Jadis Fidelity

I have owned JA-30, JA-80 and JP-80MC mkIIs. I really think Jadis has a very musical sound. I had this equipment for several years and while I wondered if there was better out there, I experienced many magical listening sessions with the Jadis. I am thinking of buying a used pair of JA-500s right now. I did buy the Aesthetix I/O with Volume controls to replace the JP-80MC. There was know question in my mind that the Aesthetix I/O provided such much more information, better transparency, and music as the Jadis JP-80MC. And all I neede was Phono for my system. I did also replace the JA-80 amps with a pair of Audio Note Ankaru PSE-845 mono blocks because they sounded more transparent and I know the designer Andy Grove. This added to the pleasure of ownership. But, I do admit the I miss that Jadis sound and their looks. Lets face it. Jadis does design and manufacture quality equipment. They also don't kill you with yearly upgrades. You can do far worse than Jadis and you might be buying your last amplifier because they are that good.

Cwlondon, in looking at the cables I mentioned to you, I realized they're all kinda (some might say outrageously) expensive. I should note that Trelja has been using some affordable silver cables with his Jadis with which he is pleased, and that in the past I have used both Dunlavy and Sonoran speaker cables with the JA80s with good results. Gerrym5, I was interested by your post, I had gotten a separate inquiry about the IO and had relayed pretty much the same thoughts about it as you noted. Be careful before you get the JA500s--they are a different beast from the other Jadis older style amps. They run in ultralinear, rather than Class A (they can be factory adjusted to run class A, reducing the power to 225 watts), and as I recall are not auto biasing and only use the 6550 tubes (although I'm sure that Jadis could adjust the bias to take other types of tubes). Still sound excellent, but as I noted above with the Defy, I think they give away a little of the finesse and delicacy of the other Jadis mono amps. But there are times I'd like that extra power in reserve...

Rcprince, I am intreaged by what you say about the IO and very curious. I find you right on the dot again about what you say about the Defy and the Mono 80's. The Defy can be punchier, however the music is less finely woven, a touch less resolved, the width and depth of the soundstage a litttle more truncated in comparison to the Mono 80's, an effect which strangely enough seemed less, when I retubed the Defy with KT 90s. The main effect there was like moving 5 rows closer to the orchestra. Even more direct and forward, but still eminently musical. For cables I have found the XLO top gear to merge well with my front end, was however obliged to resolder all the connections, which I found noisy, because sloppily done by the factory. Someone in the threads above remarked, that Jadis gear does cut off the top end slightly. I thought so too for a long time until I was lucky enough to get a pair of those plasma tweeters which are generally only sold together with very complex and expensive hornspeaker systems. "A capella" has managed to solve the ozone problem, so you can listen safely now, without being slowly poisoned to death. Since there is no moving mass any more, just a "flame", the highs have breathy directness, sometimes a whispering sweetness, sometimes a clear sparkling presence which is hard to believe. So I am lead to believe now, that this slight lack of air "up top" is not to be attributed to the Jadis gear but must come from somewhere else in the chain.

Detlof, now you've GOT to let us know how the IO compares. I think Gerrym5's description of the differences is a good one, based off what I've heard. Still not convinced to give up the Jadis, though--the mods Andy Bouwman's made to mine have made it sound even better, the IO has an awful lot of tubes, and I too have a taste for NOS Telefunkens, it does take up more space and I'm low on funds for audio application. Hope you're right about the new plasma tweeters not poisoning you to death!

Reprince, e-mail your thoughts and questions on the I/O. I'll be glad to share what factual experiences and opinions I have had with the Aesthetix. (Another source) Albertporter is also an I/O fan and has a lot of experience with Aesthetix's products. I asked him a lot of questions after I found out he had an I/O also. He really helped me with NOS suggestions and tweaks to make my I/O even better (my opinion) than the already outstanding factory standard product.