SET Asylum: REVIEW: Art Audio Jota Amplifier (Tube) by Senator Blutarsky

Model:	Jota
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$7995.
Description:	20 wpc SET
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by Senator Blutarsky ( A ) on March 18, 2002 at 14:47:59
IP Address: 63.140.13.42

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This is the first time I've ever been seduced by an audio component. Every time I visited my dealer (a very bad man) about something, he'd somehow manage to direct me to the room where this damn amp was playing... and I couldn't help but listen to it. After a year of this, he made me an unbelievable deal-maybe he felt sorry for me!- and I bought it.
The Jota replaced a VAC Avatar amp that I was very happy with, but, as good a performer as the Avatar is, it's absolutely smoked in every conceivable way by the Jota. Well, it should, given the cost, right?
But, it's more than that. The Jota is the first piece of equipment I've listened to extensively for which I cannot imagine how it could be bettered. That's not to say that the amp is perfect, or that there aren't better amps out there- there are plenty of super amps selling for $15-40K that I'm sure are great. It's just that in my mind I literally can't conceive of how the sound could be improved. And, I guess (reluctantly), that justifies the price tag.
There are excellent reviews of the Jota you can read in SoundStage and TAS. Both present an accurate picture of what the amp is capable of. As complementary as both are, they seem to stint their praise a little in a couple of areas. Well, maybe that's not fair... it's more like even after you read the reviews, you're still not prepared for how fast and how dynamic this amp really is. And to get that combined with the acknowledged strengths of an SET amp leaves you with something very special.
Ryan Adams' "Heartbreaker" album is one of my favorites. Listening to "Oh My Sweet Carolina", I am taken in every time by the sound of the acoustic guitar- how clean and quick I hear it picked and strummed, and the sound of the body of the instrument. I can hear how much this amp loves acoustic guitars.
And, then, Emmylou Harris sings backup on the chorus, and I forget about the guitar. Heck, I usually forget about everything. Amazing.
As for dynamics, I've heard my Spendor 1/2s with a number of different amps, solid state, tube, high power, high current, low power, etc. I've never heard any other amp light these guys up the way the Jota does-- and it's not close, either. Keep in mind that, whatever praise the 1/2s justifiably have received over the years, most would describe them as somewhat soft. With the Jota, they sound, well, kinda robust.
Okay, now I'll nitpick. First, while the amp is gorgeous to look at, it's looks come at the price of the worst located on-off switch I've ever used, in the back of the amp. You've gotta reach over the top of these (hot) tubes and trannies and then reach down to cut it off. An accident waiting to happen. Second, the binding posts are not what I would expect to find on an $8K product. Plastic, not too great with thick spades... and the positive and negative banana posts aren't the same size, for some reason.
To conclude, this is a remarkable component. Even if you can't afford one, you ought to try to hear it, if you can. It's made me want to listen to music more than any other piece of audio equipment I've ever owned. And, that's what it's all about. Highly recommended.

Product Weakness: Definitely not a bang for the buck product. Mediocre binding posts. 20 wpc means this isn't an amp for all speakers.
Product Strengths: Great looks. Fast, transparent, dynamic, all at levels that have to be heard to be believed. That SET midrange magic.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Art Audio Jota
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	see inmate system
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	see inmate system
Speakers:	see inmate system
Cables/Interconnects:	see inmate system
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	see inmate system
Room Size (LxWxH):	12' x 11' x 8'
Room Comments/Treatments:	see inmate system
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1+ years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	see inmate system
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Definitely not a bang for the buck product. Mediocre binding posts. 20 wpc means this isn't an amp for all speakers.
Product Strengths:	Great looks. Fast, transparent, dynamic, all at levels that have to be heard to be believed. That SET midrange magic.