Conrad Johnson CAV-50 Tube Integrated Amplifier in Very Good Condition

  
Conrad Johnson CAV-50 Integrated Amplifier. I have owned 5 conrad johnson amplifiers since 1989 and this one is my personal favorite. Very musical with amazing detail and a wide and deep sound stage. The amp was inspected and approved by Matt Kamna, my tube audio technician in Portland OR and it was re-tubed in 2018 with all new preamp tubes and NOS Siemans RFT EL34 output tubes.

It has been an unused back up amp since April of 2018. I have been listening to it for the past week and it sounds magnificent. Search for the rave reviews using CAV50 and stereotimes, stereofile, and audioreview. The amp is NOT cosmetically perfect.

Please look at the photos closely if this issue is of concern to you. They always sounded great with the CAV-50 on the panels, but they really came alive when plugged into 400 watts RMS and 150 amps.

You can't expect a 45 watt per channel tube amp to compete with that kind of power. From the conrad johnson website.

CAV50 Vacuum Tube Control Amplifier. Because each element of an audio circuit introduces its own sonic colorations, a simple circuit should be expected to yield superior musical performance. At conrad-johnson, we have maintained a commitment to designing simple, straight forward circuits for audio components. The CAV50 elevates this design philosophy from the circuit level to the system level by eliminating the preamplifier altogether and incorporating the control functions on the amplifier chassis, hence the term control amplifier. This approach completely eliminates the inherent colorations of the active circuitry embodied in a preamplifier stage, and of the cabling between preamp and amp.

The result is a significant improvement in system performance and convenience, combined with a reduction in cost. Many owners will appreciate owning a home audio system that is at once highly musical, yet easy to set up, and a model of convenience in use. Just add a high quality compact disc player, and a pair of monitor-grade loudspeakers for a true high-end audio system that makes minimal demands on your living space.

The attractive price of the CAV50 reflects the genuine cost savings achieved by eliminating the extra circuitry and chassis of a preamplifier. Examination of the CAV50 will quickly reveal that we have not followed the trend to cut corners on parts quality to offer a cheap integrated amplifier masquerading as high-end product. Conrad-Johnson sets the standard for parts quality in the audio industry, and the CAV50 is no exception. High quality component parts assure full realization of the potential performance of the circuit design from new through many years of dependable use.

In the CAV50, precision deposited tinoxide resistors yield low noise performance for greatest clarity. Polypropylene and polystyrene capacitors, used exclusively in both the audio circuits and the plate voltage supplies, maintain temporal accuracy. Separate discrete voltage regulators supply dc voltages to the input amplifier and phase inverter stages. Oversized main and output transformers enable the amplifier to deliver high current bursts that are demanded by musical transients. The proprietary wide-bandwidth output transformers enable the CAV50 to cleanly reproduce extended high frequencies and fast transients. Industrial quality gas filled relays perform selector functions, permitting minimal signal path length and extended life. The precision tracking volume control maintains accurate channel to channel balance.

Benefiting from an uncommonly direct and short signal path, and a simple circuit executed with premium quality parts, the CAV50 dramatically outperforms its modest price. Harmonic structure, sound stage, dynamic contrasts, and dramatic impact are all reproduced with remarkable fidelity to the live event. Never imposing distractions, the CAV50 invites the listener to enjoy the musical performance.

Six line level inputs, including one tape loop. Built-in LED bias indicators for easy, instrument-free biasing of the output stage.

Amplifier Power (ultralinear operation): 45 watts per channel from 30 Hz to 15 kHz at no more than 1% THD, both channels driven into 4, 8, or 16 ohms. 50 V to rated power.

Gain (PRE OUT): 20 dB. Phase (speaker outputs): phase correct (non-inverting).

Phase (PRE OUT): phase inverting. Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/.

Hum and Noise: 98 dB below 45 watts. Hum and Noise (PRE OUT):94 dB relative to 2.5 V output.

The amp will be sound checked right before I box it up. The item "Conrad Johnson CAV-50 Tube Integrated Amplifier in Very Good Condition" is in sale since Tuesday, October 8, 2019. This item is in the category "Consumer Electronics\TV, Video & Home Audio\Home Audio\Receivers & Amplifiers\Amplifiers & Preamps". The seller is "stangenesis" and is located in Bend, Oregon. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Brand: Conrad-Johnson
• Model: MV-50
• Number of Channels: 2
• RMS Power: 45 W
• Type: Integrated Amplifier
• Number of L/R RCA Inputs: 2
• MPN: CAV-50