2. amps-preamps
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Coda CP pre-amp vs Rogue Athena Magnum vs ARC LS-12 .Need information

I am looking at a Coda CP pre-amp, and can't find a single review on either their website or online So would like some feedback from owners.

I am also looking at the Rogue Perseus Magnum which I read two reviews  As a side note, also considering Rogue Metis Magnum. The "used" price is good on the Rogue Metis M, but it is  classified as an entry level  pre-amp but still received good reviews as the Magnum version.

ARC LS-12 is a sleeper possibility, was issued in 2001, but received very good reviews  I have  a BAT VK-200 power amp which is outstanding,, So, am looking for the best match up in a pre-amp to bring the system to the next level.   Thank you. 


sunnyjim
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 

Tim, FYI, There  are several CJ ET2 and ET 3 on sale on AG., and one ET2SE which reviewers and members alike claim the SE version sounds better. 

I would have to assume the ET2 and ET 3 may provide better sound quality than the LS-18 Premier on sale But who knows, it could only  be marginally better except for the SE versions. 

BTW, I checked with CJ about the cost of upgrading  from the ET2 to ET2SE and would be  $2550..00. because they have to disassemble the original ET2 and rebuild it with the upgrade parts, and reassemble it.  Might as well just buy a new ET2SE    Cheers 

timlub
1,649 posts
 
@sunnyjim 
Hi Jim,  I didn't realize that you were in a budget that high, I was looking at that $1500 & below.  At that price point ($1500 & below), you have best of the best lined up in SS.  I've had tubes in every form in my own system,  but still don't have enough tubed listening experience feel competent in offering real advice.
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 

Tim,  Well, I am surely not going to buy a CJ ET2  and have it upgraded  However, there is a few ET2 at r $2000  or under. on AG. I would prefer to stay far under that figure, that is why the Rogue Metis Magnum, and the ARC LS-17 (at $1195) are under consideration

However, as you mentioned The  CJ Premier LS-18 is a serious contender if I can negotiate down the price to $1000---$1100  The model was issue in 2001.  I reread Larry Greenhill from 2002, and in his conclusion he notes a few a caveats about the pre-amp.... He states...... "because the CJ pre-amp are single ended designs, you can't use them to drive amplifiers with balanced inputs, or use balanced interconnects to minimize  hum and noise pickup.....etc."  

I need to call CJ to confirm that, but I am not sure he is right. As mentioned before, I use the pre outs of the Rogue Sphinx integrated, and have a XLR to RCA cable from Signal Audio Cables,  and it all work fine. However, I am not sure how the Rogue hybrid integrated design is "classified".   Single ended??  Also, input impedance and output impedance  seemed to play a major in the sound quality

It seems choosing a different brand (and used)  pre-amp becomes a crap shoot in terms of the final sonic results   The ARC LS-17 was issued about the same time as the CJ,  which really means nothing except that they are older designs in the those companies lineup of pre-amp over the last 15 years.  I think the only reviews I found on the ARC was on the "Audioreview" blog  on which it scored very high  with owners.

Nevertheless, I will carry on with a song in my heart. 

timlub
1,649 posts
 
@sunnyjim 
Well Jim,  this would be a very tough choice for me... Really too bad that you can't compare and if I understand correctly, you haven't heard any of them.... So:
The Muse is really very good,  I understand that you are unfamiliar with it and that probably kills that piece, but I really like this preamp.
The Conrad Johnson and Audio Research we know are good and both sport 2 of the biggest names to ever exist in Audio, so there is some comfort that both of those pieces will be good and you can easily resell... Then here comes Coda,  Not the biggest name, but for sure a company that everyone knows is no slouch and offers built in phono. 
You know, in the end,  One of these truly will offer just a little something to your taste in sound that the others don't, but you have no way to confirm,  but I can tell you this,  in the end, if you get any one of these 4 preamps,  you'll have a NICE Pre.  I think all but the CJ offer balanced and single ended.  I know the Coda has variable gain inputs.  Make the best call that you can and maybe its none of these,  but in the end,  be comfortable that your decision is sound.  These are nice pieces.
sunnyjim OP
884 posts
 

 Tim, 

Yes, it is a tough call, and you offer good common sense advice. I may put this all on the back burner for a bit, because I am taking a short vacation at the end of September, and  would resume the quest when I return

The Muse pre-amp has become a distant possibility for a few reasons which I need not go into.  The low profile of both Muse and Coda concerns me less than not knowing what to expect. The key trigger for me is that what ever I choose advances the sound quality similar to the BAT-VK-200 amp which really opened my eyes about aspects of high end audio I either did not understand or appreciate.

Let me note, that the BAT pre-amps are a given as far as a possible choice. However,   I was hoping to get something lighter in weight and smaller in size, and not dressed in "graveyard black".  I did not talk to CJ today to clarify about the compatibility of their LS-18 pre-amp and the BAT  amp.

One  last point, I was thinking of launching a new thread about asking whether the electronic "design" of a component is still viable after say 15 years, that is, do newer designs necessarily provide better sound quality. I realize and know from experience that speaker design may be hardest to pin down, whereas electronics, and to a lesser degree cables over time "usually" ( I say usually) get better in sound quality incrementally.   I know that the idea of buying some companies "newest" amp, pre-amp, CD player, etc. does not guarantee improved sound quality compared  to either its previous models, or models of  other manufacturer with similar dates of issue.  That is an interesting question!!

Cheers!!

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