Guns N’Roses

REVIEW
REVIEW
168 TONE AUDIO NO.78 Taking a slightly different approach,
C-J does not build integrated
amplifiers in the classic sense, incorporating
plifier uses circuitry nearly identical
to C-J’s MF2250 and MF2275 power
amplifiers.
to the point with all the pertinent
information, just like their products.
The remote is the newer style they
no accentuated high frequencies,
which some solid-state components
tend to lean towards. The high
caps, this will take a few hundred
hours of listening time. Like every
other premium C-J component
a standard preamplifier and That champagne front panel
have been using on other products, end is there, never thrust in your we’ve reviewed, the CA150SE
power amplifier on one chassis, but features a simple layout with Power,
a simple plastic remote that serves face. The same is true for the low sounds slightly flat right out of the
rather building what they call a “control
amplifier.” With the CA150SE, as Volume (up and down), and Mute.
EPLThtr (Theater Bypass), Source,
its purpose. The CA150 has an end: solid, tight and tuneful, never
box, then “comes out of the fog”
MSRP of $5,000 and the SE version
reviewed here $7,000, which
right around 200 hours, with a
bloated. The mid-range, which I feel
they have done in past iterations, they The back panel is just as simple with
major jump in performance around
is where the “C-J sound” is, if there
combine a power amplifier with a high the “normal” connections in the back
features all the major capacitors in
300 hours, steadily improving until
is actually such a thing, is pleasant
about the 600-hour mark. I suggest
leaving your source of choice
quality level control and switching circuit,
utilizing the same components might have in your collection. Ku-
for almost any peripheral device you
the signal path replaced with CJD and true to the instrument or vocal
Teflon units, along with upgraded playing. Should you purchase your
on repeat for about two weeks
as their best linestages. They feel that dos to C-J for also putting a separate
resistors and a few other goodies. own CA150SE, a quick few tracks and just letting the CA150SE play
this is a purist approach, eliminating
unnecessary circuitry and the resulting
noise and distortions. For those interested,
this 135-watt per channel amthis
subwoofer output in the back;
comes in handy for those who
have one. The manual is standard
Conrad-Johnson issue: simple and
Immediately on power up, it
feels like home – and a welcome
one indeed. To steal C-J’s tagline,
“it just sounds right.” There are
of your favorite acoustic music will
convince you. It’s worth mentioning
that should you purchase the SE
version, with all those coolio Teflon
all day at modest, non neighborannoying
volume while you are at
work to accelerate the process.
You will be rewarded. (continued)
AUGUST 2016 169