This system evolved over the last 10 years. I've made hesitant but substantial improvements with each upgrade, taking the attitude that if I upgraded two steps, that piece would last longer. With the exception of the DAT deck, everything was sourced on audiogon as were most of the pieces these replaced.
Ultimately, I seem to have assembled a collection of pieces that are very well balanced. The sound is full and warm. There is great detail from well recorded source discs. I make ambient recordings as a hobby, and I've tuned my playback gear to match the recording gear. Now that I am recording at 24/96, I'm able to get most of the poential out of the system.
The VR4JRs are new in the system and need break-in and placement work. But over all I'm very happy with the system for the money spent.
You seemed to have arrived where I am going. Enjoyed reading your description of the merits of your system. I have always looked forward to owning some CJ gear. Your combining the tube and solid state seems to be the best way to go with the JR4's. With my 4's I am having to listen with either a tube integrated, which I love, or via SS gear. I hear the benefits of both. Your combination of the two seems as if it would give one both the magic and the power. Happy listening.
System edited: I've been happy with the system but kept feeling like I wanted a little more authority in the bass region. I've been considering bi-amping for a while. So now I have an MF2250 driving the lower cabinets and the Premier 11A is driving just the monitor cabinets. They are passively bi-wired using a splitter to two pair of s-zquared toplines to the amps. The improvement in sound is very nice and not subtle. There is greater authority in the base. Even without a crossover ahead of the amps, the upper and lowere seem to be very smoothly integrated. I was worried that the MF2250 might stomp all over the upper range but it's very nicely mated. The overa all clarity is improved a little and there is a new sense of effortlessness in the system at louder volumes. Overall very happy but studying active crossover designs when I have time. Active is probably the next obvious step.
