Conrad-Johnson Announces: ART88 Reference Line-Stage. In celebration of 45 years in the audio industry, Conrad-Johnson Design is pleased to announce the release of our new anniversary reference line-stage preamplifier, the ART88. It will be available in a numbered, limited edition of 250 units. The ART88 is configured essentially as a dual-mono preamplifier the two channels sharing only a power transformer and the chassis. The ART88 adheres to our maxim that best results are obtained through the execution of simple circuits carefully executed with the highest quality component parts. In this case, the circuit for each channel consists of a single triode gain stage utilizing paralleled sections of a PCC88 twin-triode vacuum tube coupled to the output through a buffer stage incorporating paralleled sections of a second PCC88 for low output impedance. Each channel is provided with an independent DC power supply with discrete voltage regulator. Our ART series of products are notable for the unmatched quality of parts, as well as attention to mechanical details. The incredible CJD Teflon capacitors and Vishay metal foil resistors are used throughout the audio circuit and for the regulated plate voltage power supply. I/O connectors are machined from oxygen-free copper, then silver plated with a Rhodium flash. The level controls and audio circuits are shock mounted on independent daughter boards and the casework is executed in heavy gauge aluminium to minimize microphonics. The ART88 is built without compromise to achieve and maintain a new standard of musical performance. The US suggested retail price for the ART88 is $28,000. Deliveries have already begun.
