Conrad Johnson Premier 1

It's 30+ year old amp. Is it still original or has anything been done to it? Is it a 1 or 1b? How old are the tubes? Plenty of folk might want a 200/ch tube amp and it's a beast weighing in at 135 pounds! If you aren't going to ship it (and it really needs a wood crate to make it safely if shipped) you will lose a lot of potential buyers and the money more buyers bring to the market.

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"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: Depends, posted on April 3, 2015 at 16:23:14
Garth1 Audiophile Posts: 12 Location: southern Ontario Joined: June 15, 2014	It is a 1b original had el34s then 6550 tubes then moded by sonic frontiers to take kt88s. A wood plywood box is no problem I am in Canada but I can ship to USA as it is a USA made product. Tube life seems like it should be fine not sure how many hours I have on them.

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 3, 2015 at 17:21:34
unclestu Dealer Posts: 5851 Joined: April 13, 2010	This amp ranked very high on TAS's HP's 5 star list. Supposedly superb bass for a tube amp, one of he best HP heard. I believe only 200 were made.

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 3, 2015 at 17:40:30
Garth1 Audiophile Posts: 12 Location: southern Ontario Joined: June 15, 2014	Yes Tas and HP were saying at that time it was the best of the best. I never knew how many were made. Here is a chance to own one.

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 3, 2015 at 21:12:59

Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005

My friend and audio mentor had the very first premier one power amp ever made..Serial number 0001.He was going to sell it to me back in 1989 for 1200 dollars but I didn't want it so we ended up selling it to a Canadian truck driver for 2200 dollars..The amp lacked definition at lower levels but when you cranked it up it was quite a bit better..
Being it's a high powered well made and rare amp,I would try to get 3k and see if you get any bites.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 3, 2015 at 21:30:20
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	I just noticed you are from Canada..We sold the amp to semi truck driver from Canada and we advertised it in Audio Mart back in the late 80s to early 90s..We are in Saginaw Mich. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

Interesting you should say that, posted on April 4, 2015 at 11:21:38
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37584 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	The amp lacked definition at lower levels but when you cranked it up it was quite a bit better. That was the case with the MV-75a as well. I borrowed a friend's and compared it with my Stasis. I was disappointed with its low level resolution.

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 4, 2015 at 11:22:36
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37584 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	That's what Harry used to drive the IRS back in the early eighties. It was very impressive sounding at his typical "power listening" level!

RE: Interesting you should say that, posted on April 4, 2015 at 12:52:31

Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005

Ralf
That was the exact same scenario with us.We used the CJ premier 2 Preamp which is fabulous,but the Perreaux 5150 and the Threshold S/500 just walked the old Premier one.Here was the clincher tho.My stock Dynaco MK3s which were not rebuilt are what convinced me that I didn't want to buy the amp.They were quite good on the Beveridge model 3s.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 4, 2015 at 13:30:48
Garth1 Audiophile Posts: 12 Location: southern Ontario Joined: June 15, 2014	I would let go for 3k one post mentions HP was driving IRS V with it I was using it on Infinity qls

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 4, 2015 at 14:54:14
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	What is the serial number on your unit? "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 4, 2015 at 15:17:07
Garth1 Audiophile Posts: 12 Location: southern Ontario Joined: June 15, 2014	I have the amp at a audio dealers I will get the serial number next time I drop in.

RE: Interesting you should say that, posted on April 6, 2015 at 09:33:52
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	Hi Mike, You not giving me much motivation to drop $3K. From you description, I suspect my $50 Threshold CAS-1 would walk all over it too! From the posts, it was modified, so hopefully it sounds a bit better. Have you heard an MV45 or its later incarnations? Dave

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 6, 2015 at 16:18:36
rockdoc Audiophile Posts: 200 Location: Harwich MA Joined: February 17, 2010	I remember carrying this amp at one point in to the main listening room at HPs place, over the Goldmund turntable that was at the entrance to the little room with the big IRS speakers. Heavy awkward sucker. Yes I was nervous.....

RE: Conrad Johnson Premier 1, posted on April 7, 2015 at 12:49:41
atom666 Audiophile Posts: 33 Location: Etobicoke Joined: September 13, 2005	Which audio dealer? I would like to have a look at it Thanks

RE: Depends, posted on June 21, 2015 at 10:29:24
Garth1 Audiophile Posts: 12 Location: southern Ontario Joined: June 15, 2014	SOLD

Vintage Asylum

Conrad Johnson Premier 1

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