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Jadis Orchestra Reference SE and DA-50 Integrateds

Just out of curiosity, since I may decide to set up a second system later, how would you describe the difference between these integrated amplifiers outside of their roughly double price difference? And how would you compare them to a pre/power combo like the JA-15 and JP-15? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
washline
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Joe
Though I don't like to change out tubes, cause as you know there is a trade off.
However you do may the comment in the "coldness" of the JOR with the KT90's. Now folks reading this may not understand that the JOR with the KT90's is a very nice sound, I just rated it 9 in the mids on another topic.
But the coldness is undeniably there. Since I listen to all classical, with little need for extentions in the highs/lows, I may be very interesed in getting the KT88's. A tube that Richard did highly praise for its unique characterists, as you explain. That day at my home, he praised the KT90's and the KT88's for their qualities.
Can you tell me if the mids will have that same detail on the 88's that I now have on the 90's.
I don't want a muddled mid image, but would like atad more warmth.
Am I clear?
btw whats a set of 88's gonna run me.
I need to get back to New Orleans and ck up on Richard's shop on Jefferson Hwy. Last time I talked to him was just before the storm, we talked about retubing my Cayin 17 with 4 high quality tubes vs the stock tubes.
Although not all of Metairie flooded, his area I believe was flooded. His TV repair shop was across from Ochner hospital. The front door was street level so I'm sure it was bad. Yes I know, STREET LEVEL, many houses in greater new orleans were built STREET LEVEL.
All of lakeview/most of new orleans is a ghost town, With only chat of rebuilding houses. But so far lakeview/gentilly remains as it was the day Katrina hit, with some houses gutted, many are not.
Do you have a contact # for Richard?
Paul
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Just gor off the phone with Richard Grey, he is doing OK. Richard rode the storm out at his house uptown new orleans, off Carrollton.
His house had damage from a fallen tree and his business had very little damage. I was very gald this great guy made out all right.

Joe which KT88's are you refering to?
Price?
I really don't want to spend over say...$50/tube.
Paul
trelja
3,226 posts
 
Hello, Paul. Glad to hear that Richard is doing well. From all accounts, he is a really good person.

If you have little need for ultimate bass extension, but prize midrange "rightness" over absolutely all else, the JJ Blue Glass E34L tube is for you. In my experience, no tube will provide you with better clarity, openness, imaging, and "sunny disposition", while not sounding harsh, overly forward, brittle, or muddled. I think the treble is also quite good. You do take somewhat of a step back in terms of absolute power (2 clicks on the JOR's volume knob), and the loss of bass impact is definite. You can pick up a quad of these tubes for about $65, so being just over $15/tube, they definitely meet your budget. After speaking with Denis, and going over this sonic priorities, we chose these tubes, and I was not quite prepared for the improvement they yielded.

If the loss of power and bass is unacceptable, the JJ KT88 are the ones we are speaking of. They provide ultimately less absolute bass extension, but apparent bass impact will seem to rise (and not subtly), as the mid/upper bass is more pronounced, and most people in my experience seem to equate mid/upper bass with what they think is actually low bass. You will lose that wonderful midrange by a step or two, but it still would be a real upgrade over the Ei KT90. Prices are much higher than the E34L, about $150/quad or so, which still easily falls within your budget.

I want to make sure no one takes me as not being a fan of the Ei KT90. The tubes are the most rugged I have encountered, and for those who want no one area to stick out, they do seem to provide that. Also, prices have come down in recent years, as they spiked sharply after the 1998 NATO bombing of the factory in the former Yugoslavia. Still, while liking the JOR a lot with these tubes, I ended up loving it when I tried the others.

Incidentally, Denis, if you are still here, what type of difference did the Mullard 12AX7 provide you over the Ei? In my DA30 over the summer, I originally had a pair of National, and the Ei were a step up. Then, I tried a pair of Mullard Blackburns, and that also yielded some tangible improvements over the Ei, with no drawbacks that I could detect. Clarity, detail, bass response all improved, along with adding more liquidity and a relaxed nature. I'm curious if the Mullards also gave you the same improvement as I heard over the Ei.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Joe, I'm sold on the EL34's. Can you provide a link or know of a seller that can help me?
Email me if you care.
Also can you help me out with replacing the 4 6992's in my Cayin 17 cdp.
I'm really looking forward to the EL34's.
Should be just the thing for reproducing my classical music.
trelja
3,226 posts
 
As an update, I have been tube rolling in the DA60 to outstanding effect!

Currently, I am burning in an octet of JJ Blue Glass KT88, and all I can say is "WOW"! The improvement over the Sovtek 6550 is simply amazing. Every aspect of the sound from bottom to top has improved substantially. The DA60 makes some serious bass with the Coincidents. Funny, in another thread, someone made the statement that a Jadis integrated lacks slam and falls apart when the music gets going. Oh, yea?!? This must be heard to be believed. But, what makes this a Jadis is the sweet, romantic sound, that you can simply listen to all day without fatigue.

The mids seem so right that I wonder if I can improve upon them. But, try I will - I am awaiting an octet of the newly released JJ KT77 tubes, which are a premium EL34 type tube. Hopefully, I will be able to install them this weekend, and be able to compare them to the KT88. I expect a downgrade in the low frequencies, and potentially some power (which the DA60 has oodles to spare), but am anxious to hear how the mids of this new tube sound.

Incidentally, I have also wrought some very real improvement by installing Sylvania 5751 tubes in place of the Mullard Blackburn 12AX7. THAT was worth it.
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