2. amps-preamps
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to mod or not to mod my new tube amp?????

I asked this question before -- but want to take one more crack since I've had a hard time getting figuring this one out.....

I own a Jolida 302BRC bought last year. So far, all I have done is replace the power cord.

I would like a bigger sound, somewhat better soundstage, and a little more punch in the bass. Otherwise I love it.

For my budget. I have two options:
A.
(1) replace stock tube. I am thinking of (2) 12AX7 Mullard reissue
(2) 12AT7 RFT(1 quad) 6CA7 EH. This will cost around $150.

B.
I e-mailed Mike Allen at Jolida. He wrote back:

We can modify the amp for $200. Involves Hexfred diodes, fast recovery soft power up, ceramic resistors for the grid, highly stable and low noise probably the best you can get, and custom made coupling caps. You will still keep that great decay of the amp but you will see a jump up in the attack of the amp.

So, what do I do?!?!?!?!?! This is all very new to me and I could really use some advice.

Thanks -- Marty

We can modify the amp for $200. Involves Hexfred diodes, fast recovery soft power up, ceramic resistors for the grid, highly stable and low noise probably the best you can get, and custom made coupling caps. You will still keep that great decay of the amp but you will see a jump up in the attack of the amp.
martyw
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uru975
684 posts
 
In gardening you have to throw money at plants and see what works in your garden. In cooking you throw money at food, apliances,pots and pans and see how well you can work with it. In audio you throw it at tubes, cables, cord, amps, etc. and hear how good it can get. People can give you advice based on their experience and their or friends systems but it is still about their ear's not yours.
Sorry but sometimes the plunge works and sometimes it doesn't.
eslaudio
118 posts
 
Rather than throwing money at experiments with mods or new tubes, you might want to consider just selling the 302 and spending an extra $400-$500 to get something like a used Rogue Cronus, Cayin or other inexpensive tube integrated that has more the sound you're looking for. If you have shops in your area where you could demo other equipment, I'd definitely take that route first.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
A good tube roll is what got me he he hooked. I roll in the tubes,I think will best compliment the fundamental sound. I keep several hundred tubes as a collector and tweaker. Tube prices are coming off silly high prices so give it a go.
If OTOH you hate the sound forget tubes and cables and do what they said- save you pennies and get a deifferent amp.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
what speakers is this amp driving?
leatherneck1812
116 posts
 
Underwood HIFI has an ad for a Jolida 502b right now. It reads in part:

"We can also order the amp(502b)set up for EL-34 tubes.
In this configuration it does 50 watts per channel and has the warmer more liquid sonics of the EL-34 while sacrificing some of the tighter more controlled bass and better detail of the 6550/KT-88 tube."

Mods IMHO won't give your EL34 tubes more punch.

I would look for a different amp with kt-88 tubes.

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