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Tubes for Conrad Johnson 17 ls

I have loved this preamp for about 2 years with the stock sovtechs. CJ insist that the preamp sounds superior with these. However, I wonder if you can get more dynamic and tube bloom from another type of tube. I use a MCormack dna 2 deluxe and proac 2.5 speakers. I use a CAlifornia audio Icon power boss cd player and speakers wires are bi-wired audioquest sterings with interconnects being AQlapis and MagnanVI. Don't mind keeping the system the way it is(since I re-discover how amazing musicians can be when i listen to it), but just curious to see if antone has experimented with other tubes. Thanks, Fred
fred75
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,699 posts
 
I use Electro Harmonix 6922 gold pins in my CJ Premier 16lsII and like them very much. They apear to sound a bit more open to me with beter dynamics especially in the upper frequencies. I know CJ stands behind the sovteks as they should with the circuitry having been designed around them.
mchd1
93 posts
 
I have the 17LS and have tried Telefunken, Valvo, Amperex, Tungsram and Mullards and prefer the Electro Harmonix tubes. Conrad Johnson is now shipping Electro Harmonix tubes as replacements for the 17LS and to my ears they sound better than the Sovteks that came with the preamp.
quincy
176 posts
 
I use Electro Harmonix 6922 gold pins in my CJ Premier 17 LS. They are a little difficult to find, but well worth the effort. I have no intention of going back to the Sovtechs!
david12
1,398 posts
 
I placed a similar thread recently about rolling the tubes on my 17ls. It came with the Electro Harmonix, so I can'nt speak about the Sovteks, but the general conclusion was not to waste your money. Any changes would be small and not commenserate with the cost. I resisted the temptation and modded my Shanling CD player, now that was money well spent.
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