Just ordered the Jungson 88D Luxury Edition.

Dracule1, it sounds as if your problem with the amp has worked itself out? I think I'm not alone when I say that we all hope so! Sure is a bummer when this stuff goes on the blink...

Please keep us posted.

Before we get another Myth started. Having a tube like midrange dosen't mean the Jungson sounds like tubes in the highs and lows. Neither does it mean any SS amp with a 'tube like' midrange will sound like tubes thoughout.

From the reviews I have read of the Korsun, it has a typical high power SS sound. Lots of slam and speed with SS sound. Possibly similar to Krell.

The Jungson in comparison probably is slow and lacking in dynamics. But IMO this is in comparison to the Korsun, not in absolute terms. I certainly don't hear any slowness like I did with my CA amp and I don't hear a lack of dynamcics. Much more dynamic then the CA or Jolida tube amps I had before.

Drac has a excellent synopsis of the Jungson sound. Very natural. Not artificially tight or hyped. Some may not like the sound. Some will love it.

Koczkal welcome aboard! I really think if the Jungson is as far from your listening preferences as you say. I really don't think any power cords or IC's will give you what you are looking for. You might need to look for another amp. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has different taste and its all about enjoying the music.

BW Maxx

Many times I read that xyz amp (cdp,whatever) "must" be used with abc power cords, interconnects, whatever... if this is really the case:
a) isn't the designer hurting his/her own success by building a component that sounds acceptable only with a certain wire, and
b) if it is true, then why wouldn't the company just state that, or better still, include such wire or accessory in the package?

In general I don't buy this story so much. Yes there are slight differences in well-built cables. Yes tweaks make a difference. But are they ESSENTIAL for a given quality component to perform well? That's crazy talk!

Kck, the only way you'll know is to try it out. I, for one, do not spend more than 300-350 for a pair of ICs or speaker cables. As for power cords, I have the Signal Cable Magic Power Cord ($60, I think) and their Magic Power Digital Cord ($70, I think). At least in my experience, the power cords did make a significant difference over the stock cords - definately worth the minimal investment (by audiophile standard). My friends think I'm crazy buying a $60 power cord. It's all relative. Would I ever buy a $5000 cable, IC, or cord? No. At those prices, I think it's mostly snake oil. I rather buy a better pair of speakers, amp, or CDP.

Of course not all tube amps are slow in bass, but a lot are.
So when reviews of the Jungson just talk about the good midrange and tube sound and never mention bass or PRAT, I put two and two together and presume thats where its strenghts lie.

Some people have said that the Korsun is fast and dynamic but too sterile sounding - those people should try the Jungson!!

Dracule1, I am with you on this. I did not mean to say cables make no difference, just that the story that a given component sounds good only with a certain brand or type of cable (silver, etc) is poppycock.

For the record, I have between $1 and $2K invested in cables. Not much but at least lets you know that I do believe in the power of decent cabling.

So the Signal Cable is all that eh? Been wondering about that... I use Ven Haus Flavors myself and wonder if Frank's stuff is worth a try against these. Sorry to go OT.

Agisthos, the Jungsons are not slow in the bass at least compared to live music. It doesn't throw bass at you like many SS amps. The bass is naturally integrated with rest of the spectrum.

Kck, for the money, it's hard to beat the Signal Cable power cords. I don't think I could ever spend over $1k on cables. My total investment is little over $600 and I'm quiet happy with the results.

I agree power cords are tweaks. I can't see IC's or power cords transforming a amp or CDP radically.

Bass is very well integrated. It dosen't jump out at you.

I mostly listen to rock. One of my previous amps had very tight puchy bass. At first I thought it sounded great. After awhile it all sounded the same and I realized it didn't sound that natural. The Jungson to my ear really sounds like a bass guitar an instrument I'm very familar with. Bass dosen't sound artificial or hyped as pointed out in the BFS review.

BW Maxx

How hot does it run, guys? I almost bit on this one a few weeks ago and got scared off by the Class A stuff. I am in the South and already have an elevated cooling bill. Plus the audio room gets lots of sun (not on the equipment though) and stays warmer than the rest of the house anyway. Short of a new A/C duct piped in I would be roasting with a hot amp. Already there are days when I have to have the ceiling fan on, that's no good for listening with the constant whirr being like an elevated noise floor.

For class A it runs cool. Not like class a/b or digital of course. But dosen't seem to be any warmer then a Jolida tube amp I had in the system. No problem holding your hand on it as long as you want.

BW Maxx

I agree with Maxx. It's one of the more cooler running class A amps. Nothing like the Krell integrated on which you can fry an egg. My room is 15'x12'x8' and it doesn't warm up the room like my last 30 watt tube integrated. Basically it warms up a room like a coventional 30" TV. If you look inside the amp, there's an elaborate array of copper heat sinks that helps to cool the amp efficiently.

Interesting reading guy's,
From everyones description of the 88 I'm thinking it could mate well with my new Klipsch RF7's for 2 channel listening.

102DB! Man that leaves amp selection wide open. The 88D of course as stated by those who have heard it has a tube like midrange. No brightness, grain or grit in the highs and plenty of power for a 80wpc amp.

Some seem to feel Klipsch are ideal for SET amps. However the 88D is not Euphoric like some tube amps. What amp are you using now? I mean if any SS amp will synergize well with the Klipsch the Jungson would be near top of the list.

So how it would sound to you would be of course based on what you have currently and what you are looking for.

I'm not trying to discourage you from the Jungson. Just trying to get across the point that with speakers like Klipsch and 102DB effeciency there may be better options.

Again though it could be the match you are looking for :)

Hope this helped some.

BW Maxx

Yes I have begun to realize my choices seem endless. Fortunately it will be a few months before I seriously consider making another purchase. I live about 1-1/2 hours north of where they sell those Jungson's in Indianapolis.

In the meantime my Denon stereo receiver is the Pre for a Sonographe (conrad johnson) 120 watt stereo amp. It sounds better than the receiver by itself of course.

Mmmmm...S.S. and tube or all S.S. or all tube. So many choices I'm glad there is no hurry.......lol.lol.

Tube pre is without a doubt, in my mind, the best way to go with a ss amp.
At least with a tube pre some tube swapping can be done.
With solid state what you get is what you got.

Speedball, another consideration is the noise floor of the amp. Although the Jungson is dead quiet hooked to my speaker with 90 dB efficiency, it may not be hooked up to a speaker with 102 dB. The BFS reviewer states, although the Jungson is quiet for a SS amp, it is not the quietest the reviewer has heard. So you may have to use the balanced connection on the Jungson to gain that extra 3-5 dB reduced noise floor. Or go for another amp more suited for your speakers, but I doubt you can get a SET amp of high quality anywhere near the price of the Jungson. I think you can get the stereo amp version of the 88D for under 1K which is really an absolute bargain. But this is all conjecture as I have not heard the Jungson through a speaker that efficient. Good luck.

The tube Pre is something I have certainly thought about even if it's with a class A S.S. amp. Some tube integrateds out there are looking pretty good too.

Really I was wondering if class A is a big difference in sound versue A/B. I've never heard it before and the Jungson being class A is what caught my attention.

Right now There is a guy offering me an old Musical Fidelity (Dr.Thomas Edition) for 400 bucks in excellent condition. It has 120 watts and the first 30 watts or so is class A. The price is right and I could still use a tube Pre with it eventually. What I'm concerned is, will I be able to hear a difference that 30 watts of class A makes versus A/B.

On the other hand I can keep filling the piggy bank and drop fifteen hundred or so on something in the future.

Sheeesh, decisions, decisions....lol.

In general, class A amps will sound smoother, more refined, more natural than their class AB counterparts. I would advise against getting a class AB amp for highly efficient horn speakers, unless it has been shown to mate well with horns.

I guess your talking about Sekei? If so its in Columbus. About 70 miles north of where I live and about 30 south of Indy.

I know I hauled my entire system up to Sekei to audition the Jungson. Its definitly worth the effort to pack at least the speakers if you get a chance to audition the Jungson.

You could also look at the Jungson 99C power amp. Suppose to be the same power section as the 88D but this would allow you to use a tube or SS pre.

BW Maxx

Yes, that's the place I was talking about. Columbus?, that's great...I thought it was in Bloomington.....I'm just north of Greenwood.
Now it is even harder to not to pay them a visit.

Oh yes Greenwood exit 99 or 103? Sekei is about 10 minutes off I65, exit 64 I think, a touch south of Columbus.

Andy has the 99C/JA1 in his reference. Same as the 88D but in seperates.

BW Maxx

Actually I'm off old Meridian street just south of I-465.

The wife just looked up their location and I'll see about driving down there one of these days. I would like to see what they have on display. Looks like their open 9:00 to 5:00 Mon. thru Fri................Pat

Sekei isn't at the address listed at the website. Andy has a regular day time job and runs the business out of his house so you need to call to demo.

Except for the primary system there usually isn't much on display. By the time his shipment arrives. Almost everything is already sold. He usually has a few items not already sold. But not many. His next shipment is scheduled to be received in mid July.

BW Maxx

Thanks Max........

I just received the Jungson 88D and love the way this amp looks and sounds. This is one of the best integrated amps I've heard out of the many that I have owned over the years. Being a class A amp it is very important to use a high quality power cord; I've tryed the Signal Cable and a few others and found the Purist Dominus was the best choice to really bring out every last ounce of performance that this amp has to offer. The Dominus AC really showed what this amp is capable of doing on the bottom end and brought out more air and extension to the top end; the midrange is gorgeous.

I've tried to find any US dealer; Sekei's website is down, and I've tried to e-mail [email protected] with no response... Ohio Valley is no longer a distributor... Who sells these? I want an 88-C or an 88-D!

J

Try Stewart Marcantoni at Sanctuary of Sound (Weekend Environments)

www.weekendenvironments.com/contact.htm or 360-874-1201