At conrad-johnson, development of their flagship products has traditionally led to important enhancements of their entry-level offerings.
 
The ET6 preamplifier is a case in point. The ET6 line-stage is a “baby” version of conrad-johnson's flagship line-stage preamplifier, the GAT. The family resemblance is much more than skin deep.
 
With voltage gain provided by a triode vacuum-tube, the zero-feedback line-stage circuit of the ET6, along with its DC voltage regulators, closely replicates the circuit of the GAT.
 
Finally, and especially noteworthy, the ET6 features a relay-operated discrete stepped attenuator level-control circuit of the type found in the GAT and ET7, absent only the balance control function found in those more costly models.
 
Functionally, the ET6 provides highly flexible I/O facilities with six separate line-level inputs (including one “tape” loop), plus a theater loop that facilitates use in a home theater system. In addition, the ET6 offers the convenience of infrared remote control of all functions.
 
For vinyl enthusiasts, the ET6 is optionally available with a vacuum-tube phono stage that borrows its zero-feedback audio circuit from conrad-johnson's reference-quality TEA1-S3 phono stage.
 
You can choose between high gain (recommended for cartridges with a rated output of 1.0 mV or less) and low gain (recommended for cartridges with rated output greater than 1.0 mV) versions of the phono stage. Input resistive loading is switch selectable over a range from 47 kOhms down to 200 Ohms. The ET6 phono stage is built to the same high-quality standard found in the ET6 line-stage.
 
Premium quality component parts are specified to optimize performance and to sustain that performance for years to come.
 
Precision, metal-film resistors yield low noise performance for greatest clarity. Polypropylene capacitors, used exclusively in the audio circuits and the regulated plate voltage supplies, offer extraordinary temporal accuracy.
 
In fact, the ET6 is built to standards that meet or exceed those of many companies’ “flagship” offerings.
 
Those who wish to take the performance to yet a higher level will be thrilled by the availability of an upgraded “SE” version. The ET6SE boasts CJD Teflon capacitors and metal foil resistors in critical circuit applications.
 
It would be fair to say that the only thing “entry-level” about the ET6 is its price.