so! That's a whole other topic which I've debated over great lengths here on WBF and on other forums as well. So I won't go into great detail about this because it will derail this thread.

However, since you asked, just to summarise:
About 5 years ago, we lived in an apartment/ unit type of house, which had terrible AC mains power. The voltage would vary from a very low point to around 170v to as high as 270v! And with CJ or any tube gear for that matter, biasing the tubes to required specs was an absolute nightmare! So I used three different power conditioning systems (power conditioner, power blocks and finally power station). Only the last one really helped with voltage swings and it made an improvement but not anything significant. That one was by PS Audio, before it was Tauras and Shunyata. Anyway, regardless of these makes, they only made small marginal improvements. It wasn't after 2019, when we finally finished building our new home, I installed dedicated AC mains wiring for the Audio system, and cricky!!! Now that's a big big significant improvement, such that I didn't require any of those power conditioning systems at all. Plus I tried a few newer items and in fact those very power conditioning systems limited the overall performance and dynamics of the Audio systems' capabilities, so I stopped using them, no thanks.

Now the voltage is far more stable and over here we're quite fortunate to have enough resources to supply stable power to the grid. *** First and most important aspect to install in any highend system *** regardless of gear, the AC mains power and your distribution CB (circuit breaker) board. If you have more than one phase of AC mains coming into your house, even better! Dedicate that whole one phase just to your Audio system and you'll be truly amazed! It's a beautiful thing.

Then again, how many people have dedicated AC mains phases just for their Audio...? Hardly any. They're all shared circuits wired throughout the house. Therefore, separate AC mains lines would suit best if dedicated phase cannot be installed. You would also require council approval in your country.

Cheers, and enjoy those fine tunes!
RJ

 

[DasguteOhr]

I completely forego filtering or anything like that. You described it very well. A separate line for HiFi from the distribution box, the only thing I have installed is lightning and overvoltage protection. (Dehn a German company with industry standards*) and an old DDR variable transformer for old devices, massively heavy and robust.
*Picture

 

[2ndLiner]

After reading the Sircom review again, I picked up four EH 6922s from Viva and found them to further the SQ of the ART88. Maybe it's just my expectations but they have been in the 88 for a couple of hundred hours now and are great. No noise from the tubes so far. Ron, I'll send you a PM on your my perceptions about your question if It's possible here. Nothing dramatic.

Did you place the EH 6922's in all four positions?

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Attn: Coppy

Great to hear the EH 6922's are your preferred choice of tubes in the ART88.

However, it doesn't "improve" SQ... rather it's just a different flavour. IF SQ was to improve then JF would be doing back flips.

Cheers mate, and enjoy those finest tunes!
RJ

 

[zermatt]

Here is a brand new Art88 for sale, this is way below dealer pricing, new used. The Lad has a major life changing event and cannot complete his dream audio system.

Brand New Conrad Johnson Art 88

Brand new and never used Conrad Johnson Art 88 preamplifier just arrived from CJ. Purchased from an authorized retailer in NYC. Initially purchased with ART150, which is also for sale at the moment. But I had a change in my system configuration after I paid for it and it is no longer needed. It...

www.usaudiomart.com

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Hot damn! If that was available here, especially at that price offer, it would have been playing tunes in my system before I could post this response!

Seriously mate, virtually unopened box, not even used or plugged in, CJ's top of the line ART preamp, what more do you really want? Even my good mates in Spore won't have this preamp on offer anywhere close to this price range, no chance Charlie.

If this unit is back at CJ HQ and has been checked by JF himself, then it's good to go. This is like one of those rare opportunities where you wait a few years along comes polly. Really doesn't get any better than this maties.

That deserves a mighty WOOF!
Cheers, RJ

 

[zermatt]

Based on the exchange rate: 1 USD to 1.58 AD: That would be a total of $22120. That still a serous amount! He would probably be willing come down a few $$$$. So with shipping you could be looking at 20 to 22K AD.

 

[Big Dog RJ]

Based on the exchange rate: 1 USD to 1.58 AD: That would be a total of $22120. That still a serous amount! He would probably be willing come down a few $$$$. So with shipping you could be looking at 20 to 22K AD.

Yes, it does seem to be a fair asking price, given that it's virtually new! The last time I was quite serious about the ART88, it was quoted around 46grand over here. That slightly dropped to around 42grand and around 60grand for the ART108A's, which I was very keen on.
However, if I was able to not age and live another 50plus years, that's great! I can then certainly enjoy those fine tunes till 100! But that's not the case, and I'm done with tooobs.

So, looking forwards... in about 3yrs from now, heading back to SS, and it will be a full Pass Labs XA series line-up, and one of their XP series preamps. I've auditioned nearly every model of Pass Labs gear (from integrated to their mighty XS300's) and have decided on the XA series power amps. That matched with one of the top line XP preamps will be just dandy!

It definitely was a good ride with tubes, having been accustomed to them since high school, still using CJ gear! Also, having owned various CJ gear (from PV10 to Art, MV55 to the Premier 8A's), and now going full circle to a more updated version of CJ's pre-power units (with modded Class A output stages), this combination I currently have, driving CLX's is mighty fine! So, WOOF to that!

Tube maintenance is getting costly, there's no denying that, and I'm getting tired. It's not really downsizing as such but rather a different dimension towards the finest SS has to offer, with superb vfm!
Until such time, the tooons are fine!
Cheers, RJ