conrad johnson GAT vs ACT 2 series 2

Lloyd I may chech out the hrs thru cable company. The series 2 was good sized improvement to the1 so I still wonder how close it gets to the gat? Did you use the hrs with the act as well as the gat with good results. Please describe if you have time. Thanks ray

Hi Ray,

Check out the review from Jeff Dorgay, who apparently did not wish to upgrade to ART 3...but he did find the GAT more compelling as i understand, having spoken with him. GAT better than both it seems. (i have never heard the ART 3). I did not find ACT 2 as sensitive to HRS/without HRS as the GAT. I wonder if 6N30P tube is less microphonic than 6922? Cannot say.

6922 tubes seem to age fresh to merely good in fairly few hours compared to my 6h30p which have stayed much more consistent. Thanks ray

Rlw3,

I hope you will get a chance to listen to a GAT before you sell the ACT 2s2. I think "some" may prefer the ACT. It's getting pretty personal at this level. Even the speaker of choice may lead you to preferring one over the other.

I have not heard the GAT but hope to one day. I have found the TOTL CJ preamps to be "best of breed" for me. I do own their ACT 2.2, ART 2 and ART 3.

My systems are balanced to my satifaction now. Could it get better? Maybe. The one thing that gives me pause about the GAT is the solid state (mosfet?) buffer stage. Even though it's not technically a gain stage (good thing IMO), the signal still goes thru it. I have no doubt that the GAT is a world class preamp but I just don't feel the need to make a change.

So, you may prefer the GAT over your ACT and so might the vast majority but I always remind myself when reading opinions/reviews: 95% may prefer the GAT, I might be in the 5% that hears the ART/ACT 2.2 as the better preamp.

Good luck. If you ever get the chance to compare, please let us know what you think. I'd personally be interested.

Hi Onemug

Let us know if you hear it...i can see you are quite experienced with CJ! I have spoken with 3 people who know/liked/owned the ART 3, and all have moved across to the GAT. I know that does not mean you still wont be the 5% who prefers that ART as you say...and i respect that choice entirely!

But if you do hear it, would appreciate to get your thoughts, as i have owned ACT 2, but never heard ART 3. Thanks.