Jadis Fidelity


Somebody can tell me we do not see too many Jadis product on Audiogon? What do I have to expect(buy or sell) for a Jadis 100 (E34 Tubes) ? Do Jadis people keep their gears longer?
odiomuse

Showing 5 responses by trelja

I am not sure how much that amp will fetch, but I do know it probably sounds wonderful. There are probably buyers. As far as your other questions, I think there are several reasons. One being that the Jadis presence in this country for the last few years has been really small. So, there is not much product out there. Second, when you are happy with what you own, and cannot find better, why sell? You can buy different amps, but can you buy better? Pride of ownership in a Jadis amp has to be among the highest of any brand. They possess everything that most of us are in this hobby for. Finesse, speed, lightness, detail, dynamics, slam, guts, obvious build quality, seemingly rugged build quality along the lines of a tank(at least I hope so, but I have only had mine for a year), and esthetics. Above all else, they are MUSICAL. I find many Jadis owners are also cut from a different cloth than many other audiophiles. Rather than riding on the constant merry go round of equipment upgrades, they often have made a lifetime purchase ala their Jadis. I know that I have made one...
Detlof, have you noticed any damage to the gold finish with the silver polish? My dealer used Maas(supposedly excellent) cleaner on my amp(said Jadis recommended it), and there is some wearing of the gold. I have been searching for a good way to clean my amp. The factory recommends just a cloth(perhaps damp), which is a joke. And for heavy cleaning, they told me to use methylated spirits(95% ethanol, denatured w/methanol). They specifically told me to NEVER use a cleaner made for brass(maybe that's where the problems with the Maas cleaner arose), as it will damage the gold plating. And told me that they have never recommended Maas to anyone(my dealer in a little white lie...) I have found isopropyl alcohol of practically no use. As a chemist, I fail to see how methylated spirits will do anything if isopropanol doesn't. Not that they are identical, but as close as you get in terms of alcohols(functionality would be virtually identical). It is certainly a beautiful piece. One of the most beautiful amplifiers I have ever seen. That is always the first thing people comment on, before I fire it up(then they're really captivated). But keeping it pristine has been a problem for me. Regarding tubes Odiomuse, I would be surprised if the amplifier you were interested in did not accept EL34/E34L/6CA7. Most Jadis amps will run on these, in addition to 6550/KT88/KT90. The more expensive amps are also usually autobiasing. Mine is not, unfortunately. I have heard many a person say that Jadis amplifiers are even better with the EL34 family of tubes. I know that when I retube I will probably move to KT88 or E34L. Currently, I am using the factory supplied Ei KT90. I think the Czech JJ E34L to be the best of the EL34 type.
Thanks to all who have posted with help on keeping a Jadis looking new. Hello Rcprince! I have not yet experimented with putting a clear coat on the faceplate, but have thought about it since day one. In one of my e-mails from Jadis, they told me that the products sold in Taiwan do come with a coating(due to the extreme humidity there - don't know why any coastal region around the world would be different...). It is a lacquer based product. The reason they told me this is that the cleaning of these products is different. Just to give me a heads up, in case my amp was from there. These amps do NOT get cleaned with methylated spirits, as it will damage the coating. Samaul, unfortunately I don't think we could ever hope for anything less than a once a month cleaning of these faceplates. I may give the ProGold a try. I remember researching the composition for a thread on this site a few months ago. Perhaps I should revisit that...
Cwlondon, I looked at A LOT of products before purchasing my Jadis. Long before that, I came to the conclusion that tubes just sounded more real to me than solid state. And, despite what most say, I find it cheaper to go the tube route. Many of the solid state amps that I enjoy are REALLY big bucks. In contrast, I find many sub - $1000 tube amps pleasing to my ears. I checked out tube amps from Air Tight(my other favorite), ARC, Cary, CJ, Jolida, Quicksilver, Rogue, VAC, VTL, etc. The only one that grabbed me(and my girlfriend!) by the collar and screamed out, "THIS IS THE ONE!" was the Jadis. No, it was not cheap. But, like Rcprince stated above, when I heard it, I knew what I was buying. I took the same CDs around for my auditioning. My girlfriend said she had never heard sound like this from a stereo before(quite a comment for a person who had NO interest in this stuff prior to hearing the Jadis). Dar Williams was actually singing for us in person. Or so we thought... According to Jadis, the Jadis sound is no sound at all. I don't quite agree. But, I can say they sound more like music to me than other brands. I am not a fan of AR power amps. I find them quite solid state sounding. Perhaps selling to people who buy the big names like Krell, Mark Levinson, but want the cache of tubes. Bragging rights, "I have tubes"??? There were other tube amps that caught my ear(especially SETs), but when you look at the balance that Jadis presents, I don't think there is a better product overall(other than Air Tight - but Jadis offers flexibility of using many different tube types). Power, dynamics, great bass for a tube amp(even more so if I jack up the bass controls - for the "club music lovers"), tangibility, and musicality. The fact that it accepts a WIDE variety of tubes(KT90/6550/KT88/6CA7/E34L/EL34) means that it offers almost any sound its owner is after(within reason). From sweet and pure to neutral and forward.
If anyone wants to get a glimpse of what a Jadis is all about, please check out the preamp in the feature auction on the Audiogon home page. My amp features cosmetics along these lines. Stainless steel and 24k gold plated brass on the faceplate. Tubes/transformers/caps on top, sitting on a stainless steel bed, transformer covers in black and 24k gold. Side plates are real wood. But take a closer look. At the business end of things, and you will see that a Jadis is not just a pretty face. It is as serious as things ever get. THAT is why they sound so special. I once read a description of Jadis, "must be seen, and more importantly heard(so they say)". NO BS there. I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that Jadis presents a combination seemingly without peer. Those looks AND those parts... WOW!!!