Control amplifier/conrad-johnsonCA200

[MacTube]

Anyone experience of one of the Conrad-Johnson CA200 control amplifier ? I have heard other CJs (when in the States) and liked the sound. Found a s/hand one of these but across the other end of the country - so can't pop round to listen. Gets good reviews but more power than I need and I don't understand the nuances of the 'control amplifier' not an integrated bit or is this marketing?

[Snoopdog]

This is a bit of a gem!

It's basically half of a CJ Premier 350SA power amp (same circuit, half the power output) coupled to a passive preamp stage (the control bit!).

I havn't heard one myself (I have owned the Premier 350SA for the past five years) but reviews I have read talk about the transparency resolved as a result of coupling a passive preamp (hence the 'control' nomenclature as opposed to 'integrated') to a 200watt stereo power amp of the CJ's Premier calibre.

I don't know what speakers you are using, but you can never have too much dynamic headroom in a power amp and you will find the CJ capable of truly subtle and musical delivery.

If it's the Midland Audio advert you saw, I think it has already sold, as the asking price of £1199 was an absolute steal for an amp of this quality!

Steve