ET5

About the ET5

The Conrad Johnson ET5 Enhanced Triode Preamplifier is designed to embody the technology of the flagship GAT preamplifier in a more affordable and compact form. It uses a single-ended triode amplifier stage for voltage gain, connected to the outputs via a high-current MOSFET buffer that provides very low output impedance, allowing flexible interconnect and amplifier choices. The ET5 employs discrete voltage regulators to isolate the audio circuit from power line noise and uses DC voltage for tube filaments to minimize infra-sonic noise. It features microprocessor-controlled relays for input selection and level adjustment with 100 steps of approximately 0.7 dB per step, controllable from the front panel or remote control. A Theater Mode passes the input signal at unity gain for easy integration into home theater systems without compromising stereo performance. The unit is built with high-quality components including hand-selected tubes for low noise and microphonics, CJD Teflon capacitors for output coupling, and metal foil resistors for precision and low noise. No electrolytic capacitors are used in the audio circuits. The ET5 weighs 28 lbs and measures 15.375 x 19 x 4.94 inches. It is praised for its balance of mellow sound and transparency, with a quieter background than some previous models. The