CONRAD-JOHNSON PREMIER TEN

Used. In excellent condition. Free from any obvious signs of wear. Supplied with manual and original packaging.

Tube line-stage preamplifier whose design is derived directly from the Premier Seven. The internal structure is essentially conceived as two mono preamplifiers sharing the power cord and mains transformer, while the two channels remain physically and electrically separated.

The controls are designed to maintain physical separation between the two channels, reducing the effects of capacitive coupling and minimising crosstalk. This is complemented by independently regulated power supplies for each channel, which contribute to the electrical isolation of the two sections.

The audio stage uses a single amplifier triode directly coupled to a triode configured as a cathode follower. The latter provides a low output impedance, allowing the Premier Ten to drive highly capacitive interconnect cables to the power amplifier without attenuating high-frequency information. The circuit operates without negative feedback, a design choice intended to preserve temporal accuracy and soundstage detail.

The volume control is implemented using a 23-position switch that selects from 23 pairs of resistors. At each setting, only a single pair of resistors is inserted into the signal path, avoiding the use of carbon-track or conductive-plastic resistive elements. The balance control also uses a switch, in this case with 11 positions, and is completely removed from the electrical circuit when set to the centre position.

Technical specifications:

• Inputs: phono/aux; tuner; CD; monitor and recording for 2 tape decks with dubbing from Tape 1 to Tape 2
• Outputs: 1 pair of main RCA amplifier outputs
• Controls: selector; record/tape out selector; mute; balance; volume; power
• Gain: 25 dB
• Maximum output: 20 Vrms
• Distortion: <0.25% THD or IMD at 1.0 V output
• Frequency response: 2 Hz–over 100 kHz
• Phase: phase inversion of all inputs at the main output
• Noise: 94 dB below 2.5 V output
• Dimensions: 482.6 × 133.35 × 415.93 mm (W × H × D)
• Weight: 12.7 kg