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Jadis JA-80: Tubes and speakers.

I am sorry to have to raise old issues here but I am looking for some updated information. 
I just bought Jadis JA80 circa 2000. It came with the GE 6550 but I changed the tubes for KT-120 (authorized by Jadis).
The ECC83 and ECC82 are Telefunken.  
Still, I don't feel in audio heaven. (preamp is JPL). 
I was thinking of trying other tubes like JJ EL34L. I was wondering if anybody compared the El34 variety to the KT variety on the JA80. 
The speakers I have are ESP Bohdran (92 db) but I feel the match is not perfect. (I also have Luxman M900U which sounds much better with the ESP, although it lacks that 'tube magic').
The main complaint I have is in the mid-bass (too bloated), and not enough dynamics.  
So any suggestions for tubes and speakers for the JA-80? 
Thanks.  
taviran
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,871 posts
 
Interesting that Jadis authorized the use of the KT120 in your amp, I would not have thought they would do that...
Nonetheless, I think the sound you are laying at the amps door is probably not the amps fault. As Jond stated above, it sounds like you have a classic mismatch of amp to speaker. So many folks just buy amps and plunk them down in front of their speakers without considering the all important synergy between the two. Unfortunately, this hobby doesn’t reward mismatches...and you are experiencing an amp/ speaker mismatch, imho. I guess you didn’t have the opportunity or desire to listen to this pairing before acquiring the Jadis.
rhljazz
1,253 posts
 
Change the preamp.  JPL is like chocolate syrup.
taviran OP
25 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. rhljaz, I did try another preamp, the Luxman C900u. To my ears The JA80 sounded better with the JPL.
About speaker synergy, I also tried another modern speaker, the results were somewhat better but not what I was looking for. I will continue to experiment. 
Thanks. 
taviran OP
25 posts
 
One last note to put the record straight. it turns out the problem I had with the Jadis was just tube matching. After measuring the tubes (KT-120) and matching them properly, it now works perfectly: no problem of bloated bass or speakers matching. It just sounds marvellous. Again, thanks for all the responses.     
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
Hi
Yeah I bought a  Defy with stock 6550's, and traded to kt90's, and  now running kt80;s,,i  will go kt150;s early next year.
for the 12AU7 section, dump the AU's and get E80CC.s does not matter which brand, all sound eactly same,,although i *think* the Valvo's might be a  tad superior, not by much, The E80's blow away even the Holy Grail Tele's.
Note the Jadis web siteshows the JA80's with ~~~KT150's~~~ which is a  confirm i will dump the 88's for the 150's. although i lsiten on low volume i am looking to get every sonic tweet in my system for the classical muisc i listen to.
= well worth the extra $800 for the 12 tubes.
Go with 150's. o
once you install the E80's, , it really makes all the dif , to where it really does not matter which brand of AX you run..although again I *think* i hear the Tele's a  tad superior to GE's, Siemens, but again not by much.
The critical tube in a  amp is the AU section, as noted by another member ina  recent post.
I am very surprised few audiophiles have not caught on the the E80 as a  direct replacement for the crappy 12AU7. Even my Tele AU sounds like garbage next to any  branded E80CC. 
man that JA80 sure looks sharp, on speakers, go 
SEAS Thors, with all M SGO caps, ask Madisound to upgrade xovers with all M 
 and as a  second set of speakers, have madisound build the SB Acoustics  again with all M SGO caps. 
Both speakers will match the JA80's super high fidelity. 

  http://www.jadis-electronics.com/en/ja80-mkii-21.php
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