CAT JL-2 Signature VS. Jadis JA80


I will soon be making a choice for a new amp to drive my Vandersteen 5A. I use the AA capitole 2 for CD and a Basis
2500/Vector w/ a Koetsu rosewood standard cart and also have a Benz ruby3. The linestage is a FS pres delx 2 and phono stage is a Lamm LP2 delx. Cables are KS emotion and Power cords are KS emotion and Shuntata anaconda VX. I will be replacing a pair of quicksilver V4 s which may stay after the purchase as a cooler running alternative to the CAT for the summer months.My priorities are as follows , probably not in any particular order. I would hope to serve them all well for the 17- 20 k price tag. I want to drive the 87 Db Vandys with a weight, ease, and authority with power to spare ( I know this certainly to be a strength of the CAT but the Jadis probably is no slouch here either). I am looking for the detail , but also want to fill the room with air and dimensionality. I do not necessarily have to have the detail of say a pair of horn or ceramic drivers driven by OTLs. I would like to ad either amp to the system and have it lean (ever so slightly)toward the warm side letting me relax, enjoy,and retire from evaluating. I listen to primarily Jazz and rock with a little mix of everything.
I have heard the Jadis , but in a totally different setup.
I soon have arrangements to hear the Cat,also not in my system. I am leaning CAT, but want to make sure it does not lean on the cooler sounding side of tube amps.As always, thanks all your help.
fjn04

Showing 1 response by fjn04

Thanks for your walk-off home run worth of responses, they helped me a great deal. In talking to CAT people, it is suggested ( and from a big CAT) not to use silver wire. After hearing this plus others using something other than an SL-1 Ultimate in front of their CAT amps , I knew that my component choices would be critical for a happy life with the JL-2. I am actually hoping for a happy marriage with my FS,although I do not consider the FS to be warm sounding. I do think the KS cable is slightly warm, so hopefully I have a good start there, and Johns suggestion for Dominus may be very much on track. I hope to hear the the amp ( an upgraded mk.1) before the end of May. I will chime back with a report
afterward.