McIntosh C2300 or CJ ET 3SE preamp

[n2siast]

My system currently consists of MC-402, CJ PV15 pre; sources are Oppo 95 and Pro ject 5.1SE all running through Salk HT2-TL speakers.

I really like the CJ pre and was about to pull the trigger on the newer ET3SE with teflon caps etc. It seems for about the same price I can get the C2300 which has a built in phono stage and headphone amp.

Will the C2300 be more compatible with my amp? What will I be sacrificing if anything sound wise opting for the Mac vs CJ?

[turntable]

I have not heard the ET3, however I have owned cj pre amps for quite a while and I owned the c2300 for 18 months.

The c2300 is going to be more neutral/leaner with a tighter bass. the cj will be a little rounder with better soundstaging, a bit more tube magic and bass drive.

hard choice - both are great.

[joeinid]

I have not heard the ET3, however I have owned cj pre amps for quite a while and I owned the c2300 for 18 months.

The c2300 is going to be more neutral/leaner with a tighter bass. the cj will be a little rounder with better soundstaging, a bit more tube magic and bass drive.

hard choice - both are great.

I loved my ET5 with my MC601's. That was a great combo. I think Shane is absolutely correct on his assessment of the C2300 vs CJ preamps. My vote with the MC402 may go to the C2300 because the 402 is not as sharp/quick as the 601's.

[n2siast]

I decided to opt for the ET-3. Significant upgrade from the PV-15. I' m satisfied with my decision.

[Puma Cat]

n2siast,
What are you using for a power amp?

[n2siast]

Mcintosh MC-402. I'm listening with the volume @ 1 and the soundstage is abundant. Amazing.

[wpg]

I decided to opt for the ET-3. Significant upgrade from the PV-15. I' m satisfied with my decision.

n2siast, did you go with the ET3 or the ET3SE?

[jwhite613]

wpg... Welcome To AA!!!


:welcome2.:

[joeinid]

wpg... Welcome To AA!!!


:welcome2.:

+1

Welcome to the forums!

[n2siast]

I went with the ET3. Now I'm left to wonder how the SE will sound or the ET5 for that matter. Another option is to have RHB Design do the line stage and Teflon modification. Decisions!!!!!!

[Joe Appierto]

I went with the ET3. Now I'm left to wonder how the SE will sound or the ET5 for that matter. Another option is to have RHB Design do the line stage and Teflon modification. Decisions!!!!!!

From what I've read on the Audiogon forum, RHB Sound Dezign does have an excellent reputation. I gather you can take a phased/gradual approach and see what each modification adds to the mix or have the work done all at once.

[wpg]

I decided to opt for the ET-3. Significant upgrade from the PV-15. I' m satisfied with my decision.

It's nice to know the ET3 is a signifcant upgrade over the PV-15. My current system includes a C-J PV15, Phonomena II phono preamp, Belles 350A Reference Power Amp, VPI Classic TT w/Lyra Delos cart, Oppo 95 and Salk HT2-TL speakers. I was considering the ET3SE w/high gain phono, but the high gain phono only has a gain of 54 dB which may be marginal with the Delos.

I will most likely stay with a separate preamp and a separate phono but the ET3 and ET3SE still look like a nice upgrade over the PV-15. There are no C-J dealers in my area so I'm shooting in the dark as far as upgrades and the differences between the current and vintage C-J preamps available.

[jdandy]

I decided to opt for the ET-3. Significant upgrade from the PV-15. I' m satisfied with my decision.

n2siast.......No surprise there, especially considering the forum you selected to pose your question. :rolleyes:

[Puma Cat]

I went with the ET3. Now I'm left to wonder how the SE will sound or the ET5 for that matter. Another option is to have RHB Design do the line stage and Teflon modification. Decisions!!!!!!

I recently spoke at length to RHB Design about what they could do with regards to my Premier 17. While I am sure that what they do, such their JB Gold upgrade, sounds very good, bear in mind that you now longer have a Conrad-Johnson Design product, you now have a "someone else's design" product in a C-J chassis. And while you may like very much what the mod sounds like, your component no longer will have the brand equity that Conrad-Johnson brings to a customer. While you may be perfectly fine with that, you may find that it is harder to sell your RHB design C-J chassised product to someone else as a result, and also receive the same price you would get for the original C-J product. And you most definitely will not recover the money you spent on the mods.

Regarding ET3s, the SE will sound faster and more transparent than the SE, but also likely be more neutral-sounding and will require several months (like 6-8) to burn in with normal listening times (3 hours a day, for example). If you want a preamp that sounds better than an ET3 but without the need to burn it in, look for a used Premier 17. The ET-5 will sound better than all three, but again will take 1000 hours to fully burn-in.

Just some options and food for thought.

[dtb300]

I recently spoke at length to RHB Design about what they could do with regards to my Premier 17.
FYI as I just had correspondence with CJ about upgrading a 17LS to a 17LS2 and the cost was $3350 for the update/upgrade.

I was considering purchasing a 17LS and updating to a v2, or purchase an ET3SE. I have read (here) someone stated the v2 would sound better than the ET3SE. But a used 17LS goes for $2500-$2900 and then another $3350 on top of that to update to v2. Way too much $$$ for someone with 2 kids in college and a wife working less hours. So I will probably get an ET3SE.

[jwhite613]

dtb300... Welcome To AA!!!


:welcome2.:

[chessman]

dtb300, welcome aboard! :wave:

[Puma Cat]

FYI as I just had correspondence with CJ about upgrading a 17LS to a 17LS2 and the cost was $3350 for the update/upgrade.

I was considering purchasing a 17LS and updating to a v2, or purchase an ET3SE. I have read (here) someone stated the v2 would sound better than the ET3SE. But a used 17LS goes for $2500-$2900 and then another $3350 on top of that to update to v2. Way too much $$$ for someone with 2 kids in college and a wife working less hours. So I will probably get an ET3SE.

Yes, a Premier 17 LS2 would sound better than an ET3SE, but actually, the prices I've seen for Premier 17LS are more in the range of $1900-2100, and Premier 17 LS2s in the $2500-$2700 range....you could buy Pr17 LS2 outright for less money outright than the $4000 cost of an ET3 SE. That is, if you were willing to wait for just the right one to come along. There was recently an LS2 on sale at Audiogon for $2700, which is only $200 more than a stock ET3. FWIW, I bought my Premier 17LS for $1900.

As I've bought virtually all of my gear except used for one piece (the Michell TT), I've found the key to success is to research thoroughly and know exactly what you want, and then be patient for that right component to come along used, and be ready to jump on it. Case in point: I knew I wanted a C-J Premier 17, and I was looking on Audiogon daily for one. Up came up at 11:00 PM one night and I immediately wrote the owner about it. He contacted me the very next morning (fortunately, he was local), told me he already had a full asking price offer on it, but if I was willing to match that, he'd sell it to me so he wouldn't have to deal with the hassle of packing it up and shipping it out. He had his money the next morning, and I had my Pr17; deal done.

[dtb300]

Thanks to all for the welcome.

I have been watching the 'Gon and other places for Pre's.

17's do not pop up all that often as well as other Pre's I have been watching. Act-2's seem to come up a lot more than the Act-2v2. Also been watching for ARC LS-26, 27, REF-3. A friend of a friend has a REF-3 for sale and I plan on going over to listen.

There has been at ET-5 for 6250, but again too rich for my current state of affairs - college.

I will probably just get the ET3SE for now and use it for the next few years and then when my financial responsibilities soften up, sell it and move up the chain.

[noel]

I just purchased a Et3se and pairing it with my old faithful 15 years old CJ'S SA 250 Sonographe.
My speakers are Dynaudio Dm3/7running on 4 ohms also just purchased.
I would appreciate if i could get some recommedations of a matching value for money power amp.
I am no hurry as i am enjoying the Sa 250 at the moment but I would appreciate your recommendations so that i can make some comparisons and see if i am missing alot and need to replace my Amp.

Thanks all.

[Rafale]

dtb300, noel....welcome aboard:wave:

[joeinid]

dtb300, noel....welcome aboard:wave:

+1 Welcome to the forums!

:welcome2.::pg2: