Shane My apologies for intruding on your system's page to get Lloyd's coordinates. Did not realise that the PM on Agon is up and running . Best Pradeep
I have not heard the CT5 but owned the ACT 2...and i think the GAT is far more than 30% ahead of the ACT 2. The treble is by far better imho...70%...really...i mean that. I was startled by that one, and it reminded me of the first instant i took the ACT 2 home and thought the treble was quite stiff...i got used to it in the end...but that GAT instantly brought that memory back. The bass is 10%+. The noise floor is 25%-35%. The delicacy and nuance is 35%-50%. The mid color/tonality is 15%.
My two cents only...but you're in for a real treat in any event. Enjoy and congrats!
Shane and Lloyd Many thanks. Fortunately the GAT has about 2000 hrs, so break in will not be an issue provided the conversion to 220v is not a problem. It took ages to break in the CT 5 but it was a quiet process with no dramatic improvements. I am a big fan of HRS. I have the TW TT on a S1 rack and the Nimbus couplers and plates everywhere including the Hydra power conditioner and TT PSU apart from the CJ pre and power. I am told the improvement the GAT makes over the CT 5 is pretty impressive of the order of 30% or so, if its possible to quantify such things.Even if that is partly true, I guess I am in for some fun. Cheers Pradeep
Congrats.I am sure you will enjoy the GAT. As Lloyd said, I had the ART3 prior.
Improvements are as lloyd have indicated, however there is still a bit of the cj golden glow.
Interestly I recently tried the ARC ref5se as was loking at balanced synergy for my recently purchased Momentum Stereo amp. ARC pre amp was very disappointing in my system. Rather laid back and dark sounding - was quite grand in soundstage height but had little PRAT. the cj GAT was just faster, vocals more vivid and overall more realistic.
I have never used the EAT tube dampers - just the stk units.
One thing I have found has been beneficial is putting Stillpoint Ultra's underneath the GAT. Tightens up the bass and adds a bit of transparency to the rest of the audio spectrum - no downside to my ears. It also loves the Nordost valhalla pc.
let us know how you like the GAT once you have it up and running.
First of all...congrats!!! Great for you.. Enjoy! Shane and I have traded notes on our respective GATs. I also have traded notes with 2 reviewers who have the GAT.
I believe Shane was using CJ ART 3. Having spoken with a reviewer who owned both also, the main elements of improvement are that the CJ GAT has managed (somehow) to carve away any last bits of golden tone...while retaining if not improving on the purity of tonality that many of us love about CJ. The extension in the treble is greater with greater detail and even purer tone. Bass is improved (as in deeper better defined), but i suspect the improvement is greater in the treble. Finally, the noise floor is remarkably improved.
As for EAT tube dampers, i still use mine on my GAT, and love them. They made the difference between very stiff Mullard cv2493s and Amperex US PQ White labels much, much smaller so i almost dont care either way.
I also have found, as have both reveiwers i've spoken to, that isolation makes a huge difference. The soundstage drops another 5-10 feet back, and the whole presentation is that much better for it in terms of each instrument having its own space. Some use SRA...i use HRS nimbus couplers/dampers plus 2 double-theck HRS damping plates on top. Hope that helps. Congrats again.
Hi Shane I recently acquired a used CJ GAT on Agon to partner my brand new Rockport Aviors. The GAT will arrive sometime in March. Curious what pre you were using before the GAT and the improvements you noticed. Have been following the thread regd the EAT tube dampners. You seem to have abandoned them. Cheers Pradeep
I had a used ss cj prem350 for the last 6 months and having both tube and ss has been good fun.
My plan is to keep the big tube amps and use both. Both tubes and ss have qualities that are unique to each. During summer at the moment, the cool running of the ss is very nice.
The bass is tight, but does not seem to be disconnected with the rest of the audio spectrum. When you turn up the volume a lot, the Momentum just seems to get louder without some of the ss traits I have heard in the past, like too much bass or the bass becoming so tight it becomes mechanical in its deliver.
Momentum just seems to sound right, so really enjoying them.
Thanks Lloyd. You will notice that I still have my tube monoblocks. :-)
The Momentum tonally and musically is pure and grain free. It just sounds like music as it does not favour any specific frequency, is very quiet,transparent, dynamic when needed and has a finely textured treble - probably not as airy as my tube amps, but this gets closer than any ss amp.
All up a keeper and this is after trying a LOT of ss amps over the years.
At the moment I don't't feel the desire to plug the tube amps in to compare,but it is summer.
Congrats!!! A 'Momentous' occasion!!! Hah! Tell us all about it! you are a venerable tube expert and value the subtle nuances and tonality of tubes...how does the Momentum compare?
Yes...i have tried the original red tube dampers, no tube dampers and EAT tube dampers. sounds good all times...EAT tube dampers are a definitive improvement for me. The red tubes dampers are usually a help...but i have tried them elsehwere in my system and did not like them.
Never had that problem with EAT.
Look forward to hearing how Stillpoints Ultra SS and Wilson goes this weekend!
System edited: Updated a few changes to the system over the last year. Removed a few phono stages that I have old Added Nordost Tyr 6m if for in between pre and power. Added Nordost Tyr speaker cables Added a nice used conrad johnson premier 350 ss amp Added the superb Lyra ATLAS
i am amazed i missed your questions! Regarding the EAT tube dampers, the signal 'solidified' even more. Sweetness in the treble 'intensified'...for 19 bucks for each tube...quite a nice tweak.
