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| Model: | JD502B |
| Category: | Integrated Amplifier (Tube) |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $1195 |
| Description: | 60-Watt per channel integrated amp (4pcs. 6550s, 2pcs. 12AX7As, 2pcs. 12AT7s.) |
| Manufacturer URL: | Not Available |
| Model Picture: | View |
|
Review by Pat on March 13, 2000 at 13:54:16 IP Address: 208.223.205.165 |
Add Your Review for the JD502B |
This Jolida 502 in the showroom and the demo I took home had cosmetic quality issues in the alignment of the volume, balance and input selector with the face plate. The Tube "sockets" and tube bias adjustors were also off center with the shroud covering the amp and preamp.The sound however for the $1000 retail was very pleasant. Great detail, image and breath you expect from tubes. Voices and sharp horns are big and bold without the brass sound of my NAD equipment. The bass was full and well defined which was a nice surprise. I alternated between Nordoss Red Dawn and Tara Lab 2Air interconnects. The Nordoss were clearer with better definition, especially in mid bass percussion and rhythm instruments. The Tara Lab interconnects have better breath around them, but the tubes provided their own, and the 2Airs weren't needed at this party.
A pleasant and surprising as it sounded, the 502 was an underachiever when it came to "driving" by B&W CDM7's. rated at 8 ohms, they can go down to 6 ohms. While the whole point of tubes isn't to rock and roll, volume is a factor in filling a room. I would heartily recommend the amp in a medium sized room with more effecient speakers. (Pro Ac or Paradigms)
| Product Weakness: | fit & finish, overall power. |
| Product Strengths: | price, image and clean bass |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
| Amplifier: | Jolida 502 intergrated amp |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | straight through, utilizing the cd variable output |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Marantz CD67SE |
| Speakers: | BW CDM7Se |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Straigthwire Mistro Speaker Cable, and alternating between Nordoss Red Dawn and Tara Lab Air2 |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Barbara Porter, Lyle Lovette |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 15 x 35 x 9 |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 10 hours over 2 days |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Dealer Demo |
Pat, the size of your room, 4,725 cubic feet, may be why the amp couldn't drive your B&Ws as well as you wanted. Thats a big room. Wish mine were that large. Thanks for the review as there aren't all that many published reviews of Jolida that I have come across.
I also have a 502B. I love the sound and have had no quality issues. I too, however, have some minor cosmetic problems with mine. First and foremost, the tubes don't sit perfectly level, they are all slightlty tilted to the
left. I've been hankering to look inside and see if I can fix it. The only other cosmetic issue I have is that the insignia over the tranformer is a hair crooked.
I have to tell ya though, for 900 bucks it could be a lot uglier, it still sounds nice.
While I'm nit-picking on Jolida....Doesn't it seem odd that they don't have a web site? How about some of us jolida owners banding together to form a "club" of some sort. I admire Jolida for putting out a product of high value, but they aren't promoting themselves or creating a corporate identity. I would also like to know more about the company!
Come on Jolida owners, let's do it!
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