Thread: conrad-johnson ET-3/SE

KLH, I hope some people are able to chime in to help you out. The ET3 SE was something I seriously looked at for a while since CJ gear sounds like it would be right up my alley. Joe loves their gear.

I owned an ET3SE and loved it.

In my opinion, it's like all the current CJ preamps with the FET output (low impedance) output buffer. They are detailed like a great SS preamp, but at the same time keeping a bit of the warmth/lush tube sound. In the old days, ya had to pick one or the other. I'd recommend having a listen.

Disclaimer: I'm a CJ fan.

I agree with the above. I have only had the ET-5 and GAT and now have the GAT again. The ET-3(SE) would be at the top of my list for a new/second system.

Fantastic pics, Ray!

Originally Posted by SFete

Fantastic pics, Ray!

+1

Great job

What a nice internal!

an audio buddy of mine had a Shindo pre amp. listened to the et3se. he bought the cj and sold his Shindo.
he now has the et-5

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Oh my, what a lovely clean setup. CJ just went up tenfold in my opinion after seeing those pics.

+1 Kev. Beautiful gear.

I bet this Classic Sixty paired with the ET3 sounds great. That would be a nice little system. Hmmm...

I really like that combo Doug I'd love to hear it.

Originally Posted by joeinid

I really like that combo Doug I'd love to hear it.

You and me both! That does sound funny coming from a guy who has the ART/GAT combo!

Originally Posted by dlb2

You and me both! That does sound funny coming from a guy who has the ART/GAT combo!

Don't think I've "stopped" looking for more toys. I love the GAT/ART combo so much, I am sure I can find magic lower down the line.

Originally Posted by andrew

OK lets see inside the GAT!

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Calling Joe!!

I never popped the top to take photos. I think Ray may have. If he did I think he will post the photos. If not, I'll do it this weekend and post them.

Thanks Lloyd!

Not a problem...helps to know where to look! Took 30 seconds to copy and paste from SimCity's Review33.com website...an Asian audio site. I came across it while researching the GAT...and it turns out he not only heard it, but he heard it at a place with a killer system (Eggleston Ivys, FM Acoustics, the Metronome Kalista Ultimate SE, etc, etc.) Turns out SimCity and the owner (who owns the GAT and the legendary FM Acoustics 268, their ref preamp) felt the GAT 'set a new precedent in modern linestages' and 'in some areas...surpassed the FM 268). high praise!!!

Originally Posted by andrew

would love to hear the GAT, everyone loves it, not just the press. looks like a SS rectified cap coupled pre with lots of teflon and polyprop caps...no electrolytics..lots of no electrlytics. might be real good. should be fast

It's a great preamp. Not tube-y in the traditional sense, but a real transparent and grainless window to your sources with depth and layering.

Originally Posted by andrew

would love to hear the GAT, everyone loves it, not just the press. looks like a SS rectified cap coupled pre with lots of teflon and polyprop caps...no electrolytics..lots of no electrlytics. might be real good. should be fast

It is fast...somewhere I posted my comparison years ago on Audiogon about my old ACT 2 v GAT. Invsibility, incredible speed, extension and supremely better treble (natural vs very hard) plus also far far greater dynamics (macro and micro). Those were my notes as I recall. I remember speaking with a well regarded dealer who had access to Shindo, Zanden and Wavac...and I asked him about upgrading from my ACT 2 to one their references (Petrus, Zanden 3000, PRT-1). When I said I was also auditioning the GAT...he told me to get it. I asked him if he could source it for me. He said 'no'. I was shocked and asked him why he recommended it over the ref preamps he could sell me...he said "because I am honest". That says a lot about the GAT...but perhaps even more about this great dealer.

Originally Posted by joeinid

I agree with the above. I have only had the ET-5 and GAT and now have the GAT again. The ET-3(SE) would be at the top of my list for a new/second system.

+1, I love my ET3, it sound as a CJ preamp should sound, GREAT


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Originally Posted by andrew

I may get banned for this but I think Shindo is one of those manufacturers that has lots of friends in the audio press(hint hint wink wink)
They sucker us into buying it at exorbitant prices.
Sorry if I have offended any Shindo owners out there, just being honest.
After years of this crazy game , I learned to be honest with myself.

Personally, I rarely see Shindo in the press relative to Krell, ARC, VTL or VAC. (In fact, I also see Soulution, Ypsilon, Boulder and Vitus more often in the press that I read ...and they also cost a good deal more, closing in on or hitting six digits.) having heard the Massetto in my system compared with the ACT 2, I could certainly see the appeal of it...Clapton was absolutely sensational. his voice had such an incredible allure to its sound, I could easily have sat there and enjoyed it forever and never looked back...however, I listen to classical, hip hop, deep house and all manner of music where the Shindo showed itself (as far I could figure out its allure) to be just slightly mid-forward...very gently...to get that voicing just so. And as a result, violins also came too far forward which I did not want, and deep bass was not quite as propulsive either. But then again, it cost less than the ACT 2, and if I were one who listen to certain kinds of music, I could easily see someone living with it happily and not wanting for more. Additionally, I also admit its 119db signal to noise ratio is crazy good, and you do get a very low noise floor with it...and the Massetto is nowhere near its reference level...there are 3, maybe 4 levels higher...Vosnee Romanee and Petrus, plus 1-2 others which I cannot remember. For the kind of money the dealer was prepared to sell it for, I think it was easily something that you could buy and live with and 'be done'...and interestingly I find Shindo owner to be some of the most loyal out there...happily living with Shindo for years and years and years...that says something to me about how they voice their equipment...clearly they are getting the balance of traits right for some ears. Impressive.

Originally Posted by andrew

I may get banned for this but I think Shindo is one of those manufacturers that has lots of friends in the audio press(hint hint wink wink)
They sucker us into buying it at exorbitant prices.
Sorry if I have offended any Shindo owners out there, just being honest.
After years of this crazy game , I learned to be honest with myself.

Don't want to derail this thread but my take on Shindo is this: There are very few reviewers that talk about Shindo, but the ones that do are very passionate about the gear. As passionate as those that own it. It has been produced by one man for many, many years. As far as I know there are no assembly lines, no list of employees, no machines to do any of the work. There is just Ken Shindo, and perhaps a son?, building beautifully done hand-made pieces with hand picked components for each piece in his line up. He is a craftsman, an artist who like any other should be able to demand whatever price he sees fit for his creations.

Is Shindo gear everyone's cup of tea? Of course not, but I don't see how one can not appreciate what goes into making it.