Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Outstanding neutrality, transparency, resolution, and transient speed
- Lifelike dynamic slam and immediacy
- Precise and stable imaging and three-dimensional soundstaging
- Lack of grain and a low noise floor
- Deep, taut, and well-defined low end
Product Considerations
- All conrad-johnson components are single-ended to keep the circuits as simple as possible, using RCA interfaces, and balanced or XLR connections are not supported
- If also using a conrad-johnson preamp, know that it inverts absolute polarity
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The only other amplifiers heard that can compete with the ART 150 are from Constellation and darTZeel, and those amps are many times the price of the ART 150
Takeaway: The ART 150 provides engaging and involving musical experiences and is reliable and durable. It has a proven track record of products that have been in use for a long time and still sound and perform beautifully.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
ART150
reviews
[{"title":"Conrad-Johnson ART 150 Stereo Amplifier - The Absolute Sound","link":"https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/conrad-johnson-art-150-stereo-amplifier","source":"The Absolute Sound","datePublished":"2022"},{"title":"ART 150 Stereo Amp reviewed - Conrad Johnson Owners.com","link":"http://www.conradjohnsonowners.com/viewtopic.php?t=2273","source":"conradjohnsonowners.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Power: 150 Watts rms per channel from 30 Hz to 15 KHz at no more than 1.5 % THD into 4 ohms
- Sensitivity: 1.0V rms to rated power
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +/- .25 dB (at 10 watts)
- Hum and Noise: 108 dB below rated power
- Input Impedance: 100 kOhms
- Tube Complement: 3 x 6922, 4 x KT150
- Dimensions: 16.3125D x 19W x 8.75H inches
- Weight: 80 lbs
Description
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, conrad-johnson has introduced two new ART amplifiers: the ART150 stereo amplifier and ART300 mono-block amplifier. These amplifiers are designed for our own reference use as well as for industry professionals and dedicated audiophiles. As with previous anniversary products, these amplifiers will be offered as limited editions, with just 250 units of the ART150 and 125 pairs of the ART300 to be sold through selected conrad-johnson dealers and distributors.
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, conrad-johnson has introduced two new ART amplifiers: the ART150 stereo amplifier and ART300 mono-block amplifier. The ART150 and ART300 amplifiers embrace our firm belief that the surest path to both state-of-the-art musicality and exceptional reliability is to keep the circuits simple and build them with the finest available parts.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Conrad-Johnson consistently prioritizes musicality and a natural, engaging sound signature over clinical accuracy, aiming to draw listeners into the emotional core of the music.
- They use simple circuit designs with minimal feedback and carefully selected high-quality components, such as proprietary Teflon capacitors and Vishay resistors, to achieve exceptional sonic purity.
- Conrad-Johnson products are built to last, with a robust construction, readily available replacement tubes, and a reputation for long-term reliability, making them lasting investments.
- The brand caters to both high-power and high-grace preferences by offering both high-wattage push-pull designs and lower-wattage Class A triode amplifiers.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Conrad-Johnson Classic 62 and Classic 120
- Positioning: The entry-level high-fidelity tube amplifiers in the Conrad-Johnson lineup.
- Description: Offers a warm and engaging sound, featuring a simple circuit design with EL34 tubes that provide 60 watts per channel, making it ideal for small to medium-sized rooms. In comparison, the Classic 120 doubles the power output with additional tubes, offering 125 watts per channel, which is better suited for larger spaces or more demanding speakers. Both models include built-in bias indicators for tube adjustments, making them accessible for those new to tube amplifiers.
ART150 and ART300 Amplifiers
- Positioning: Limited edition amplifiers designed for audiophiles seeking high-end performance, celebrating Conrad-Johnson's 40th anniversary.
- Description: The ART150 uses KT150 tubes to deliver 150 watts per channel, suitable for those who desire a powerful yet refined sound. The ART300, as a mono-block amplifier, doubles the power output to 300 watts.
ART27A and ART108A Amplifiers
- Positioning: Reference-level amplifiers, crafted for the most discerning audiophiles with limited production numbers.
- Description: The ART27A uses KT88 tubes in a Class A triode configuration to produce 36 watts per channel, perfect for highly efficient speaker systems in intimate settings. The ART108A, with its 160 watts per channel output, is designed for larger rooms or less efficient speakers.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$20,001-$30,000
Used For Sale
91
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
76
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
23
Founding Year
1977
Our take on the brand
Conrad-Johnson is a hifi brand known for tube amplifiers that create emotionally engaging experiences through their use of KT120 output tubes, CJD Teflon capacitors, and proprietary wide-bandwidth output transformers. Their preamps, like the PV11 and GAT Series 2, stand out for their lack of negative feedback and use of Teflon capacitors with gold-plated silver contacts, contributing to their ability to follow subtle tempo changes and deliver refined sound.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
Used
conrad-johnson
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
McIntosh
MC3500 Mk II
30000
/
Released
2021
Inspired by the amplifier that inspired a generation. There's no denying the historic significance of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. There had never been anything like it, and many would argue there's not been anything like it since. With an unexpected crowd of over 400,000 people, there was a lot that could have gone wrong – and some things did. But one aspect that's nearly universally agreed upon was how great all the musicians sounded. That sound quality is thanks in part to the McIntosh MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifiers that exclusively powered the sound system used at Woodstock.
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Expand Details
.svg)
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers 350 watts into 2-ohm, 4-ohm, or 8-ohm loads
- The design has a purity that is quite amazing
- Effortless power
- Soundstage is big
- Transparent
Product Considerations
- Not necessarily suitable for pairing with extremely cold sounding, sterile or bright speakers
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- MC3500 is more open and airy, with base not as hard fisted, compared to Krell KSA 250
- It compares with brands like soulution, big Audio Research, and CH Precision, but at a lower cost
Takeaway: The MC3500 is an impressive amplifier that delivers a natural and pure sound, able to drive almost any speaker. If you're in the market for a McIntosh amp, this is the one that makes music sound pure, simple and unadulterated.
Video review
Our take on the brand
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Product Page
Product Page
Balanced Audio Technology
Rex 3 Tube
25676
/
Released
2021
Think of REX 3 as four single-ended amplifiers in one box. Two waveforms per channel are summed at the output transformer. We call this a single-ended bridge design. This unique design acheives the finesse and naturalness of a Class A single-ended triode amplifier. With the power, dynamics, and control of a Class AB push pull amplifier.
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) designs all their components with fully balanced circuits and dual-mono power supplies, which deliver better channel separation and cleaner sound reproduction. BAT's signature approach includes zero global feedback and their Unistage circuit design, which amplifies the signal only once through a short signal path to preserve the original audio characteristics.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- 'Dynamic', 'extended', and 'smooth, yet revealing' performance
- Makes everything sound more real, providing a deeper understanding of the music
- Brings the listener closer to the essence of the original performance
Product Considerations
- Might sound a bit 'tight' when brand new, out of the box
Takeaway: The REX 3 seems to be a high-quality product that offers a very real and engaging music listening experience. It could be worth buying if you want to get closer to the heart of the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) designs all their components with fully balanced circuits and dual-mono power supplies, which deliver better channel separation and cleaner sound reproduction. BAT's signature approach includes zero global feedback and their Unistage circuit design, which amplifies the signal only once through a short signal path to preserve the original audio characteristics.
Product Page
Product Page
How to buy
Amplifiers
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
