It is a very high gain amplifier. Approximately 34 db.

Hi jsli, where do you get the figure? Bob has talked to the CJ tech guy that the gain is around 25db.

I measured it and so did Soundstage. Their figure was even higher: 34.8 db. The new guy from CJ may have misunderstood the question.

Wow, 34db is quite high. I am yet to connect the preamp. See how it'll go when the ic arrived.

Conrad-Johnson Premier 350 discussion
 

Hey Everyone, I thought I’d risk tempting fate and take a poll of how many of you still have your Premier 350’s and how they’re holding up. I still have the 350 I bought from Stephen (Puma Cat) back in 2013 and was wondering whether, at some point, I need to consider getting the caps or any other parts replaced due to age? Any thoughts, suggestions, advice?

Unless your Premier 350 runs particularly hot, it is new enough that the caps are likely fine. You might check with CJ to see what coupling caps it uses. They could be upgraded with the latest & greatest (CJ specials, VCaps, Jensen, etc.), which can make a difference.

Hey Folks... as the original owner, just sold mine last year along with a pair of LP140 monos to buy the ART 150 stereo. Can't say I don't miss it however. Interestingly, last week I read an equipment review, from Europe I think, and the the reviewers reference amplifier was a Premier 350. In their day, quite a few top reviewers owned the P350. An iconic piece of kit.
Enjoy...

Conrad-Johnson Premier 350 discussion
 

Coppy, when you say “the” original owner...do you mean you owned the first production unit? Or did you mean “an”? In any case, can you tell me how old the unit was and offer a guesstimate of how heavily it was used. I’m just trying to gauge the outer limits of this amp’s performance before work needs to be done.

I was the original owner of my unit... don’t recall the serial or date. All the paperwork went to the new owner. As I recall the C J website has the production dates of the vintage models if that helps.
Best,

Man, I don't even want to think of shipping that bad boy back to Fairfax.

Eighty five awkward pounds of listening pleasure. Plus shipping materials.

Conrad-Johnson Premier 350 discussion
 

They won’t even accept one unless it’s pallet shipped, which I would do anyway. I’m not needing to do anything and, knocking on wood, the amp works brilliantly. I just begin to wonder when a mechanical device begins its second decade.

Maybe the question I should be asking is how long do the kind of caps in the Premier tend to last...are people replacing caps in even older vintage Cj gear?

IIRC, all the caps are Teflon and should last a very, very long time.

Thanks, Stephen. And thanks for letting yours go to me. It’s the best amp I’ve ever owned and the best solid state I’ve ever heard.

Just saw this on the CJ owners website. Guess I have very little to be concerned about: https://www.conradjohnsonowners.com/...pic.php?t=1545

:thumbsup:

My 10 yr old Premier 350SA is still going strong. No signs of failing caps, or other issues, and no plans to upgrade to anything else!

Great to hear, sleepysurf!

Same here: greatly enjoying my 350SA :-)

My Premier 350SA (purchased new in 2004) is still going strong, fifteen years later. No servicing required. Now coupled with a GAT Series 2 preamp!

15 years later
 

Saw a Premier 350 for a good price. I have a MF 2300A going strong...do you think I should get the 350. Or maybe new speakers?!?!?

I've never heard an MF2300A, but I've owned the Premier 350 for quite a while. I ended up selling it because I felt my tube-based LP70S was more spacious and open-sounding and musical, on the whole.

If your MF2300A is going strong, I wouldn't flip it just for a Pr350. If its the same one I've seen, its about $5K.

I'll tell you what I'd do with that $5K if you haven't done so already: I use it to buy a Shunyata Delta D6 power conditioner for $2K, and put the remaining $3K into Shunyata NR power cords for the rest of your system, if you are presently using the OEM or stock power cords that came with your amplification components. IMHO, an investment in your power distribution "chain" would make for a considerably more enjoyable and engaging experience than tradin' out amps or speakers.

Sounds about right.
 

Very interesting and along my sentiment. I have thought, generally, why fix what ain’t broke? I have also thought the difference might be simply incremental. I have also considered going tube based I’m not quite ready yet as I have young children and a confined space.

I don't know your speakers so can't comment on them. And, not sure what your are trying to accomplish. Do you feel your current amplifier is somehow holding you back?

That said, I've owned the MF series amplifiers (along with the P350) and though excellent, really aren't in the same league as the P350. That amplifier is in my opinion more open, detailed and supremely powerful. It has been the reference amplifier to a number of world class reviewers both here and overseas.

Good luck with your decision.

Alternatively, if you're set on getting a more modern amp, you might consider getting something like an ET250S for $2K (there's one at the same auction site as the Pr350), and put the remaining $3K into higher quality power distribution.

If the price is right for the Premier 350, why not go ahead and try it? If it doesn't live up to expectations, you can always re-sell it for the same $$. I still love mine!

Won't swear to it, but think the MF2300A has standard caps and the Premier 350 has CJs Teflon caps (you can confirm with CJ). If so, you will definitely hear a difference between the two. Depending on your speakers, I found the Classic 60SE mated with an ET3SE to be a wonderful match.

I'm still of the view that you're going to obtain a more significant, enjoyable and engaging experience by upgrading your power distribution system first.

Here's my rationale: the upgraded power distribution system improvements will be very obvious. You can decide if you like and enjoy the improvements; my guess is you will like them a lot. If you do like these enhancements, and you still decide you want to upgrade the amp, you'll want to maximize the performance of the new amp with your improved power distribution system because you already know what it brings to the system.

If you just opt for a new amp: 1) you won't know the degree, nature, and experience of what an upgraded power distribution system brings and 2) you'll be spending a lot of money in obtaining, IMHO, an incremental upgrade. And 3) if you haven't improved your power distribution system, you still won't be getting most from this investment in the new amp.

Just my 2¢.

In conversation with Jeff @CJ, he said the MF 2300A was a $10K amp if produced today. It was the logical end of that design at the time with upgraded parts. Of course, the teflon capacitors have been introduced since then and would be an upgrade.

In general though, my system sounds terrific - we are simply looking at very incremental changes. My space has limits as I have to live with the living room I'm dealt. I have introduced Lessloss power cords and a Core Technologies power conditioner very recently.

I have CJ ACT2.2/Premier350 combo and am exploring power conditioner/regen products. Have you compared the Delta D6 against PS Audio P5 or P10?
Thanks

Hi HP,
No, I haven't compared them. I have a Denali 6000/S V2, and a Triton V1 before that, so I can't comment on the PS Audio P5 or P10. I did audition a Power Plant Premier some years ago (7 or 8 years ago?), before I bought my Hydra 8, and found it did nothing in my system to improve the sound; in fact my entry-level Shunyata Hydra 4 sounded better in my system.

You may want to ask Ivan about any comparisons, as he has had both products from both companies. IIRC, Ivan has removed all his PS Audio P10s and is using Shunyata Denalis now.

Also, don't forget about the power cord; that's the most important part, and if you decide to get something like the Venom NR-V10, that cord, in combination with a good Shunyata power distributor, will provide component-to-component isolation, which the D6, as good as it is, doesn't do directly, per se (IIRC, the pairs of outlets per receptacle are isolated from one another, but individual outlets that is, a single outlet within a pair are not).

If you have the budget for a P10, I'd recommend getting a Denali for ~1/2 that price, instead, the Denali is Shunyata's current SOTA power distributor.

Cheers and let me know if you have any other questions.

How do you like your Uptone Audio EtherREGEN?

I notice you are in SF bay Area, I am also in East Bay.