Jolida 502b, Manley Stingray & VTL- I85 compare ?

Rene,

I've heard the Unico at length, both at a (nearly) local dealer, as well as at a friend's house. He had replaced the stock tube with a Telefunken, while the dealer was playing the amp completely stock. I was also listening with my wife on all occasions, and we had a similar opinion of the Unico.

Some of the characteristics of the Unico that we noticed:
Excellent clarity. Good detail as well. We both liked it better than the Pathos Classic One, though neither of us was enamored with the Unico for several reasons. We never felt close to the music. It was colored just enough, even ashy sounding at the dealer, to keep us analyzing the music as opposed to being enveloped by it. In fact, we both loved the engaging quality of the Jolida amps much more. The Jolida's simply lacked--for our purpose--a tight and punchy bottom end.

We heard the Prima hybrid for ten seconds, and we were sold. "That's it!" we both said. It has the best instrument separation I've heard, and everything just sounds like it's in the right place. Superb dynamics, a real depth to the sound. Upgrading the PC helped as well. It is warm AND detailed, with tremendous bass presence. I can listen to it for hours, and many times will opt to play the softer music on it (as opposed to our SET system) just for a change of pace. We played around with the tube, and found we like the Siemens best.

When mated with the Prima CDP, it was as though both components were allowed to really shine. We use the hybrid amp primarily for more bass-oriented music, and you would not believe the musicality that emerges even from music that had always sounded harsh to me: My Bloody Valentine, for example. The amp sounds like the Jolida, with more authority and definition in the top end and midrange, and a MUCH bigger impact in the bottom end. I think I've said this in previous posts, but the amp is perfect, as though a masterful conductor is presiding over the music.

Sorry to be so wordy. I'm not the best editor.

All the best,
Howard

Saki70, I hope we are not abusing your thread here by discussing the Aero
Prima vs Jolida.

Howard (Boa2), thanks for your great description of the Prima (I always liked
your detailed and great descriptions/reviews in discussions here on
audiogon, no problem with being too wordy).

Engaging is probably the best description of the Jolida. One of the best
affordable amps I have heard in that respect. Running stock tubes on my
302b so far, it is missing only some detail especially in the highs. Bass could
be a little tighter as you say. I just got some Svetlana EL34, EH 12AX7 and
Mullard 12AT7. Installing them yesterday my preliminary impressions were
huge improvements in the highs with much more extension and detail. As far
as I can tell the bass got slightly tighter and bunchier as well, however not
quite on par with the Linn Solid State pream/amp I used before. I wish I could
listen to the Prima in comparison to the Jolida but there's just no dealers
down here in the desert in New Mexico.

Saki70, I hope the description of the Jolida will help you a little bit as well.
Sorry I can't tell you much about the Underwood mods (although I bought my
stock unit there. I would be interested in answers to that questions as well.
Sounds like the Prima Hybrid might be a good match in your system, though.

Best regards and Good luck to you, Saki70,

Rene

Restock,

I should have said the same as far as running away with Saki70's thread. Hopefully, all of these peripheral comments will be useful to him/her.

With your Jolida, I might suggest getting an NOS tube for your 12AX7's: Mullard, Telefunken, or the sort. You will experience an opening of the soundstage, and a warmer authority over the music. The EH's are somewhat dry and narrow in their presentation, IMO. An NOS tube will bring a more emotional presentation to that amp.

Once again, Saki70, I really believe that you would find your music to be best presented with the Prima Hybrid amp, especially in combination with the Prima CDP, and because as you crank the Jolida and the Manley, the bass end becomes somewhat bloomy, thus losing controlled impact. Your reference is SS, remember. Not such a big deal on classical or jazz maybe, but if your preferences are as you state in rock-oriented music, the Prima Hybrid is going to give you the bottom end lovin' you'll want. Excuse me if I'm not properly addressing your needs, but this is what I've inferred from your post.

All the best,
Howard

Boa2; your suggestion of the Audio Aero sounds intriuging. I wonder if it's 40 watts is enough to drive
my big floorstanders ? The sensitivity is 91 or 92. I have been told that I should have at least 100, high current,
watts to drive the Electra's.
All of the answers have been informing ! Keep'em coming.
Thank you.

Saki70,

I've been using the Hybrid Amp with 89db speakers, and I can't turn the amp past 10 o'clock--and that's when listening to Tool. You would have ample power, I'm sure.
It makes such a great combo with the Prima CDP.

The newest Prima Hybrid amp can be found (check or place a wanted on www.canuckaudiomart.com) for the $1300 range, and is 50W. It also has remote control, but does not have the sub/pre out like the older version.

Finally, a NEW NEW version is coming out early next year--100W. 40W has been plenty for us, and would fill a room much bigger than ours 14' x 14'.