New CAT JL5 KT-120 based 100wpc Stereo amp...

[cmalak]

Saw this at SixMoons.com:

January 2014 - Baby cat purring by your wallet - Convergent Audio Technology release the JL5 stereo triode amplifier featuring 2 x 6922 input and 4 x KT120 output tubes per channel for 100 watts into 8/4 ohms. "Measuring only 31cm wide by 50cm deep, it weighs a mere 40kg to be much smaller than our other amplifiers. Introductory pricing is $11'990." Core specs includes a special variant on auto bias called OptoBias, 1Hz - 70kHz response +0/-3dB, 26dB of voltage gain, 1.4V input sensitivity for full power and 96dB SNR below full power.

[peterspartan]

I ordered a jl5 after auditioning a jl2 at home which failed on the WAF

[cmalak]

Peter...congrats . Please keep us in the loop once you get it and let us know what you think. CAT is one of those very high-end but very low profile brands with little ecoverage/fanfare surrounding it. So real world experience would be much appreciated.

Here's some coverage from TheAudioBeat.com on the JL5 from CES: Convergent Audio Technology JL5 - The Audio Beat - www.TheAudioBeat.com

Convergent Audio Technology (CAT to you and us) showed its 100Wpc, all-triode JL5 stereo amp as a prototype at last year's CES and even hit the final price on the head, $11,990. The final version has some features not revealed earlier, like OptiBias, which keeps the tubes perfectly biased, even with power-line fluctuations of +/-10%. LEDs indicate when the KT120 tubes need changing, so there's no guesswork. However, because they're operated at a quarter of their rated output, long life should be assured. The amp's 15-pound output transformers are potted in their own magnetically isolated housing lined with birch plywood -- "one of the most musical woods," as the amp's promo sheet puts it. As with other CAT products, the JL5 has a heavy steel chassis that's internally damped, and it rests on viscoelastic feet, which provide mechanical isolation. The "baby CAT," as Ken Stevens calls his least expensive amp, appears to be a lot of amp for its price.

[Puma Cat]

I can see why the other failed on the WAF. This one does, too. Ken Stevens needs to go to industrial design school, as he does not understand clean and practical industrial design. That looks simply ridiculous with respect to the speaker cables, interconnects, and the position of the cable jacks and binding posts. Big speaker cables coming off the middle of the side of an amplifier? Interconnects that plug in on either side of the front? Gimme a break! I wouldn't have it for failing the PCAF as well. Reminds me of some of the preamps where the IC's have to be inserted vertically.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I can see why the other failed on the WAF. This one does, too. Ken Stevens needs to go to industrial design school, as he does not understand clean and practical industrial design. That looks simply ridiculous with respect to the speaker cables, interconnects, and the position of the cable jacks and binding posts. Big speaker cables coming off the middle of the side of an amplifier? Interconnects that plug in on either side of the front? Gimme a break! I wouldn't have it for failing the PCAF as well. Reminds me of some of the preamps where the IC's have to be inserted vertically.

Stephen.......Totally agree with your sentiments. That is a ridiculous approach to speaker connections and input connections. Try working that amp into a rack.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......Totally agree with your sentiments. That is a ridiculous approach to speaker connections and input connections. Try working that amp into a rack.

Dan,
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking. Good luck with working that into a rack.

[cmalak]

Somebody got out of bed cranky this morning

I see both your points. This "design" will work better on a stand-alone amp platform in between or behind speakers with the main rack with other equipment off to the side.

Or you would have to have pretty thin or at least flexible speaker cables and interconnects when the JL5 is placed in a stand.

[Puma Cat]

Not cranky, Cyril...that is a stupid design anyway you look at it.

[tdelahanty]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I can see why the other failed on the WAF. This one does, too. Ken Stevens needs to go to industrial design school, as he does not understand clean and practical industrial design. That looks simply ridiculous with respect to the speaker cables, interconnects, and the position of the cable jacks and binding posts. Big speaker cables coming off the middle of the side of an amplifier? Interconnects that plug in on either side of the front? Gimme a break! I wouldn't have it for failing the PCAF as well. Reminds me of some of the preamps where the IC's have to be inserted vertically.

Mechanical design is not the only area where CAT amps fall short, I've worked on them, personally I'd avoid them, far too touchy.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by peterspartan

I ordered a jl5 after auditioning a jl2 at home which failed on the WAF

peterspartan... Welcome!