Newbie wants tube recommendations

I have a Jolida 502 B and it is fun and incredible value. I am tired of people suggesting that CJ or made in North America is better Other esoteric equipment with higher price tags may offer better bragging rights to some but to suggest that these companies are mid-fi is elitist and just plain wrong. The main point is that tube equipment is now affordable and reliable and that you don't have to be some sort of idiosyncratic tubeaholic to have fun and experience sound that is far above most comparatively priced solid state units. Our hobby needs more companies building units like this so that it will continue to grow. A global economy is now a fact of life. Accept it. Great small companies will continue to flourish and cater to that part of the market that seeks out individuals who have golden ears and hopefully golden wallets. For the rest of the world let us have our less than super high end tube equipment and revel in the absurdity of technology, that at least in our hobby, seems to be going in reverse.
Everybody take a slow breath and say the magic words ------Music first ..equipment second.....

Well Jolida got me into tubes having been a dedicated solid state fan for about 8 years when I first got the high end bug. But recently sold the 302B and bought a Rogue Cronus integrated and even my wife said WOW before I had a chance to fine tune the bias. So much better made, and in the US, plus it came with decent tubes. So yeah music first, but bang for the buck second, and I do believe that even though the Rogue cost extra ducats, it is the better value. The transformers alone, arguably the most important part, are far better made.

Glad to hear that your new equipment has had a positive influence on your wife. It is important to note that to arrive at your present destination you went through the Jolida portal. If anything this proves that products like the Jolida have a useful role to play even if the only role they fulfil is considered entry level. Think of all the newbies buying used Jolidas at 50% off list price on the used market. Certainly not a bad thing. I like my Jolida and I consider it to be musical and a fabulous bargain(well above entry level). Even if the 502 B is only the journey and not the destination- --it is still a great sounding amp that will satisy the majority of those whom hear it. If I want to up the ante then I bring out my DIY tube mono blocks and my Sonic Frontiers Line 1. Companies like Jolida and TAD (Tube Audio Design) source from China but inspect and assemble in the USA. Funny, don't hear many people complaining about the TAD 60, which seems to have many strong testimonials complete with its own thread. Just for the record, I am not a paid spokesman for the above discussed companies. However, I won't complain if someone wants to slip me a few dollars for uh..uh....yeah ....retubing !!!

I've listened to the Legacy Audio Classics with tubes a few years back, they sounded great. I'm sure the Jolida will have several qualities that will be pleasing...strong bass response will not be one of them.

Not much point in owning near fullrange speakers and not being able to to enjoy to the last drop so to speak. Regardless of amp types...SS or tube, the two must compliment each other as a working team.

That said, I'm sure you will still enjoy your new Jolida Gssrjpc...a great learning experience (that you will enjoy) for not a lot of money!...way better than a great learning experience, for a lot of money (I've had a few of those HeHe).

Dave

Mapleleafs3, glad to hear you are not prejudging equipment and I am sorry I assumed wrong. My guess is that at the dealer, where you listened, they were using the stock tubes which are much less than stellar. A very basic upgrade of the preamp and power tubes to just better current production tubes makes a world of difference. As for:

[qote]It (the Jolida) is an ok product and is very good to upper Mid-Fi. Its not in the same class as CJ,Rouge,Audio Aero, Unison.[/quote]

I owned the Jolida for 15 months (until I upgraded to SET) and owned the Unison Unico integrated for 3 months at the same time and compared both. Built wise the Jolida feels like midfi, but soundwise the Unico is not even close to the Jolida: The Unico sounded veiled, lifeless, with fatiguing highs. I rolled tubes in both and the Jolida (WITH UPGRADED TUBES) is way better. I really wanted to like the Unico (remote!) but it was not even close.

The Audio Aero Prima MK1 integrated was much better than the Unico and similar to the Jolida, better bass, but not quite the midrange of the Jolida.

I can't compare to Rogue, but the Cronos is three times the price new, so that I would expect much more of course. Also, the Rogue amps come with much better stock tubes right out of the factory.

Anyway, just some minor differences in opinion here, but as VINYLROW mentioned the Jolida is a great starter product, and much better than a Unico in my opinion.

Just my 2c (once more),

Rene