House of Stereo · Conrad-Johnson
A simpler route to a very good evening.
Source, amplifier, speakers. There is something deeply satisfying about a system you can explain before the coffee gets cold. The CAV60 puts source selection, volume control, and tube power in one chassis.
Inside the design
Purposeful engineering.
A control amplifier performs the everyday role of an integrated amplifier while omitting a separate active line stage. Triode gain and phase-inverter circuitry feed an ultralinear EL34 output stage. Conrad-Johnson specifies metal-film resistors and predominantly polypropylene capacitors, with enlarged reservoir capacitors in the supply.
Build the right system
The details that matter before it arrives.
Use a line-level source such as a DAC, streamer with analog output, or CD player. A turntable requires an external phono stage. Source output, speaker sensitivity, impedance, and listening distance all matter when choosing a system; we can help check the match. Allow generous ventilation around the tube chassis.
The numbers
CAV60 Stereo Control Amplifier specifications
| Rated power | 60 W/channel into 4 ohms; both channels driven, 30 Hz–15 kHz, ≤1.5% THD or IMD |
|---|---|
| Small-signal distortion | <0.1% at midband |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz–20 kHz, +0/−0.5 dB |
| Hum and noise | 100 dB below rated output |
| Input impedance | 100 kohms |
| Output stage | Two EL34 tubes per channel |
| Phase | Non-inverting |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 17.375 × 6.625 × 13.375 inches |
| Net weight | 42 lb |
Keep the useful stuff
