2. amps-preamps
  3. 1089917614

Tight-Budget Tube Integrated... Help

Greetings all. I'm looking for a used tubed integrated in the $300-400 range. I currently have Mordaunt-Short monitors, 90DB/8ohm, good-for-the-money speakers. I listen to a WIDE range of music, and do occasionally need to hear some Metallica or Jurassic 5 (with emphasis on the "occasional", everyday music much more like Radiohead or Dave Matthews), and am looking at my options. After pouring over the archives, a few options seem to keep appearing, Jolida 102, Jolida Hybrids, Almarro, Sophia Baby, ASL, etc. Has anyone heard/lived with the Radii products?

Having heard lots of hifi over the years, I realize my budget means compromise, but I want that "tube groove" back. No funds for seperates right now, so integrated it must be.

I have had two Jolida 302B's, both of which developed problems. Frustrated with the reliability issues, I tried a Rega integrated, but sold it. Even my "non-audiophile" girlfriend commented how "flat" it sounded (what a peach! - uh, I mean the girl, not the Rega)I don't need a lot, but I need RELIABLE tube sound in a small, cheap package. The vast majority of my listening is at volumes that you could talk over, if that helps.

I am much more concerned with quality than quantity, if I can even afford to choose at this dollar level.

Thanks in advance friends!
aldenruss
camadeco
133 posts
 
Wait and look for a Mesa Tigris.
aldenruss OP
35 posts
 
Another possibility would be an amp with gain, as my digital source would be in use, say, 95% of the time. I'd love an AES Super Amp (with gain), just too much $ to swing at this time. Thanks for the feedback.
c123666
871 posts
 
At less than 400 I think I'd be looking at that Fisher 500B tube receiver as it is a nice sounding piece that will only appreciate in value if taken care of.
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Personally, I think you are a perfect candidate for a Jadis Orchestra Reference.

The brand has been pretty well decimated here in the USA, and you are able to find them here often on Audiogon, at 50% or less of their original price.

I own one, and feel it is one of the best tube integrateds made. It does not eclipse their more upscale integrateds, such as the DA60, but I find the overall package better than just about any other tube integrated I can think of.

You are getting a serious amplifier here. The Jadis transformers are about as good as you can do, and the quality and power of a tube amps transformers is important beyond whatever I could convey to you. The power, bandwidth, bass extension, etc. are a direct reflection of the amp's transformers - it couples the amp to the speakers, analogous to the tires on a car. And we all know how critical good tires are.

The amp is a bit sweet, and a touch lush, but not all that much. The sound I am describing is with the KT90 tubes. Switching to KT88 or EL34, which the amp can also run would push it to a more romantic sound for anyone looking for that. 6550 would take it to the leaner side. My KT90s have about 6 years on them, and while I may be getting close to their end of the road, that is a lot of life for a tube amp.

I have been on a pretty long audio journey and other than power, which it betters any other 4 tube integrated I have come across, I frequently wonder if it I can do better without going really far out.

Build quality of the Jadis matches its parts quality, which uses some excellent caps, gold plated ceramic tube sockets, huge OFC wound transformers. The tone controls are a cool feature, you can take the edge off or brighten up a recording, or add a bit of boom when your non audiophile friends demand it.

The only complaints I have with the sound are with the gold plated finish, which is difficult to clean and keep pristine and the overly involved bias procedure.
s23chang
619 posts
 
Trelja, I didn't know "Jadis Orchestra Reference" only cost $300 to $400. That's a bargain
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