new to me Conrad Johnson MF-200

11tsteve

Well, on a whim I picked this up from Ebay last week. It was well shipped, arrived quickly, but unfortunately I had enough time to unpack it, check for damage, plug in, sit on idle for a few, and run 30 seconds of a song to make sure there was signal.... and then my wife and I left for a tour of Wisconsin breweries and brew pubs for our 6th anniversary.
Today I have had a small amount of time on our return home. A refresher of my audio chain before the first hurdle...

Computer (HT Omega Striker card)
Grover Huffman digital IC
Keces DA 131 MkII
NAD 116 pre...
Analysis Plus to the pre... King Cobras to the amp.
at the moment I have my Infinity RSb in the mix. My 5JR+ are on deck...
oh yeah... I have my crappy PSW10. absolutely the next thing to be upgraded. I have turned the volume very low for initial listening.
The CJ is batting for my B&K Reference 200.2.

Before I got anywhere, I had to track down a hum when the amp was first powered up. It was only present with the computer on... after about 5 minutes I discovered it was the GH digital IC. I switched out to my Tributaries TOSLINK and the rig is as quiet as I have ever heard.

So far, my impressions are mixed. The tonality of this amp is very pleasing to my ears.... vocals and instruments such as piano and strings have a much more life-like presence. A certain grain is gone that I have never quite gotten rid of, regardless of which speaker is in the line up.
The sound stage is just a bit more... broad. It is definitely spread farther out from the speakers.... and definitely just that much deeper. I have also noticed in most material, that the vocalist seems more pin pointed.
But here's the thing.... and I have done some reading on this amp, so it is not unexpected... but I would call the sound more rounded. Even though I have already heard a few new details in some very familiar music, the overall quality is not as sharp. Things like cymbals and snares sound a little soft, which is not the typical sound from the EMITS in the Infinitys.
I wish I had the vocabulary to express it better, but that is where I am at after the first three hours.....
Much more listening to be done... and there is some very fresh IPA in the fridge calling my name....

11tsteve

It took me so long to collect these cables! first cable to buy will be speaker cables....
Just sitting here listening... You know, this isn't my first amp switch-out. This is my sixth or seventh amp these last two years, most in the 200W range, so I shouldn't be surprised when there is a big change, and yet... here I sit startled by the difference. For what I said about the roundness, there is something very lively and dynamic about this amp. Certain aspects like string vibrations on acoustic guitars... amp growl on electrics... very present.

boston1450

Congrats on your new amp. CJ are nice amps. I listened to a CJ MF80 recently & was impressed.

11tsteve

thanks! I ended up with a few hours of listening in yesterday, and I think my final overall impression was that this amp is musical and engaging. And, she definitely benefitted from a good warm up. Today I will let it idle for a couple of hours before listening.
I am also getting farther into the volume knob before the music starts to sound compressed.... definitely maintains spatial qualities.
I think I will enjoy the next couple of weeks.

erniejade

A lot of cj equipment I have heard is a little softer or warmer sounding but, detailed. Easy to listen to. Some people think a little softer sound is missing detail but, if you listen it's not. It is just as detailed just might not be "in your face" as much. The BK you have is also a darn good amp and even though its warm, its probably more in your face vs the CJ.

erniejade

BTW I do like CJ equipment. You can listen to for hours and not walk away feeling beat up.

tonyb

erniejade wrote: »

BTW I do like CJ equipment. You can listen to for hours and not walk away feeling beat up.

Absolutely agree....which is probably why we old farts tend to be drawn to a more warmer yet detailed sound in general.

Plus our hearing changes as we get older. Half deaf...those piercing highs no longer fit into an enjoyable musical experience. We have learned to listen deeper into the music too as we get older. Warmer....louder because we are half deaf, longer because we hate that listening fatigue.....but still want the detail and pratt , the musicality to tap your toes to.

Tubes usually fit right in to that, but some SS does too. I'm drawn to the Cary sound for the same reasons I explained above. Congrats on the CJ, give yourself some time to get used to the sound.

11tsteve

thanks to you both. And both of your comments have hit the nail on the head.... still up for today is putting in the Polk's, though I am enjoying the Infinity's quite a bit. I believe I should try turning up the L-pad for the EMITs for a while though... just to play. I have been running them below flat.

erniejade

The emit's can be detailed I am still running a set of RS7b at work and i do have the L-pad turned up a bit on the high side while the mid is flat. That reminds me, i need to re-foam the mids soon They are starting to get cracking in the foam.

11tsteve

Well I have spent the week with my 5jr+ hooked up, and got some decent blocks of listening time in.... and I am very pleased with how the Polks and CJ work together. Again, the tonality of the CJ just sounds right to my ears. I think, everything else aside, it is coming down to that aspect. It's just closer to making my music sound the way I want it to....
My wife actually asked if was going to keep both the CJ and the B&K... and that she would have no problem with that took me entirely by surprise. And boy, do I wish this house had room for two 200W+ systems....... although the B&K would make a nice basis for the HT rig I have never built.
Alas, it will most likely end up in the Fleamarket by day's end.

rromeo923

I have a CJ MF-2200 with CJ PV2 tube pre. I recommend a tube pre w/the SS amp. A match made in Heaven (or at the very least Fairfax, VA...)

tonyb

DSkip wrote: »

Good choice. Tonality is the most important aspect and has driven me to many important decisions about what stays in my rig.

you and I are on the same path then, totally agree.

I would gather to say, many do not step out of their comfort zone of a system they have been listening to for years on end. Once you hear a system with good tonality, pratt, musical and detailed without an over emphasis on any parts of the spectrum, you will want to replicate that in your own home. Hence the journey....hence the journey to replicate on a beer budget too. lol

Mikey081057

Congrats on acquiring a great amp... a few pix would be great too!!! enjoy

11tsteve

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Congrats on acquiring a great amp... a few pix would be great too!!! enjoy

My camera broke. OK... I broke my camera. It is possible I dropped it on the floor. So Galaxy 4 pics for now.

11tsteve

Mikey081057

mo better...

gudnoyez

Sad for sure R.I.P. Mr Bruce, scary as it is we're all getting older.

gudnoyez

There was one of those on the Iowa City Craig's list last year I have heard good things about CJ amps enjoy.