Vincent PHO-8? Jolida JD-9A,? Phono Pre's $350-500

I'd consider it for sure. Also, jolida has pretty good customer service. I've had good experience with them in the past.

Well, that did it. I did a bit more reading and some calling around, and finally pulled the trigger on a Jolida JD 9A. Got a demo unit for some bucks off but still get factory warranty and free shipping. Yee-haw. It should be here next week.

Thanks to all the respondents. It seems there was a plurality of Jolida enthusiasts here. I had been considering a Musical Surroundings Phonomena II, but the deal-killer for me was that my cartridge (AT150MLX) wants to see a capacitive load of 100-200 pF, and no more. The Phonomena II only lets you select between 200 and 300 pF, which--when added to the 100 pF in the turntable cable--raises it too much. In this cartridge the higher cap. causes a rise in the high treble, which is the last thing I want.

So that finally tipped me for the Jolida. Now I gotta hunt down those GE 5751's. :)

I just hunted down my 5751's. One was in the piano bench and the other was in my nightstand. They're not GE's, they're Sylvania Gold Brand. A vintage tube dealer I've bought from in the past has this to say about the Sylvania Gold Brand 5751's:

... Fine, early military type tubes with gold lettering on the glass. Among the best 5751 types ever made and, lately, huge audiophile demand is making these scarce. Try this legendary tube out while you can, as stocks are vanishing! SINGLE TUBES ARE $120.00.

I bought mine about a dozen years ago at a local NOS dealer (now long gone) for $10 ea.

Oooh, I can't wait 'til that Jolida JD 9A gets here.

Johnnyb, as I mentioned to you on another thread, the tubes in a JD9 are not in the gain stages. In the JD9, they're used just as 'cathode followers' at the output, in the hope of warming up the sound a little, but that's way different from the "sound of tubes" when the tubes are actually used to amplify the signal.

Anyway, because the tubes in the JD9 aren't providing any gain, it really shouldn't make any (sonic) difference which 12AX7's are used (assuming they're quiet and not microphonic ;--) So there's not much point (IMO) using premium NOS tubes. I tried using 3-mica blackplate RCA and Sylvania 5751's in my JD9 and couldn't hear any obvious change. Except the 'better' tubes seemed less prone to picking up radio stations with the volume wide open ;~))

The op amps are another matter, and I might try changing those. Right now, the sound can be a bit tinny or grainy; especially on loud passages with female vocalists. Only there seems to be some confusion about WHICH op-amps. Here they recommend 637's and the JD9 mavens on AA recommend 627's. Does anyone know what's in the stock unit? It says 'OP37G' which is a low noise, high precision Texas Instrument op-amp. So maybe Jolida has already upgraded the op-amps in their current release units?

Neil
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If you go here and scroll down a bit, you'll see three levels of mods for the Jolida JD 9A. Mods for this unit also show up in DIYAudio and other places.

Six months after taking delivery, I still like my JD 9A a lot and have no desire to change. I think it's one of the best at the price if only because it is so configurable for capacitance, resistance, and gain, while most others in this price range are not.

While I swapped the stock tubes for Sylvania NOS 5751's, that's because I had a pair lying around the house. I put the tube dampers on because I think controlling microphonics in a unit with this much potential gain is a good thing.

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if I look into the mods sometime, though.