I have to agree with what is said about this amp. I have this amp. for about two years now and it still impresses me.It is transparent and throws a very nice soundstage with great imaging. It is musical and detailed, something very hard to get from a component. It replaced a solid state amp. that had a high ($$$)B rating in stereophile magazine. In my opinion and my audiophile friend, the MV55 blew the solid state away with ease. Some of the first things we noticed was how smooth and highly detailed this piece is. There was air to the music something the SS could not give to the 55's degree. These are the things that stood out right away without us tring to hear them. Magazine reveiwers don't mention much about this amp's detail. Well I will tell you, put this piece on and your going to here some fantastic detail. With a piece like this it has kept me from upgrading my system. When ever I get the urge I just listen some more and I'm convinced I'm at the right place. Stereophile gives this amp. a B rating. In my opinion it is better. It does too many things right, top end is extended and smooth. Bottem end is strong and a midrange to die for. Let your ears tell you how good this piece is.

This is THE amp for anyone who only buys audio gear because they love music. The MV-55 is in a class by itself, presenting music in an uncontrived, natural, and joyous way. Before purchasing it about 2 years ago, I auditioned many, many solid state and tube amps, priced from $800-$2,200 including Audio Research, Krell, Bryston, Jolida, VTL, Cary, Acurus, Classe, Parasound, etc. but to my ears they were all artificial-sounding, either too bright and grating or too soft and lazy, or both. (Regardless of price.) What a relief to finally listen to the MV-55. It presents each song or passage as a musical whole, not as an assemblage of sonic parts. In my experience, this is a very rare thing. This holds true for all types of music-- from jazz to rock to opera to you name it. If this amp is in your price range, by all means give it an audition.
In closing, I'd add that C-J's integrated amp is very nice and a great deal at its price. But if you've read that it sounds as good as the PV-10A / MV-55 combo, you've been misled. I had the opportunity to closly compare the two setups before making my decison. Obviously I wanted to save money and wanted to like the CAV-50 as much or more than its more expensive "siblings". But together the MV-55 and PV-10A preamp are much more open and free sounding than the integrated amp. With these products anyway, you really do get what you pay for.

Amazing in every aspect

None

This amp does just about everything right. Great imaging and soundstaging. Very, very transparent. I'm courious about the low reviews posted here on this amp. Just because I find the CJ premier 1b to be better than the MV-55 in some ways does not make the 55 weak. In my opinion it is of refference quality for it's price. I find it to work extremely well with many components. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Comparing it to whats out there? It sounds fabulous.

Similar Products Used:

They are Cary,Treshold,Krell,Older CJ premier 1b and MV-52 Audio Research-90b

Plays music

None, without being the best in individual areas.

Nuff said allready. It is in my small system, yet I sit there over half the time. On accustic and voices there is none like it. It is a gift from the Gods. If you only know solid state, your life starts here.

Similar Products Used:

CJ Premiere 8 (currently)

Wife Acceptance Factor

Not Yet

This is the first amp in my house that my wife likes.
Right after the first track of Burmester "Art for the ears" CD was played, she said the sound was fine, smooth and detailed. I was quite surprised because she even asked me how much the amp is. We listeneded to half of the CD together and it seemed she is getting more intersted in my hobby too, :-). Sam Tellig probably is the only one that reviews affordable components in Stereophile regularly and I think he proves himself once again with his approval on this amp.

Similar Products Used:

Golden Tube SE40

Did you know there hv 2 version - UL & troide of MV55? I listen both 2 & I can tell you troide version is better - a BEST BEST buy.

I'm not going to bore you with a long review. This amp just simply kicks ass!!! Clarity like I've never heard! Audition one today! You'll definitely throw your SS amp away... It just sounds that good, especially for Classical/Jazz.

Heavenly Amp!
This amp has proved a revelation to me. I have never heard greater fidelity. I have never heard imaging or soundstaging quite so holographic. The Conrad Johnson MV-55, an "entry" level CJ amp, possesses one the most refined and most exquisite sounds that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

I auditioned this 45-watt/channel tube power amp using B&W's revealing CDM1SE monitors, a Melos tube pre-amp, and a Resolution Audio CD player. I tested three other amps in this set-up, all solid-state. Because I was curious how the CJ MV-55 tube amp would sound with vocals, I listened to a disc of old Motown favorites. Previously, this disc had sounded flat, 2-dimensional, and roughly recorded using the same speakers powered by a range of transistor amps. I just accepted that this was a reflection of the recording quality of these songs from the '60s. So, the first lines sung by Diana Ross on the MV-55 combo practically knocked me to the floor! The holography was so astonishing, the fidelity so absolute that I felt I had been transported back to the recording studio circa 1964. I felt that I could literally reach out and touch Diana (pun intended). Every voice was "present" in the room in a 3-dimensional way that I found breathtaking. At one point I got up to investigate the exact spot where these audio apparitions appeared (a point half-way between the two speakers and just behind the speaker plane). The back wall of the room, and the speakers themselves, disappeared. Imaging was so powerful that I could discern the vocalist's body, eyes, mouth, throat, trunk, legs...it was the opposite of the disembodied voice. I could hear the band tapping and jamming in the room just behind the singers.

The imaging and soundstaging were so much better than I had ever heard and way, way beyond the best efforts of every transistor amp that I had heard. The tube myth, that says tube amps lack bass, treble extension, and dynamics, was shattered. I have never heard greater fidelity. Furthermore, everything sounded so "right," "natural," and unfatiguing. I could trust this amp to do it's thing. It would not veer out of the lines in the manner of solid-state designs. What more can I say? If you are searching for absolute fidelity, look no further than this "entry level" CJ tube power amp. Truly amazing.

Imaging *****

Soundstaging *****

Fidelity *****

Treble Finesse *****

Bass Rhythm and Extension *****

Build Quality *****

Looks *****

Value *****