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Thoughts about Jadis and Harbeth

I recently acquired some beautiful Harbeth Compact 7 through a good dealer. Currently I am using a Pioneer AVR, VSX-53 as my amp and using Nvidia Shield to play Tidal etc. While it sounds pretty good, obviously I can get way better. 

My dealer like Jadis and I heard them briefly and they do sound great paired with the Harbeth. It has been suggested I go with a jadis orchestra reference. Anyone have experiences with it and thoughts about the match up. I listen to everything really, and my budget at least where I'd like to keep it is 4k.

That doesn't leave a lot of room as I need to update my source. I have no problem paying that for that amp as it is very high quality. I also considered the Rouge II/III as an option as well. I also considered Luxman and a few integrated class d options. Like the NAD m10 as it basically checks off mostly everything for me, and is way cheaper then the less powerful Naim Unity line. If you cant tell I like the display options of these two devices, NAD seems like it would be a good option and use pre outs to Jadis. The only problem it has no HT bypass and that a bit annoying, as I'd like to continue to use AVR for tv. Not sure if using the preout would allow the sub to still work. 

Sorry for the long read, just looking for a little help to get me pointed in the right direction. I wouldn't say im new to the hobby, but in a good place to start buying better equipment and moving away from the HT mode I've been in for years. 
vatoman
ryder
1,735 posts
 
Generally, the Harbeth will sound more open and illuminating with certain tube amps. I have only listened to the Leben CS300 driving some Harbeth. In comparison most solid-state amps sound slightly darker/warmer.

However, if you listen to rock at moderate to high levels a solid state amp would be more suitable in my view. The bass slam and dynamics of the Harbeth are usually better if you feed the speakers with more current or power, and it is usually from solid-state designs.
kyomi_audio's avatar
kyomi_audio
63 posts
 
I am the dealer who sold the speakers and recommended Jadis. I have a rhetorical question: (doesn’t apply to daveyf since he has an extensive experience with Jadis. Neither does it apply to dealers since they have vested interest to trash it and promote their product). 

Here is the question: how many of you heard Jadis with  Harbeth?

It’s funny because when vatoman was buying the speakers, he heard them with i50 and absolutely loved it. That’s what sold the speakers in the  first place. 


jbcrespomn's avatar
jbcrespomn
14 posts
 
I have the Harbeth HL5 plus and running them with the Jadis Orchestra reference and it is magic.  Take it home and listen to it. I have Conrad Johnson Act 2 preamp and CJ 350  SS amplifier  and also VTL 450 monoblocks  to play my Gershman Black Swan and  Quad 2905
I have used these combinations with my Harbeth and they are slightly better, but the Jadis and Harbeth and Quad midrange are tops.
Habve the dealer send you home with a loaner Jadis and listen .
All the advice is helpful but your ears will tell . Jose Crespo 

helomech
1,761 posts
 
Consider the Yamaha A-S1100. I much prefer it to the original Halo Integrated and many others in that price class. It produces a slightly lush, 3-dimensional sound, not unlike like a decent tube amp, but has all the strengths associated with good SS - low noise floor, great channel separation, deep bass, flat response. Like most Yamaha integrateds, it exceeds the claimed power spec, even measured at full bandwidth. It has a real linear power supply (unlike another mentioned in this thread), with 72,000 microfarads capacitance - 80% more than typically found in integrateds under $4K. The heatsinks are way oversized so it never gets hot. Its built in phono stage is the quietest I've encountered anywhere - even more so than my Parasound JC3 Jr. I've owned C7s and I think this amp is higher caliber than you'd ever need with them, so you'd be good for future upgrades as well.


freediver
1,247 posts
 
I just have to LMAO at EVERY reply that states how whatever SS amp "sounds like tubes" "stages or images like tubes","does what tubes do" blah blah blah!
 I demo'd Jadis years ago & IMO build quality was a JOKE,thin,flimsy top plate,cheap tube sockets,uneven finish on casework,bias pots deep inside the amp & MASSIVELY overpriced!Look at Raven Audio,Prima Luna or Rogue Audio..I have Monitor 30.1 speakers driven by a Cayin tube amp & it is sublime sounding!
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