[rcag_ils]

I am a first time poster, and have been enjoying Frank's product for a couple of years.

I've always admired Frank's no frill engineering, talking to Frank is like talking to a real engineer, not a sales person. While my preamp and amp are over at Frank's shop getting upgraded, I have to drag to my old system from years ago out of the closet and listen to them again.

My old preamp is a A.P. Van Meter design (based on Bob Carver's), and my old Amp is a Nelson Pass design. Even I am impatiently waiting for my AVA gear to be returned, I've found that my old gear is still very listenable. I also think that in this hobby, it's not always about which amp, or which preamp sound better than which, it's about how this hobby make our life more enjoyable.

It's great to own gear with solid engineering.

PS. could anyone tell me who design audio equipment for Comrad Johnson, since these two guys don't know anything about electronics?

[sueata1]

I thought they did!

Mel

[rcag_ils]

Conrad and Johnson were audiophiles without electronics or design backgrounds, but they discovered that they could make audio products that sounded better than those they were hearing at dealers.

Copied from this link: http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/conradjohnson/

[Wayner]

I thought ConradJohnson were somewhere inbetween Frank and the big guys. ConradJohnson guys wanted to make hifi, didn't know jack-crap about it so I'm sure they found some techys to do the designing. Whereas Frank is the owner/designer/sales marketing guy/phone answering dude, although sometimes its Matt that answers the phone.

Wayner

[bummrush]

Well they sure must have picked some damn good techies if thats how you look at it.

[bummrush]

PS. could anyone tell me who design audio equipment for Comrad Johnson, since these two guys don't know anything about electronics?
What the hell are u talking about? For the above?

[DustyC]

I think Bill Thalman was responsible for most of the early stuff from C-J. He was the 3rd employee and was Technical Director. The PV and MV series up to the '12 and '125 were designed under his direction, along with the Premier series preamps thru the Seven and the Eight amp. I don't know who is currently at the helm.

[turkey]

Well they sure must have picked some damn good techies if thats how you look at it.

Oh, I don't know. I never thought their stuff sounded that great. It was ok, but nothing special. It sounded like a lot of other tube gear.