The famous and rare CTC Blowtorch Pre Amp

F1nut

You might not see another for years and years and years. These were built as mates to the equally famous and rare CTC BBQ amp.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-ctc-blowtorch-a-masterpiece-collectors-item-2014-10-10-amplifiers

george daniel

Yep,, a rarity to be sure!

tonyb

Very nice....and pricey.

F1nut

76 views and only two comments......sad. You're looking at a piece of audiophile history, one of the best pre amps ever made.

tonyb

The reason it's sad Jess is because this isn't really a hi-fi site anymore. Very few of us left who even know let alone care all that much. After all, a 500 buck Yamaha receiver or an Emo pre should sound close....right ? I jest of course but you get my drift. Now where did I put my Ipod and earbuds ?

Jhayman

Agreed not many comments but I think it's because many have never ever heard of them..
I've been looking at audio forums, buying and selling and have never ever heard or seen one even talked about till now..
Like Tony says $500 will buy you a very capable piece of gear and for many that's all they require..

F1nut

Yeah Tony, I know and that's one reason I made the thread.....trying to stir up some real hifi in this place again.

Jamie, I think you missed the sarcasm in Tony's words and believe me that was some serious inyourfaceMF sarcasm.

Msabot1

That piece sure is a beaut.....love reading about gear like this..I'm sure the performance matches the price tag...can only imagine how this runs....

tonyb

Here is the man himself comparing the Blowtorch to the JC2.

http://www.stereophile.com/ces2007/011307parasound/index.html

Personally, I was unaware he used the same design team and basically the same circuit design.

voltz

I enjoyed hearing about it, for years now every time you all mention some new or old amp I go and research it and check out reviews if available and check out every amp, preamp, and speakers you all write about to try and understand everything I had been missing or would not know about.
So don't stop posting Jessie, cause I'm sure more of us then you know are paying attention. plus Sunday was pretty empty here and maybe more like this again will start it being more lively here. I for one have this growing insatiable drive to learn more.

tonyb

voltz wrote: »

I for one have this growing insatiable drive to learn more.

Now this is what I like to hear. You never stop learning in this hobby either for what it's worth. Good to know some youngsters still have a quest for knowledge in all things audio.

Toolfan66

Has anyone here ever had their eyes and ears on one? That unit is beautiful, machined out of solid aluminum is crazy, crazy in a good way..

I googled some other photos to see the innards...

voltz

Took a look inside... that is wicked!

lead me to this site: http://hifi-fever.blogspot.com/2010/12/legendary-john-curl-masterpiece.html

SCompRacer

There is a part two thread about the Blowtorch CTC pre at diyaudio with 56,524 replies.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/lounge/146693-john-curls-blowtorch-preamplifier-part-ii.html


My preference would be the Mark Levinson No. 32.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-mark-levinson-no-32-reference-xlr-phono-220-240v-2014-09-15-preamplifiers-europe

miner

I had a co-worker who owned one and sold it later on for $16K. It was a beautiful piece of audio equipment.

pitdogg2

F1nut wrote: »

76 views and only two comments......sad. You're looking at a piece of audiophile history, one of the best pre amps ever made.

color me stupid I have never heard of them at all......

thanks Tony I would of never guessed it was John Curl.....

george daniel

Man. Just reading this makes me yearn for some BBQ

george daniel

BBQ ,,get it?

SCompRacer

audiocr381ve

I just made a private offer for $500. Let's see if he bites.

headrott

Wow! I would love to hear this pre-amp (and to be able to afford it!)! Thanks Jesse for posting this one.

cnh

Certainly a beautiful piece!

Is there a direct relationship between this CTC pre-amp and the BBQ power amp that dorokusai (Mark) has/had? This seems to be a lot pricier than Mark's amp, which I believe was about 1/2 the price or less MSRP?

That CTC BBQ amp was a prototype, right?



cnh

F1nut

Yes, as stated the Blowtorch was made as the mate to the BBQ amp.

cnh

Thanks! I wasn't sure about the exact pedigree of Mark's amp, which I have heard. I knew he refereed to it as the BBQ and had to look the CTC preface up.

But it is now obvious from your original post.

cnh

fossy

I can't afford shipping ... jesus h Christ....do I need this to listen to Ted Nugent ? ahhh hmmmmm maybe

F1nut

cnh wrote: »

Thanks! I wasn't sure about the exact pedigree of Mark's amp, which I have heard. I knew he refereed to it as the BBQ and had to look the CTC preface up.

But it is now obvious from your original post.

cnh

The BBQ is a modified Parasound 3500, while the Blowtorch is a ground up build.

madmax

I hate to say it but after thumbing through a couple magazines over the weekend I saw several pages of 25K to 100+K amplifiers and preamplifiers. When did the average cost of an audiophile amp go to $35K+? It looks like buying the $20K stuff is cheaping it out these days. WTF happened over the past few years?

In any case I'm saying $15K may be an awesome deal given what I'm seeing today.

halo

Didn't dorokusai have both the CTC amp and the Blowtorch pre?

F1nut

He had the amp, but not the pre.

megasat16

At the asking price, you could get a PASS LABS XP30, and A pair of XA60.5 and some change for a nice set or MIT cables.

It's not that it won't sounds good or not, I am not a fan of John Curl preamp.

[Deleted User]

I look at it and then the price and then I thought I'm saving for a new truck