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Impedance switches on a Jolida JD 9II

I finally  got back into vinyl late last year and have a   upper end Pro-Ject turntable with a Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge, which I love. I also upgraded my integrated amplifier to a Rouge Sphinx 3, which supposedly has a  decent phone stage. No tone  controls on this unit so I was not head over heels with this unit out of the box,  but it has  grown on me but I can hear the weaknesses in the phono stage.

Six months in I wanted to upgrade the new phono stage. I went with the Jolida JD9II tube pre-amplifier. I already own a Black Ice Sound Expander for my Yamaha SACD/DAC player and  love it.  So I wanted to  utilize that warm tube  sound on the turntable.

My question is on the impedance switch settings. I could not find  much  guidance online. O & M on the Sumiko states if the pre-amp has " has capacitance loading capabilities, a Sumiko high output moving coil cartridges should be loaded with a value no higher than 200pf, and ideally below 100pf."

The settings on the switches are the  following.
In Ohms 100,300,1000,47,000
In Pico Fared
47, 100, 150, 220
I set the Ohm to 100 and the Pico Fared to 47.

I am definitely getting more volume at lower levels than with the Rouge but would appreciate more guidance on dialing in this cartridge in more using these settings.

I  prefer more bass than  higher end.

Thanks,
idigmusic64
idigmusic64 OP
56 posts
 
@tketcham  wow! Thanks for the insights.
I am currently using the "high out" to my amp. The  Jolida  O & M states "Hi out: 1,8 volt output to integrated amplifiers or line stage preamplifers." so that is why I chose that output. 

I will try the  " Low Out".

With the current settings mentioned above I am getting more  "pop" from my records and they sound much more alive. Good natural bass response but with no loss on the high ends and the sound stage sounds expanded and I can hear better separation.

I also took the @dill 's advice and went for a tube  upgrade across the board. The J9 II will be upgraded to Telefunken 12AX7 smooth plate.
The Black Ice to a Telefunken diamond mark rib plate 12AU7.
The Rouge Sphinx 3 to French Mazda AU7's, which Brent from Audiotubes highly recommend for this unit specifically. Many of his customers have been very happy with this upgrade.

I will go through a  wild  gambit of music today to road test the Jolida.
idigmusic64 OP
56 posts
 
@dill  here is an  update. I took your advice and upgraded the tubes to 1960's Telefunken smooth plate and picked them up from Brent Jessee, who was extremely helpful.

I also spoke with Mr. Allen at  Jolida, soon to be called Black Ice Audio, and he suggested I start at  zero and  have all the settings turned off, including the voltage gain setting, and  hear what I hear.

I am liking what I am hearing so far but I just installed the new vintage  tubes this morning, so I want to go a week or so as these new tubes  get broken in and see what my ears like before I make an other adjustments.

I also upgraded to a vintage Telefunken tube on my Black Ice Audio Sounder Expander for my Yamaha CACD/DAC player and are loving that  upgrade as well.

Brent also  recommended going to French  1960's Mazda tubes for the Rogue Sphinx 3 too, which I will switch out next weekend. He has many customers who have made the same upgrade on this  unit and have been very happy. That being said it's clear that I just went for it searching for that perfect sound.

Thanks again for your insights.
dill
2,557 posts
 
I am glad all is working out for you, Brent is the best.
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