CAT

At Hi Fi Art, we promised to review the best of the best. For pre-amplifiers, that product is the Convergent Audio Technology (CAT) SL-1, in various incarnations.

Presently, the CAT SL-1 Renaissance ($10,000.00 USD) - it feels like we are in an audio renaissance, at least, yet the slight champagne hue of this particular SL-1 is evocative of Conrad Johnson electronics of yore.





If you liked the Martin Logan CLX Art Loudspeaker, and chose it for your home, then it's likely that you'd be the one to go for the Conrad Johnson ART or ART sa amplification, as well.

At 275 watts per channel, there's nothing wrong with going this route - should you listen to Stereophile writers - but we'd suggest that a CAT-SL1 plus a pair of Sanders MagTech Amplifiers ($5500.00 USD, 500 watts per channel) would be appropriate, phonetically.

Actually, to be fair, there is also the CAT-SL1 Legend ($20,000.00 USD) Pre-Amplifier, but today, we like the word, Renaissance!

We don't wish to suggest for you a product like the Martin Logan CLX-Art Loudspeaker for your home without suggesting an appropriately interesting back-end.

You will need to consider a MicroMega Trio or PiTracer for CD transport, should you not wish to select a reference turntable.

One contender is the CAT JL-3 Monoblock Amplifier. ($39,940.00 USD) - Sound by Singer - for amplification.