Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J) ARTsa Amplifier (Tube) by bill

Model:	ARTsa
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$20,000
Description:	140 wpc tube amp
Manufacturer URL:	Conrad-Johnson (CJ,C-J)
Model Picture:	View

Review by bill_stevenson@bellsouth.net on November 11, 2016 at 11:59:36
IP Address: 76.213.153.169 Add Your Review
for the ARTsa

An ARTsa has been part of my life for over 2 years. It just was fitted with the first set of new tubes, and it sounds better than ever. It is a magnificent beast. It is my candidate for the best sounding amplifier ever made. The sound can best be described as neutral, but not sterile and very life like. It is an amp that can be listened to for as long as wanted with no fatigue. It has an effortless quality about it. Very easy to live with, but at the same time it presents music in a way that constantly startles this listener. Deep, engaging, detailed bass. The midrange can leave me breathless. There is a naturalness and a sheen that comes from very extended highs Vocals are...well she (Ella, Anita, Sassy, Nicki Parrott etc.) sounds like she is right in the room with a good recording. I have a Yamaha piano and can easily hear the voicing of it in comparison to recordings of Yamaha pianos (i.e. Marian McPartland). I also have drums, and a variety of chimes, bells, finger cymbals and other percussion instruments. This is very much a live performance vs. stereo system comparison. For example I own a bell tree that is exactly like the one the late Connie Kay (MJQ) used. These bells are extraordinarily hard to capture on record and reproduce in the home. Another notoriously difficult instrument to reproduce is the vibraphone. This amp gets it done, others I tried (McIntosh Mc275 VI and ARC 75) not so much. This amp drives a set of Sony SSAR2 speakers, a very high grade dynamic speaker with a sensitivity of 89 db/1 watt at 1 meter. I have been an audiophile and amateur musician for over 50 years. This system is as near perfection as I have enjoyed in my own home.

Product Weakness:	You get what you pay for, and I gulp at the prices of high end audio these days. At $20K this baby can hardly be considered cheap, but in today's market it is so good that it is not unreasonable to consider it a bargain.
Product Strengths:	Effortless Sound, just lovely and well balanced across the audible frequency spectrum. Rugged build quality. Great customer support.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: ARTsa
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): CJ ET5
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI Prime & SL1200GAE
Speakers: Sony SS-AR2
Cables/Interconnects: Audio Sensibility Signature
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Mostly jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 45 x 18 x 11
Room Comments/Treatments: Irregular shape, lively room
Time Period/Length of Audition: Over two years/2-4 hours/day
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PS Audio P10
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	ARTsa
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ ET5
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Prime & SL1200GAE
Speakers:	Sony SS-AR2
Cables/Interconnects:	Audio Sensibility Signature
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Mostly jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	45 x 18 x 11
Room Comments/Treatments:	Irregular shape, lively room
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Over two years/2-4 hours/day
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio P10
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner