This is the edited version (believe it or not)...
The unit itself is not what I would call handsome. Silver...with way too much writing...and little silver M&M buttons on the black remote control...which although looked like a mismatch with the unit is quite hefty and solid.
I hit the "open" button to insert a CD. Noisy little bugger!
And now.....I needed to listen..although it was late and at low level......with the installed Sovtek tubes....I had no idea what to expect.....I had never heard tubes...
I always use 3 types of music as reference....a solo piano....a female vocal...and full orchestra.Added to my refernce CD's is the newly acquired "Bed of Roses" for the artillary of tricks and the sheer number of sounds.At low listening level I decided just to listen to piano first. If piano is wrong no apologies ever make it right. It sounded fine. It sounded like a piano.. But It sounded pretty much like my Arcam but slightly muffled. So what's this "Tube Sound" I'm supposed to be hearing?
Then I listened to "Bed of Roses"....and the bag of tricks on this CD seemed a bit less amazing then it had with my Arcam...
not as much detail or depth....
Then I put on Loreena McKennit....Although I love her voice it does get a bit screechy on some of her high notes , due to
close mike, maybe....but it does hit a nerve now and then.Hmmmmmm....although she sounded like she was singing under a blanket ...her voice sounded Sultry and not shrill....I immediately realized the potential here....and recognized a big difference...
If I could keep the sultry and lift the blanket.....this could be good! This could be the "Tube Sound".....
I get out the Jolida manual....I need to get the cover off and arm myself with tubes....The manual said to remove the 6 screws....
2 front....4 back...I remove them and the top doesn't budge....this isn't brain surgery....it shouldn't be that difficult....
so instead of risking breakage....what do I do? Post here.... :) ....
I take a better look......uh..hello Mr/Ms whoever you are that wrote this manual....there are *8* screws!
Fine....cover's off.
Manual: "Turn the Player with Front facing you.The Tubes are on the Left.They are under covers.
They Are??????I don't see any tubes on the left!
I'm no expert but I realllllllly think I spy them on the *Right*.
Ohhhhh!, Mr/Ms Manual writer......You mean when you are facing backwards and looking in a mirror!
I swapped lots of tubes for hours..............Suffice it to say....I did hear differences with each tube change....
...I used Loreena's voice as the Litmus test....If I could just get rid of her lisp!
I wanted to save the Sylvania 5751's till last but In goes the "prize" tubes....
First Piano.......lovely......soooooo lovely! It sounded good...*really* good.......
I'm excited......Before I knew it I had listened to the whole CD.....a good sign.......
Ok Loreena...in you go........you and that Celtic band of yours.
Velvet!!!!....it was musical velvet!!!!.Dynamic but perfectly cohesive .....Sultry but not syrup.....Smooth and seductive....
what I expect her voice is really like in person....
Gorgeous. Fluid.....effortless......
This is delicious!!! !!!!!!
I have an inkling silver IC's may be just right with this. Velvet with a touch of satin.
My main concern is always getting instruments to sound as accurate as possible...
Here is my final tally, up to this point, of Jolida vs Arcam Alpha 9:
Piano:a tie...too close to call..gorgeous on both
Guitar: Jolida...
Drums:Jolida....
Female voice:Jolida...see previous praises
Full Orchestral:Arcam by a nose
Cymbals and other sparkly things:Arcam
With the right tubes (the Sylvania 5751's, I think)this player makes gorgeous music.Just gorgeous...........
I forgive you for your homely face.
I am going to keep this Jolida.....
