01-24-12: Timrhu
I briefly owned the 202A. It seemed very lifeless to me and was gone in two weeks.
Timrhu (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-24-12: Josefm
I have a modded 302, all caps replaced with higher quality ones. Since I prefer a more neutral sound with a touch of warmth, my choice of tubes may not give you the kind of sound you want.
The EH 6CA7 is more to the neutral side than the typical EL34s, The GLKT77 reissue has better body in the midrange than the EH6CA7s, and may be closer to that 'tubey' sound you seem to prefer.
I use TungSol reissue for the 12AT7s, and Amperex NOS for the 12AX7s...but this is my sound preference.
I get a very good 3D soundstage with my set up.
Josefm (Answers | This Thread)
01-24-12: Jerrynsr
Thanks for the reply.
I should have waited because the tubes are starting to sound great.
After 70hrs of using the amp the sound improved big time! Even the soundstage opened up! While I was working out I cranked up some grunge from The Todies and the frequency response was great! Even the bass got deeper and louder! Later on I listened to "Great Gig In The Sky" and it sounded like it should. You can hear all the sounds that you would hear as if you were listening to the song on good headphones. The soundstage was great. Tonight the Jolida 202 amp sounds better than my Miniwatt N3.
Now my wife and I are listening to Train. She "gets it" now.
At first the amp did sound lifeless as timrhu said. It took some time for the tubes to burn in. I pulled the trigger too early on buying the upgrade tubes. I think all I really needed to do is upgrade the 12ax7as. Oh well now I have some spares.. I told marc at Jolida that if they burn in the tubes for at least 40hrs before shipment they will get their customers to go WOW instead of initial disappointment.
Jerrynsr (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-24-12: Jerrynsr
btw jolida also shipped me a replacement tube sine a 12ax7a was defective. That's where the 60hz hum was coming from. I think the filament was damaged.
Jerrynsr (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-24-12: Jerrynsr
Thanks for the reply.
I should have waited because the tubes are starting to sound great.
After 70hrs of using the amp the sound improved big time! Even the soundstage opened up! While I was working out I cranked up some grunge from The Todies and the frequency response was great! Even the bass got deeper and louder! Later on I listened to "Great Gig In The Sky" and it sounded like it should. You can hear all the sounds that you would hear as if you were listening to the song on good headphones. The soundstage was great. Tonight the Jolida 202 amp sounds better than my Miniwatt N3.
Now my wife and I are listening to Train. She "gets it" now.
At first the amp did sound lifeless as timrhu said. It took some time for the tubes to burn in. I pulled the trigger too early on buying the upgrade tubes. I think all I really needed to do is upgrade the 12ax7as. Oh well now I have some spares.. I told marc at Jolida that if they burn in the tubes for at least 40hrs before shipment they will get their customers to go WOW instead of initial disappointment.
Jerrynsr (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-25-12: Timrhu
Glad to hear things are improved. I should have noted my experience with the Jolida took place in August. Walking into a hot room to listen was a major turn off for me and could have affected my opinion.
Timrhu (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-27-12: Komet1965
Hello,
I've owned a Jolida 202 for about 9 years now (in and out of different systems)and have never really liked until about 6 months ago when my local dealer suggested I change out the stock tubes. Also he suggested I drive it with a preamp, using it as a stand alone amp with the volume control turned all the way up.
I thought to myself I already have couple of nice preamps so I'll try that first before I dump a bunch of money on new tubes.
So upon arriving back at home I immediately connected it to my McIntosh C-45 preamp and boy what a surprise.....this combination made my Snell E-IIIs sing like they never sung before. Suddenly the little Jolida had some bass slam, smoother midrange, crisp highs, and imaging up the you know what! On some recordings the instruments seemed to float in space between the two speakers. In comparison driving these speakers directly with the Jolida using the same sources (Denon DP-62L/DL-160MC & Marantz CD-5001 CD player) the sound was harsher and lifeless with no bass definition. Believe it or not this was with the original stock tubes!
Unfortunately my Jolida is afflicted with the same 60cycle hum (mine is in the right channel) that you were experiencing and I have since pulled it lest risking any further damage. I tried switching tubes around but the problem stayed in the R ch.. Researching around the internet and talking to my dealer I understand the stock 202s use cheesy rectifier diodes and standard (cheep) filter caps. I suspect my issue with the 60 cycle hum is coming from the power supply section. One of these days I 'll dig into it and see what I find.
So that's my Jolida 202 story....try a preamp, you won't be sorry!
Komet1965 (Answers | This Thread)
01-27-12: Jerrynsr
I am using JJ8803s Gold in the place of the stock 12AX7A
and a Jan Phillips 12AT7WC in place of the stock drivers.
Hum is gone. The flash from the right channel 12at7 is gone.
I paid $85.00 including shipping for this upgrade, well worth it.
For a hardcore performance test I played Mozart's Requiem.
The little Jolida 202a shook the house!
I got the tubes from tubestore.com I'm real happy with it.
Jerrynsr (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
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