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Anyone try the Jasmine LP2.0SE?

I have a Ray Sammuels Nighthawk battery operated phono pre which is a pretty darn good performer. It took me some cartridge and cable juggling and a whole lot of tweaking around, but I managed to achieve a musical synergy with it with one of the amps (a modified Dynaco ST-70) I have on hand.

As good as I can get it to sound with the el34 amp, however, I've been striking out with the battery operated phono pre and a solid state amplifier in the loop (both Firstwatt F1 & F1J) with all else equal.

The Jasmine is pretty much at the same price point and I'm wondering whether anyone can offer any feedback on it. Someone who has steered me very right in the past with speakers and amplification dubbed it a giant killer and claims it killed a Manley Steelhead in his own rig--yet there is little info on it out there...

The things I really like about the NH are its transparency, dynamics, dead quiet (so long as placed away from noisy electronics) and versatility. What I wouldn't mind improving on are harmonic density and centering the balance a bit which might be tipped northward a tad.

FWIW I'm using a Well Tempered Reference and Zu 103 cart (after much juggling the low compliance high mass Zu is doing me well in this position--I also have a 103D in a box).

Can anyone offer feedback on it? If its such a great performer why has it gone unnoticed?
gopher

Showing 3 responses by redglobe

redglobe
223 posts
 
An Audiogoner recommended replacing the 1.0 uf stock output capacitors with Jantzen Superior Z-Caps. I performed the upgrade on my unit.

Before the modification, the Jasmine was very clean. However, after the upgrade, the whole sound spectrum became crisp and clear. Absolutely, a stunning improvement on an already very good phono stage.
redglobe
223 posts
 
Dear Gopher,

I replaced the 1uf capacitors with Jantzen Superior Z-caps of the same value. I experienced no loss in sonic quality. Everything was to the positive: like lifting a veil off the upper mids and high end. I am completely thrilled with the results. The caps cost $25. I used solder braid to remove the original solder and silver solder for the new caps.

You will need to desolder the voltage supply and the ground. Just premark the wires so you get the reconnection correct. Also, note the position of the input setting.

Humble Hifi reviews these capacitors along with many others under the section Cap Test. It is very informative.

Did the DC connectors have a marked improvement in sound?
redglobe
223 posts
 
Dear Gopher,

Clarification of my response: The Jantzen caps are a neutral sonic device, as they should be. The concept is to allow the music signal to pass through cleanly without distortion or coloration. That is what I hear with the modification.

As explained to me by experts in the audio design field: Lower quality caps have gaps in their windings that induce distortion. The Jantzen Superior Z caps are highly precision wound and provide clean transmission of the signal.
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