REVIEW: Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J) MV60 Amplifier (Tube)

Model:	MV60
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2795
Description:	55-watt ultalinear/25-watt triode using EL34
Manufacturer URL:	Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J)

Review by Retuber on July 21, 2008 at 13:15:54
IP Address: 79.166.59.104 Add Your Review
for the MV60

First of all, I own the MV-60SE version, with the 6550 tubes.

I didn't tried to replace current 6550'C' tubes with KT88s or whatever.

The only thing I replaced was the 12AX7 tubes in this power amplifier and paradoxically I found that it made huge sound difference. I tried GE 12AX7 long gray plates but the sound lost the liquidity and the texture sharpness , increasing the overall sound weight and bass but bluring the whole soundstage and made bass more round than it should be. The original 12AX7EH were just a tiny bit mechanical sounding in the higher treble areas, so I found by far the best 12AX7 for this amplifier, the New Sensor reissue of Mullard 12AX7. Its extended, soft in the midrange, more transparent than many NOS , with sweet highs and slightly faster than most NOS I own. Anyway, it will replace a driver tube not a pre-amp one, but the difference is still big.

The character of the amplifier is in short words: Detailed like amplifiers cosing a lot more, with a round and human presentation but not in the cost of transparency. Its transparent and detailed like a great solid state but with the luxury round and musical, lush presentation of a top class push-pull amplifier. Its just a hint less resolute than some other push-pulls but this was never annoying. Treble is one of the things MV60SE does best at any price. Transparent,clear and detailed (together with same-school midrange) it competes any other amplifier in the price range , letting massed violins breath with extension but without any edginess or nastyness (together always with a more expensive active or -a nice match- a passive preamp). There are not 'cheap euphonic tricks' here, you can count every violin player of the orchestra without opaque of some tube amplifiers - but never edgy. Midrange is the strongest point of Conrad, having as you expect the magic of tubes but with stronger sence of transparency and detail of alomost any other tube amplifier in this price, without the cost of beign lean or analytical - just the opposite. To be honest, the midbass is weighty and rich, giving a real taste of leather on drums and a transparency, again, that lets you see the drum sets not only feel the weight. Last, the amplifier's bass is nicely presented without been week or slow . It has a great 'wood' sence with nice detail and articulation for a tube amp. For sure , 'wood' taste and timbre comes in mind when listening and comparing with other amps. It sounds more 'real' than almost any model I heared. The bass lines are not very dynamic but extremely realistic , the whole presentation is a mid-hall presentation , like G or H raw on a concert hall. I wish for just a hint of more detail or resolution down there, but this is really not a problem when the whole presentation is lifted to a coherent and a total 'whole' against anything mechanical or not-so-musically . Compared with other close-priced tube power amp, triagles were better resolved, harmonically richer and with more extension on top, ringing without any tibre anomaly more in a better defined space and air.

I recently get a call from a friend, telling me that Conrad will release a replacement model of this overachiving and extemely musical amplifier.

Product Weakness:	None for the money.
Product Strengths:	A 'luxury roundness' together with transparency,air,extension and detail of fist class amplifiers at any price . Not bright or edgy at all. No harsh violin notes here. Weight and physical body of every singer or instrument completes a coherent musical picture. Not analytical.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: conrad johnson
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Many
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Many
Speakers: Many
Cables/Interconnects: Acoustic Zen
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz,classical,metal
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

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Topic - REVIEW: Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J) MV60 Amplifier (Tube) - Retuber 13:15:54 07/21/08 (1)

nice... - ak 05:59:09 07/23/08 (0)

RE: nice... - PEA 17:05:21 06/23/10 (0)

Amplifier:	conrad johnson
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Many
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Many
Speakers:	Many
Cables/Interconnects:	Acoustic Zen
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz,classical,metal
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

REVIEW: Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J) MV60 Amplifier (Tube)

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