Jadis JA30 Mk2, how great???

Yep, I'll be in So Cal in March and Brooks Berdan is the place.  I'll give them a call tomorrow about the retail price.

Not sure how great it might be, but after hearing the Jadis I-50 integrated with KT150 output tubes I’d be interested in finding out. Appears that Jadis is updating many of their amps to accommodate these tubes, and the JA30 MkII is the latest to do so.

If these lower powered amps can handle my stat hybrids I would be very interested in auditioning them, seems to me that the KT150’s (and updated transformers) have moved Jadis to a more universal sound while retaining the organic goodness they are known for. My only other concern would be, although I listen to a lot of jazz and acoustic based music, is whether this new breed of Jadis can really do justice to blues/rock.

Daveyf, have you been able to audition the Jadis yet?  I won't be able to till March, please report if you are able to do so as well.

Sorry it has taken so long to post this, but I did check with the folks at Brooks Berdan audio as to price and availability for the MkII version, and it turns out to be a bit complicated. They do not have a unit in-store for audition, nor do they show it on their price sheet. What they do show is a MkIII edition which is specific to KT120 output tubes priced at $11,700. This is the version that also appears on the US distributor website (Blue Bird Music).

 When I asked about the MkII amp, which should be the latest iteration according to the Jadis website (updated specifically to handle the new KT150 tube, but can also take EL34, 6CA7, KT88, KT90, KT120 & 6550 though a modification is required inside the amp when switching between different tube types), they said it could be special ordered, probably for a similar price to the MKIII. They have no plans at present to order one for the store. They did suggest that since Jadis is a boutique brand the development and advertising for different iterations can be confusing, and that certainly is the case here.

Davey, if your friends do have this amp, I wonder if they auditioned it somewhere prior to buying in the US?

Hi Egoben, thanks for offering input on your JA30. Can you tell us how old it is and what type of output tubes you are using? And if possible, how efficient your speakers are and how well the amp drives them, especially in the bass frequencies? Also what type of music you listen to and how it is handled, particularly if that includes rock/blues. Finally, has it been reliable and does it float your musical boat, so to speak?  

Hi GWALT, thanks for the input on your JA30! You have some really nice equipment and a great-looking room…….appears to be quite a large space as well, does the Jadis have any issues energizing it? Also, I didn’t see what those red power cords are in your system details? Could you also share what type of music you listen to?

My situation is a bit different; smallish medium size room, driving 87db electrostat hybrids (Janszen) currently with a Rowland amp. Some folks have reported finding bliss with these speakers and lower powered tube amps, and I was quite impressed with the Jadis I50 integrated amp equipped with KT150 tubes at the most recent Newport show. Just trying to get some idea as to whether the JA30 MK II with KT150’s would be sufficient in my room, though will likely not be able to audition these mono amps in the USA unless one of the few dealers imports one which, as far as I know, has not happened (yet). As you indicated, correct matching of speakers & amp is critical.

Appreciate your response to the questions I threw at you Egoben, very descriptive! I do think to an extent it might be an apples to oranges comparison as the newer Jadis has likely moved to a bit more universal sound & possibly improved drive capabilities at least where the KT150 equipped amps are concerned, but also may have given up some of that magic you described in the process. But we shall see, that magic is what I am looking for too. Wish there were more dealers here in the states, with a full arsenal of the different models to be able to make comparisons.

Your advice to consider a used JA80 is a good one, and something I will consider moving forward, even though I’m anxious to see what the KT150-based amps would bring to my setup as well. I’ll be in S. California in March where I will get to the Jadis dealer there, Brooks Berdan Ltd - hopefully they will have a few KT150 as well as some of the legacy amps in-house for a nice audition. If you or the others in this thread expressing interest (or anyone else for that matter) is interested I will report back here. Thanks again for all the input.

Hey Gwalt, appreciate the additional input, sounds like you have that `pride of Jadis ownership’ thing going similar to what Egoben mentioned. I agree that the Jadis transformers are among the best out there from what I’ve seen/heard, and they did indeed modify them to handle the KT150’s. I’m getting to be an old geezer so don’t rock out like the old days (i.e., 60’s, 70's 80’s & 90’s) so these amps would likely work fine for my purposes as you suggest. I’ve also seen some great reviews on that Elrod power cord you have, I may have to try it……

Glad that Daveyf started this thread, hope that someone does chime in who might have heard/own this amp.

Kyomi Audio, yes please post when you receive the amps.  I may need to take a road trip up to hear them unless you would be kind enough to ship them down to Florida to allow me an audition in my system.........(smiley face emoji here) 

Hi Kyomi, from all the information you have provided, it sounds like you have actually heard/seen the MkII amps even though you don't have in stock yet?  If so, was that at Blue Bird Music, the US distributor?  We've all had a lot of questions, I think in part because info is hard to come by for Jadis.....it would be nice if Blue Bird would update their site to include this amp; as I mentioned above, the only reference to the JA30 is a MkIII version which must be older since it is only spec'd for KT120 output tubes.  Prices would be nice also.  Thanks, hope you get the MkII amps soon......

Excellent Kyomi, thanks for keeping us posted, await further updates.

Kyomi, thanks, while vacationing in California I've had a chance to listen to the JA120.....what lovely beasts these are, dynamic, great tone and organic.  If you are suggesting that the JA30's (with KT150's) are even 'better' than what I listened too (which were equipped with KT88 output tubes), then I need to hear them.  Too bad I don't have a layover in Chicago on the way home......

Kyomi, please also let us know how it performs with rock/blues (does it do justice to guitar/drums/bass based bombast).  Also could you specify how hard the Marten's are to drive......thanks.

Hey Gwalt, please keep us posted if you get to Chicago for an audition. I think it would be fascinating if you are able to compare your JA30 with the new edition….perhaps be able to verify if the magic is still there along with improved power handling (I believe 45 or so watts with the KT150’s) and presumably better abilities in the frequency extremes. I plan to get up there too but it may take a few months.

Kyomi, I have, through the years, heard a wide spectrum of adjectives used to describe the bass response of various Jadis amps, from `propulsive’, to `detailed but bloated’, to `light’. I’ve been a bass guy ever since attending my 1st concert back in `67 (Vanilla Fudge, for those who remember) and love a detailed, punchy foundation - music does not sound right to me without those solid low frequencies (and I don’t mean overly `tight’ necessarily, as I don’t hear that in a live setting…..but not bloated either). Can you provide some insight as to how the new JA30 does in this regard?

Kyomi Audio, I see that you will be demonstrating at Axpona later this month with CAT electronics, very nice. Any chance you will also have some Jadis amps at the show?

Also when you get a chance please see my 3/28 post asking about bass capabilities of the JA30. Know you must be busy preparing for the show, best of luck with your room!!

Bump.

Thanks Kyomi, figured you were busy, glad that your room did so well.  I have a few more questions, mostly about impedance matching with the preamp when I make the decision which one I'm going with.  I'll give you a call before hopping on a plane to Chicago.

gwalt, glad you made it up to see George and even more so that you verified what I hoped this amp would bring to the party, especially in terms of bass capabilities. Does this mean you are a KT-150 advocate now?  At any rate, congrats👍!  I hope to be following in your footsteps very soon......

Excellent gwalt, appreciate your input on the new amp and in comparison with your older version. Makes me anxious to get up the Windy City for an audition!! Will be interesting to see where you end up eventually as far as tubes, I imagine that you, like most of us, will experiment. Please keep us posted as you go with the new amp.

How soon before it arrives from France and gets to you? I think I remember someone saying they are usually delivered on a pallet to ensure safe transport. Also, don’t know if you care but you can order them with silver instead of gold face plates, which I kind of like from the pics I’ve seen. Also, did George happen to mention that they can be spec’d with balanced inputs, I think I read that Jadis can do such for all their amps, which I would prefer as my current pre (and the one I’m looking at as replacement) works best via balanced connection.

gwalt, take a look here, best pics I've seen: http://www.jadis-electronics.com/documents/28/jadis_dpmc_js_ja120_french_connection.pdf

George, not sure how much the Cat pre is, but I really like the Audio Research REF 6 which I've auditioned a couple of times.  Of course, don't know if/how ARC & Jadis get along with each other, was thinking about posting that question here (guess I just did).  Otherwise, just started reading about the newer Jadis PRE1, which is in my price range......any comments on this one?

Thanks George, lots to think about.  I of course would want the best synergy....when I get up there to audition the Jadis amp I assume I would be able to see/hear both the Jadis and Cat pre's, so that would be very beneficial.  Maybe even discuss a package deal<-:)

By the way as to the silver faceplates, I emailed Jadis directly a few months ago after I saw the pics I referenced earlier, they responded that indeed the amps & pre's can be ordered that way.  I think I like the cleaner look of silver, but we all have our own preferences.

Thanks jond, agree that the silver really makes it look kinda chic & cool at the same time…….you are obviously a man of good taste. I agree that Jadis does not appear often in the press though I think there is a resurgence of interest in the past few years  now that they again have a stable distribution home in North America…...hopefully we shall see more written reviews.

Try as I might, could not find a translation for the German article. Though for what it’s worth, I did google an german-to-english translation for the final summary paragraph…..it does not appear to be a great translation, but here it is:  `Great cinema with Tubes. Jadis plays wonderfully with the possibilities of the glass flask and dares a little "sound". The final stage is speaker intended degree of phonetic with normal efficiency that phono stage is even a kind of bargain'.

Kyomi Audio….Hi George, I’ve been looking for reviews of that Jadis JPS2 preamp you mentioned as a mate to the JA30 MK2. Not many newer comments, but some of the older articles suggested that it is great with classical music but not so much for rock, i.e., slower bass and a bit dark on top, so less able to deliver the taut rhythms common to rock and pop was biggest concern. Can you provide any details as to the last time this pre was updated, and whether Jean-Christophe Calmettes was part of that update? As with many Jadis products, it’s hard to know with much clarity when (and to what extent) some of the decades-old products have been improved upon through time………except for a change from silver-ish to blue caps, they look very similar through the years.

As always, thanks for taking the time to provide your input, and know that my listening preferences are for rock/blues first and foremost (with jazz, acoustical, pop, etc coming after, and classical coming in last).

Thanks George and Charles.......I actually hope the Jadis pre works for me when all is said and done.  What the heck, might be nice to have a matching amp/preamp combination for once, certainly not too shabby looks-wise for sure.  Like gwalt, I will keep everyone posted as it goes.

By the way George, do you recall which pre was used for gwalt's audition of the JA30 amp?

Hi @gwalt.....just checking in to see if you ever received your MkII amps, and whether you ordered the traditional gold or newer silver finish.  Please provide us with an update when you get a chance, really interested in how it is going.....thanks!

Excellent gwalt, can't wait to hear how they fit into your system, both the sound and silver finish........hope you will update your system page with pics when you get the time.  I believe the plates are made in Germany, may be still a special type of order so that might be why it took a bit longer.  Sounds like you sold your amps already, good for you!

I'm trying to get up to see George soon, too many trips on my schedule, not enough time......

Hi gwalt, glad your wait for all the new gear is finally over and you are enjoying musical bliss once again.  Please keep us posted as it goes, and thanks for the tip on that GamuT pre..........can't wait to audition it with the ja30, could be just the combo I've been looking for.  And congrats on being a trailblazer of sorts for the Jadis amp, first review of any sort I've ever seen on the MKII edition.....