2. amps-preamps
  3. 1147296939

Broken CAT

I recently dropped my CAT SL1 Ultimate MKII and it cannot be played. I have a CAT JL2 Amplifier so I thought the CAT Pre would be a most nautural partner. Since I did not want to wait for repairs, I bought a used Lamm LL2 and was very pleasantly suprised. I'm no reviewer, but I felt that in some ways the Lamm worked perhaps as well if not better with the CAT amp - very musically engaging. So now I'm wondering what experience some of you may had with successfully using a non-CAT pre with one of the CAT amps. If it helps to know, I listen mostly to jazz and folk rock, mostly acoustical instruments and I'm using Merlin VSM-MX speakers. Thanks.
pubul57
jafox
1,348 posts
 
Do a search in the archives. A number of us CAT amp owners have reported our findings with non-CAT preamps.
klinerm
79 posts
 
I am presently using an ARC Ref 3 with JL-3's, and I'm extremely pleased.
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
Mt resposne to to the Lamm in the system was similar to 42659, the sound was some how juicier and individual instruments were less spotlighted, that is, they were still distinct, but as if all playing toghether in the same room - I always felt the CAT pre had great detail, but I also felt like I was disecting the sounds rather than listening to the music as whole. Thanks for the tip on the Jadis, I will investigate.
eavr11
19 posts
 
Hi Pubul57

I have ARC Ref3 and CAT JL2 combination and I'm happy with the result.

Regards,
wadia150's avatar
wadia150
71 posts
 
i have a jadis m80 which is 20.000.00 dollar pre and the cat is way better i dont understand some of the answers you are getting .one guy said the cat was thin in the mid range. that is where it excells. usually if someone has thin mid it is because there speakers have a suckout at that frequency. the best match for a cat amp is a cat pre since they were made together
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