The Jadis JA200Mk2 review---or slam!


In the current issue of Stereophile, Jason Victor Serinus reviews the new Jadis JA200Mk2....or should I say SLAMS the amp!!

Since I am new to the Jadis family, I thought I would bring up a few interesting thoughts on this review. The first is that I am totally understanding why an amp that uses Ten(10) KT150’s per side would probably not be a great solution at all!!!! Why, well JVS brought up the reason...although he did minimize the impact; the amount of heat this beast gives off is crazy! Space heater in disguise. What’s odd is how JVS also points to his Pass amps as giving off a ton of heat. ?? Anyhow, we then learn that the review was conducted using JVS DAC as the source...and direct into the amps....who does this??? Why on earth would anyone use a DAC to drive a large tube mono block for a magazine review!! No preamp was used. All of the photos of the amp show it using the KT120 tubes...all. There is mention of what the amp was designed with...the KT150’s, but there is some questions to what tubes were actually in the amp under review. Then to go on, the amp was apparently strapped for the 1ohm load....????? JVS doesn’t check these things!...and then states that the amp is not really that great in the bass reproduction. Huh, why would he think that a tube amp that is strapped to the 1ohm setting would produce prodigious bass with his hard to drive Wilson Alexia’s!!! Can we say classical "mismatch" here.
JA’s follow up measurements, while interesting as usual, are IMO also a little odd, what is the base line that he is using to determine accuracy??? Another tube amp...a ss amp, a hybrid design of some sort...his ears, someone else’s ears???

While I purposely did not consider the new Jadis JA 200Mk2 amp for my system, due to the immense heat output...and probable impact on reliability due to this factor ( IME, electronics seem to have a much longer life if heat is not that much of a factor!!! ( Am i one of the few that perhaps understands this??) Plus, i don’t need any space heaters in S.Calif.) I would think that a follow-up review ( preferably by a more experienced reviewer) would be in order....one who can correctly match-up this amp to their ancillary gear.
Anyone else have an opinion of the Jadis JA200Mk2 review in the current issue of Stereophile?
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Indeed, I am very happy with the midrange reproduction from my new Jadis amps. However, the lows and highs are equally as impressive on my system, the amps are tremendously ‘resolving ‘. More so in fact than any other amp I have had in my system. My amps are strapped at the 4-8 ohm strapping and the KT150’s are easily able to drive my speakers. I had no concerns about the amps ability to drive my speakers, and unlike JVS, my speakers are a much easier load. (Although not one that any flea powered amp could be happy with). JVS doesn’t seem to understand that the “marriage” between gear is paramount in the result that one will get...probably due to his lack of experience. Imho.
Even I, without any pro experience , would not severely mismatch anything, and if in doubt would consult with someone. What happened there remains unclear.
I had no idea anyone here still read Stereophile, by the way.

This review is a true disaster in my opinion.

I own this JA200 MKII on KT150 tubes and know their sound very well. It is amazing sounding amplifier. It must be used with quality preamplifier.

The reveiewer made so many mistakes that should simply apologize for their job. Powering this amp directly from DAC, using Wilson Audio and Nordost cables is a short way to screw up the sound.

Funny you bring this up. Slamming aside, I stopped reading the article in the mag last week when I got to the DAC!
I agree 100%.  One of the worst reviews I've ever read.  Why only one speaker model was auditioned with this amp is a mystery.  I'm not a Jadis owner but I have tube amp experience.  A tube amp configured at 1 ohm certainly will sound like crap in the top end.  I tried the 2 ohm tap from my VAC amp into N802's and it was dull, boring, and lifeless.  I would bet the results would have been much better using the 4-8 ohm tap even if the speaker does dip to 2 ohms at one point in the bass.  Why try to optimize this this one impedance at the the expense of the rest of frequency range?

But then again, why did Jadis supply the amp this way?

There is plenty of blame on both sides.  Stereophile should do a follow up with a different reviewer, speakers, and proper impedance match.