Anyone know of the new Jolida JD 3000 Tube amps?

Jolida has traditionally made great integrated amps. They have always took aim at the entry level tube buyer, and they have always delivered. I own some pretty nice tube amps, but am always delighted by the sound of Jolida amps, which I come across often. I have referred them to many people, and feel it is THE product for any non - audiophile who really wants to put good sound in their home.

Jolida took a step up with their JD1000 amp with 8 EL34 tubes. A nice amp, in the Jolida tradition. A friend of mine sells Jolida products, but is not carrying the new amp. He doesn't feel Jolida has established anything in this arena, and can offer his customers other great brands like Electrocompaniet, Linn, Rogue, and Thor if they are looking for something better than a made in China $750 Jolida.

Jolida making $6000 amplifiers does not make sense to me. And, I would not buy them. At $6000, you are now competing with the really good tube amplifiers: Air Tight, Atma Sphere, Jadis, Thor, VAC, Wavelength, Wolcott, etc. Why would anyone choose Jolida over these companies? These other marques have established themselves as the premier makers of tube equipment. Jolida has established itself as an entry level company. Personally, if I was looking for a 211 based amplifier, I would buy an Air Tight. They feature meticulous build, top drawer parts from the Tamura transformers on down, and sound that will melt you down. You can't do better than Air Tight amplifiers.

Thanks. You saved me from commiting a major error. I should know betterm after owning Krell top of the line, AR VTM, Cary Audio, I should!!

Jaguar1845, thanks for your feedback. Please know that in no way would I ever not give Jolida their due. I am one of their biggest fans. I'll take a 202a or 302b over most of the sub $1500 competition. Very nice sound; warm, rich, and full bodied. Upgrading tubes and power cords takes them to a level much closer than most would admit.

My friend was skeptical when Jolida introduced the JD100 CD player. In his opinion, it was not a good move. Jolida's bread and butter is their great integrated amplifiers. Their reputation in CD players is pretty bad. The quality control and reliability is about as bad as you will find in high end CD players. However, since they normally play in the $550 and below ballpark, their problems go by innocently enough. When I inquired about it, he told me he wasn't interested in carrying it.

When you jump up to the $1000 pricepoint, you begin to play with some very fine competition. Brands made in the USA, UK, Europe, and Japan. Brands like Adcom, Arcam, Creek, Musical Fidelity, Rega, Rotel, and the like. Selling product that falls apart here will kill your company.

I opted for the Music Hall MMF-25. A great CD player. Eventually, Jolida sent him a JD100 for free. Just to establish the player's presence in the marketplace. In a shootout, the Music Hall proved superior. But, that's not a slight against Jolida. The Music Hall also beats the Rega Planet 2000. Also, the Jolida seems to be much much better built than the JD601, 602, and 603. The JD602 was especially bad. Still, the Music Hall is built and sounds like players in the $1250 - $2000 category.

Time will tell as to whether the JD100 is CD player that can play in this arena.

We normally correlate Jolida to another brand he once represented, Golden Tube. A great brand when they were doing what they did best. As time went on, they branched out from their core competancy. The loss of focus not only translated into not executing the new products well, but also taking away from the established lines.

Should Jolida stick to making great sub $1500 integrated amps? That's up to them. But, to jump from this class to making $6000 power amps is several levels. Several levels. In the process, they are trying to leapfrog companies like Audio Research, Cary, Manley, Quicksilver, Rogue, and VTL. It's a VERY tall order. In my opinion, one they are not ready for.

Instead, if they want to move upmarket, why not continue in the direction the JD1000 set? Take aim at companies like Cary, Quicksilver, and Rogue's standard lines. Build preamps and power amps at the $1500 price point. If you can do that well, and the public accepts them, move up to $2500 - $3000. After a few years, a $6000 211 based amp might not seem as ridiculous as it does today. Like Hyundai trying to build a car to compete with the BMW 760iL, Jaguar S, or Mercedes S Class. Show that you can hang with Honda first.

re: Jolida 100. What tubes was the Jolida witted with during your audition, Trelja? I've heard the MusicHall and it trounced the Jolida with Phillips tubes, a definite trade up from the stock Chinese tubes. The Musicahll had a distinctive "lush" sound and made the phillips based Jolida sound lite. Alls lost? Not so. The tables, though, turn on the strength of a great tube like RCA, Sylvania, Seimen, and of course Telefunken. I just compared NOS Sylvania tubed Jolida 100 to a Wadia, and the Jolida gave up nothing. I've owned the Jolida 602 and 603. They bare no resemblance to the 100 functionally, nor sonically.

Muralman1, the Jolida featured the stock Chinese tubes. My dealer friend never runs anything other than the stock tubes in the equipment he sells. We did speak about that. I do think that a lot of people will be drawn to the way Jolida products sound with the stock tubes. It's very warm and romantic, but I find that European tubes really open the sound and add a lot of speed and detail.

It's interesting that you found the Music Hall to be more lush. We thought the opposite, the Jolida was a bit slow and overly rich. I would think the Philips tubes would lend more of what the Music Hall sounds like. Good pace, rhythm, and quickness. At least, the JAN Philips tubes in my Blue Circle preamp give that sound.

I would like to hear the Jolida JD100 with the RCA, Sylvania, Siemens, or Telefunken tubes you mentioned. I guess you like the Sylvania best? I wish you a long and happy relationship with the Jolida.

By the way, I am probably in the minority(and get killed for it), but I had a chance to listen to the Shanling tube CD player(with stock tubes) over the summer, and thought the Music Hall MMF-25 to sound better than that as well. I think the cheaper of Roy Hall's players was more agile, natural, and musical. Tube upgrade would help this player I would think.