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Integrated amps, longed derided by audio purists, are everywhere, even made by Conrad Johnson, a sign of reduced expectations and capitulation to mediocrity.
I really enjoyed talking with Bill Johnson: he has a head full of tube and transistor knowledge that I can't wait to tap into. We talked for about 30-minutes, but it was enough to know I was completely enamored with the new Conrad Johnson CA150 integrated amp ($5000, or $7000 for the "ST" version with better parts) and the so-right sounding TEA 2 Triode Equalization Amplifier (aka RIAA phono stage) which costs $3300 stock, or $4500 with Teflon caps.
Integrated amps, longed derided by audio purists, are everywhere, even made by Conrad Johnson, a sign of reduced expectations and capitulation to mediocrity.