AudioRevolution's Best of 2002!!
With the 1996 introduction of the Anniversary Reference Triode (ART),
conrad-johnson established a benchmark for line-stage preamplifier
performance. Reviewers were unanimous in their praise, proclaiming it
the finest sounding preamplifier ever manufactured. Some went so far as
to assert that the ART's limitations, if any, could not be perceived or
characterized until the performance level of other audio components had
reached a similarly advanced state.
There was just one problem with the limited edition ART, and that was
that its massive dual-mono, two-chassis design was, by its very nature,
expensive to manufacture. For the last four years conrad-johnson has
dedicated itself to bringing the superlative performance of the ART to a
broader audience. The Premier Seventeen LS is the fruit of that labor.
The Premier Seventeen LS is a an extremely simple design it employs
the remarkable single-active-stage composite triode circuit introduced
in the ART, which means the entire amplification circuit is a single
active stage, without buffers or feedback.
Constructing the Premier Seventeen LS' circuit from a composite
triode consisting of four paralleled sections of high-transconductance
miniature twin-triode tubes allows it to achieve a suitably low output
impedance to drive practically any interconnect/amplifier combination
while eliminating any circuit element that might compromise its sonic
purity. Toward that end, the circuit is powered by discrete voltage
regulators designed to completely isolate the audio signal from the
power line.
The Premier Seventeen's level control, like its input selection,
utilizes microprocessor-controlled relays and a network of precision,
low-noise metal foil resistors to effect loudness and balance changes in
.7dB increments over 100 steps. This arrangement, plus a unity gain
signal throughput, makes it simple to incorporate the Premier Seventeen
LS into a high quality home theater system without compromising its
two-channel performance. All switching and adjustment can be controlled
by the unit's remote control.
As with all Premier components, the Premier Seventeen LS is
constructed from the highest quality, carefully selected parts for
unrivaled sonic performance and reliability. Only precision metal foil
resistors and polypropylene and polystyrene capacitors are utilized in
the audio circuitry (including the Premier Seventeen's level control).
The audio circuits and their related power supplies utilize low
inductance, high-precision laser-trimmed metal foil resistors. Internal
signal path wiring consists exclusively of silver wire, and input and
output connectors are gold-plated oxygen free copper. Switches are
sealed relays with gold-plated silver contacts.
In its quest to render the glory of music without compromise,
conrad-johnson has dedicated itself to bridging the gulf between craft
and art. Through meticulous engineering, careful specification of only
the finest available component parts, and a painstaking attention to
construction, we have created what we feel is a preamplification system
without rival in its class. We invite you to arrange an audition of the
Premier Seventeen LS with your conrad-johnson dealer to experience the
extraordinary musical performance of these two products.
