tlarwa Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Went away from tubes for the first time in quite a while. Decided to stay with a single-ended design, though, and the J2 came highly recommended as a solid state option. Well I have to say that I am completely pleased with it! I have it powering my Cornwalls, and it has plenty of headroom with both my phono and digital front ends. I'm currently have it paired with a passive "cathode follower" design tube buffer, and it sounds mighty fine. But I'll be building a passive pre in the coming week, using Goldpoint dual mono attenuators, Cardas RCAs and silver wire. I'm excited to see how transparent and uncolored the sound is with the J2 and taking the tubes out of the signal path. Anyway, just wanted to share my happy experience with this combo so far. The Cornwall's haven't sounded better, and I've now run them with a Red Wine Audio amp, Rougue Audio tube integrated and a hand built 6av5 based amp. I'd dare say the J2 is the best amp I've ever owned to this point. So so far so good! Can't wait to build the passive... Tom 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 That is a big amp coming from tubes. Operating in class A is about as good as it gets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtmudd Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Nice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Tube front end with a solid state mono back end is wondrous. I am using a chinese pre with Telefunken 802's and a class d mono set and ue sound has been extremely splendid. All hints of harshness and beaming have miraculously disappeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davesans Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Congrats I been thinking of getting a Fist Watt to power my Forte's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlarwa Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 2 hours ago, derrickdj1 said: That is a big amp coming from tubes. Operating in class A is about as good as it gets! Big in size, but only 25 watts. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum I just sold ... now that was a big amp. 100 watts per side with the KT120 tubes! Sounded good but I couldn't get past the noise floor. This baby is dead quiet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Goldpoints...yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlarwa Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 37 minutes ago, mike stehr said: Goldpoints...yummy! Yep, not cheap but awfully nice. Got those big solid aluminum knobs too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeybadger Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I love my First Watt, I have never tried the J2, but have owned the F5, and now an F6. I head good things about the J2.....Nice. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oltng Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 On 10/1/2016 at 9:43 PM, tlarwa said: Big in size, but only 25 watts. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum I just sold ... now that was a big amp. 100 watts per side with the KT120 tubes! Sounded good but I couldn't get past the noise floor. This baby is dead quiet... Just wondering if you're still using the J2 to drive your Cornwalls. Did you build that preamp to drive the J2? However, if you're using a DAC, especially one with balanced outputs, that would likely be fine for driving the J2 directly. Really interested in your further comments on driving the Cornwalls, or any other 8 ohm speaker with the J2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlarwa Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 No, the J2 has been gone for a long while now, as are the Cornwalls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oltng Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 On 4/17/2023 at 11:53 AM, tlarwa said: No, the J2 has been gone for a long while now, as are the Cornwalls. I see. But on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being best, how satisfied were you with the J2 driving the Cornwalls, and/or any other efficient and 8 ohm speaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninklipsch Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 I almost went the J2 way when I decided to change from my Michi X5 (which was overkill for CWs) but went with a 300b SE tube design. It sounds amazing. The best amps I found were Fezz and Unison... If I go back to SS at any point, The FirstWatt line would be where I start... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 I love the sound of tube pre with s/s amp. Have 3 systems setup that way. With the right s/s amp this can be an excellent combination. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 3 hours ago, roninklipsch said: I decided to change from my Michi X5 .. you sold the Michi X5 , did you get a good price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninklipsch Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Yes I did. Fair price for sure but I paid no where near retail so I came out of it fine and it covered the new amp 100%. I'll miss it. I would still recommend a X5 or X3. Really good stuff. But I wanted to try a path I have never considered before so I went Forte, Heresy then CW. At CW I knew I was good for a while so started down Tube Road. Not sure if I'm done but I am really pleased with the sound of this amp. I do a lot of business thru and with TMR. And no shipping so that's an advantage (or a curse) depending on the day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svberger Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 My Cornwall's can sound good on either SS or tube. Presently have them with a McIntosh MC225, but have also used a McIntosh MC2105 and 2120 and those sounded just fine also. My pre is McIntosh C11. My La Scala's though are much more pleasing to my ear with all tubes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I am using an C2500 tube pre and MC2100 s/s amp on my '73 cornwalls. Sounds like 100% tubes but with tighter bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlarwa Posted April 30, 2023 Author Share Posted April 30, 2023 Thought I owed a response here. The J2 was very good with the Cornwalls. It went by the wayside because I was obsessed with trying a SE tube amp. I regret the sale, not because tubes were bad, but because I’d still like to have the J2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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