ET250S : a sleeper?

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by medwardo

Hi all,

New to posting (long time lurker) and have had my CJ pair a little over a year. Lots of reasons I bought 'em: wonderful voice, no listening fatigue, amp muscle, great synergy with my vintage speakers (Dahlquist DQ-10s that I've had since new and heavily upgraded awhile ago).

I'm looking for a new set of speakers for this preamp and amp pair.

I'm currently looking at Sophia 3's, VA Kiss, Revel Ultima Studio 2, B&W 803D, Devore 9s or Silverback, Aerial 7T. So budget is, well, in those ballparks.

Music tastes all over the map: Alternative, blues, Jim White, baroque chamber, jazz, vintage rock, country, techno, oratorios/operas. Room is 15 x 17 or so, medium furnished.

Any recommendations/thoughts on synergies with the hardware would be greatly appreciated.

thx

I would make a gentle suggestion to consider Dynaudio Confidence C2s as well.

[chessman]

medwardo, welcome aboard!

[CDLehner]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I would make a gentle suggestion to consider Dynaudio Confidence C2s as well.

Seconded!

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Seconded!

+1 Thirded

[Elberoth]

I would also add s/h pair of Magicos V2 (can be found at a great prices right now - also as exdemo from dealers) and the new Avalon Transcendent to your short list.

In fact, next to Sophia3 those would be the first 2 speakers I would try.

[medward0]

Thanks for the warm welcomes and recommendations on some other speakers to audition.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

[medward0]

Thanks again for the welcome and the recommendations.

It's been really interesting to listen to modern speakers as I haven't really paid much attention for the last 30 years since I got my ole DQ10s. Gotta say that this modern technology stuff is a wonderful thing.

Here's a quick update on my quest (none of these auditions have been done with my equiment...yet):

• Sophia 3: love 'em and am about ready to pull the, errr, write the check
• Confidence C2: loved the sound at the dealer, but they failed the WAF (a "robot" is one thing, but a tall robot is another)
• Avalon: not certain I have a dealer in this area (Seattle)...no response to email to company for a dealer
• Magico: no dealers in area to audition that I can find; no s/h in area I can find
• Devore: lovely, lively sound, but not as musical to my ear as Sophias
• Aerial 7T: great bass, lovely midrange, plays loud well, harsh treble to my ear
• VA Kiss: meh. Beautiful cabinet, but not as dynamic as I'd like and bass lite, I think; lovely midrange tho'
• B&W: big 'n' bright to my ear
• Revel Ultima Studio 2: very dynamic, big, a bit bright to my ear

Short list now is: Sophia 3 & Revel.

Sophia 3 extended audition set up for Sunday..

[rthomeint]

I was looking thru the literature I got at CES and noticed no ET250 sheet. The website shows the ET250 is now discontinued. It looks like CJ is now strictly a tube company again.

[cjfan]

Originally Posted by Rafale

ET250s update :
things are set up, but I am going to have to change my speakers cable, this amplifier is an animal very sensitive to its environment, he can be puzzling when he is badly associated but when upstream and downstream that corresponds well.....IT IS THE HELL

I have had the same experience. CT5 and ET250s with Aerial 9's. Very sensitive to its surronding environment, but what a great setup. Sounds fantastic.

[javedbk]

Enjoyed this thread very much. Not many threads out there solely focused on the ET250S.

Am currently using an ARC SP17L with the CJ ET250S which is driving a pair of KEF R500. My first preference was to go for a CJ ET3SE pre but could not find one within my budget in Asia and so gave up and went for the ARC entry level pre. The ARC may be entry level but has a pleasing sound...not as golden as the CJ but not bad at all.