Jadis JA30 Mk2, how great???

The JA30Mk2's with the Franco Serblin Accordo's would probably be a great match up. 
Agree 100% with the post above by charles1dad. 

Got it. I'm not really a fan of 300B single ended amps. Not because I don't think they sound good, but more because they are so very limiting as to the speakers that you can match them to. Plus, I think in many cases the 300B tube is more susceptible to noise from microphonics. 
In that perspective, I much prefer an 845 ( which Jadis also makes).

Indeed, Jadis does make beautiful sounding and emotionally engaging amplifiers. To that, I think their build quality is basically second to none.
IMO, if one is looking for a tube based amp, then these need to be on anyone's short list.

I have not heard this amp. I have been told from a few friends who have, that it is incredibly good.
As to MSRP, I don't know what it is. Would like to get an idea also.
Jadis seems to be minimally represented here in the US...at least on the West coast. I have no idea if they even have a dealer on the West coast??

Butler, please do post as to what you find out about the price.
Keith, next time i'm up at Brooks Berdan, I will try and take a listen. I'm a little concerned, as I may be selling a lot of gear to help finance the Jadis after hearing it...

Hi Butler, I don't know anybody who actually owns these amps. I do have a couple of a'phile friends who have heard them, and have raved about them, hence my OP. Both of these guys have auditioned them in Europe. 

I think the new versions of the Jadis JA30 mk2 amps with the KT150’s are probably very different from the older models. The main reason that I posted the OP was because an a’phile friend told me that these new amps are not only the sweet spot of the current Jadis line, but also significantly better than any other Jadis amp that he has heard!
I would very much like to hear anyone’s opinion of these new amps once someone has had a chance to listen to them.

Kyomi audio, thanks for bringing us up to speed. Couple of questions...1) what is the warranty on the Jadis amps...as you may remember, they were not the paragon of reliability in the old days.:0)..and 2) Any idea as to how much heat the new Jadis JA30Mk2 gives off? 
Thanks.

gwalt, good to hear that you thought highly of the new Jadis amps. I am going to Newport on Friday and hopefully someone there will have a pair on demo. I'm sure they must be superb and will be on my short list.

veriwide100...after twenty (20) years I think the amps have given great service if they have had no other issues in the past! To say they are boat anchors simply because they now need to have new transformers seems a little harsh. BTW, I would be happy to take the boat anchors off your hands. 

George, great to hear that the CAT preamp plays nice with the Jadis amps....I LOVE my current CAT preamp. BTW, have you tried rolling in tubes into yours....a BIG step-up in sound can be had; and for little money.
At the Newport show yesterday, there was only the Jadis integrated playing wth Spendor’s. So, not that great an exhibit, but still a nice intro to the line.

George, I own a modified SL1 Signature with NOS Mullards and GE NOS long plates.
Agreed that the Jadis mono blocks are a lot better than the integrateds, but for some reason that was what was being demo'ed.

Thanks for the update, gwalt. It is nice to read about a purchase in this hobby that gives one a smile. The Jadis JA30Mk2 seemed to me to be the very sweet spot of their line, which is why I started this thread.
Most times, the medium powered tube amp is the one to go for, IME. If one can mate the speakers to the medium powered amp, then I believe this is the best possible solution. 
I will try and source one for an audition.

Well a big shout out to gwalt...because thanks to him, I am now the happy owner of the magnificent Jadis JA30mk2’s!!
These amps are an absolutely incredible sounding piece of gear... Far more resolving, far more palpable and simply way better at all manner of music making than any other amp I have heard....and I have heard a lot of them!
Pairing them with my customized CAT preamp is a match made in heaven. Tonight after hearing the amps for the first time, I now know why I had these on my radar when I posted the OP.
If you get a chance to hear these, I highly recommend that you do so....an incredible update on a classic Jadis amp. I simply have not heard better......

Thanks, Charles. The SF GH are not that easy of a load. IME, they will not work with very low powered/flea powered amps. However, with the Jadis JA 30 Mk2, as you pointed out, the transformers/power supply are exceptional and since I am using a small room, the 45 watts/ch works fine.
The sound is absolutely amazing with the new KT150’s. Incidentally, these amps also have NOS Siemens tubes in the driver stage, a significant upgrade over the stock EH’s, IMO.

Tonight I had a long listening session with these amps. The new design of the mk2 and the KT150 tubes make this Jadis amp the most resolving and life like sounding amp I have ever had in my system. The Jadis JA 30 mk2’s drive my SF GH’s with ease..allowing the speaker to define the soundstage with great precision. The highs are as pure as any amp I have ever heard and are ( at least to me) a revelation with the silk domes that the GH’s utilize.
With certain wind instruments the sound of air escaping through the horn section can easily be heard and the ‘blat’ that distinguishes the various openings of the trumpet and the sax are now eerily realistic.
IMHO, if these new Jadis amps will work with your speakers, they should be on your very short audition list.

stringreen, what vintage are the friends gear? Are you referring to JA 30's or some other model in the line up? I would very much doubt that the amps you are referring to are the new mk 2 models. As to the preamp, I have no experience with Jadis models.... no need to, as my CAT is a perfect match for the Jadis amps. 

+1000 Charles.

I have never really considered measurements as any kind of arbiter regarding the SQ of audio gear. My ears are the arbiter, just like yours. The measurement crowd tends to shy away from this...which is fine, but i never understood how they correlated what they look for in the measurement and what some "expert" has determined that the measurement correlates to in the sounds that we hear. ( Remembering that what you hear, I hear- and they hear, are probably variations that we all interpret differently). 
Not to say that the new Jadis amps won't measure well, we have no idea about this ( and they very well could measure great)...but like you said, tube amps don't typically do this. 
BTW, I was looking at the graph showing the frequency and linearity result that was presented with my speakers....Jeez these guys are almost ruler flat from 45Hz to over 18Khz!! So somebody at SF did have great ears and the ability to design for flat response and measurement!  
Franco really is missed!!!

Gary, great news...I was expecting that you would really like the CAT JL5. I am sure that this amp will be a great match to your Gamut's. Like you said, you match the amp to the speaker...and not the speaker to the amp. CAT is such a great piece of gear...as you know, I am a very BIG fan.
Oh, only drawback is now you have to think about the CAT preamp...;0)
Daveyf

Gary, as great as Ken's amps are, IMO his preamps are actually even better. As you know, Ken made his mark with his preamps, and IMO they are still at the very top of the contender list. Absolutely SOTA.
Interestingly, the preamp and the Jadis amps have always matched up well. I can say that my hot rodded/modded SL-1 Sig matches up like a dream with the JA30Mk2. If and when funds allow, go for the CAT Renaissance with Black Paths...as you noticed, your system will take off.
In the meantime, happy listening.

Gary, the JL5 is a great amp...and like I suspected, and you have now confirmed, well suited to your speakers. As you noted above, it’s all about the mate in this hobby. Get that right, and you have music, get it wrong and you have disappointment. Easier to do the latter, IME.
My SF GH’s work superbly with the new Jadis amps...what’s even more amazing, is that I have to actually turn DOWN the volume in comparison to my far more powerful Rowland amp...which puts out only 250 watts/ch!
But as we all know, that’s not the only part of the equation, it has to do with the quality of the transformers, the ability of the caps and the headroom of the amp, the typical impedance load at the speakers and of course the speakers in use ( room size).. among other things. So 250 watts/ch vs. 45 watts/ch-- and yet the low powered amp offers far more bass punch, dynamics, volume, imaging ability, and ease of presentation! Interesting isn’t it...and something that I strongly suspect most dealers and a’philes have no clue about!!!
Reminds me of a time when I visited a dealer many many moons ago, who was selling the then revolutionary Carver 500 watts/ch ss cube amps...told me they could drive anything. Well yes, but not well, LOL, My 15 watt/ch tube amp obliterated them in an AB...so much so that the dealer assured me that the Carver’s were faulty and he was going to request another pair...
Needless to say, i did not buy much gear from this guy.

Charles, have you heard Jadis in your system..I think it would be a great match up with your speakers and would certainly lead to a new romance. The new KT150's are, IME, a much easier tube to live with...:0)

Gwalt, one of the things that I think we would both agree upon, is that the sort of sidetrack that you made, probably should not have happened.
IMO, a dealer whom we rely upon to confirm product synergy should supply with you exactly that. If they fail to do so, inadvertently or otherwise, it would generally lead one to concern. I know in this hobby that there are endless possibilities, like you said, but I am always concerned about people in the industry who profess knowledge, and either have it and lead you wrong ( for their own agendas), or simply lack the experience that they posses to have. I rarely talk to any dealer these days who will contemplate that there may be consumers out there who actually know as much or more than they do! A pity.

Agree with you Charles. Here's the thing of it, until recently, I was pretty happy with my power amp. I had an inkling that the new Jadis JA30 Mk2 was going to be really special...which is why I started this thread. 
I just did not realize how much better this amp was until I heard for myself in my system. If you do get a chance to listen to one of these, or the CAT amps for that matter, I would recommend that you give it a go. 
Sometimes, our suspicions prove to be correct. Nonetheless, if you are currently happy with your gear, that is always a great place to be. 
For some reason, I tend to get an itch every few years....

Charles, I still believe the Rowland is one heck of an amp. It certainly has a different “flavor” if you will, to the tube amps that I own. However, it depends on your mood. Right now, and after all these years, I am in the mood for more of the newer tube sound ( particularly since the new tube sound is so much more revealing and neutral)..which I actually feel fits my current tastes and speakers a little better. Some may prefer the Rowland, and I wouldn’t argue with them...it’s that good.
I am sorely tempted to keep it and move my ARC D 70mk 2 on...

Charles, Agree with you 100%. The Jadis do everything you say and more. The Rowland still hits way above its current used price point. In fact, I would be surprised if there were too many current ss amps that are in the $30-50K range that could easily best it. 

Well, it turns out that the new Jadis JA30Mk2’s are very sensitive to the power cord that one uses..perhaps like most amps. Anyhow, after trying several candidates from various companies, like Synergistic, Cardas, Black Rhodium, Pangea, a Nordost Heimdahl, the clear winner, and in my opinion miles ahead of the others is: the superb Audio Art SE 1 cable with the excellent Furutech connectors.
I am so impressed with this cable that I think it is probably the absolute best cable for this amp. Truly a match made in heaven. 
Big shout out to Rob Fritz and his over the top performing Art Audio SE 1 power cord. Thank  you, Rob!

Thanks guys. Last night I had a long listening session..and one that was quite amazing. I managed to add my two REL subs ( after having custom cables built for me by Frank at Signal) and got them dialed in. The result with the new Jadis being powered by the Art Audio cables and the subs now in the room, was a sound that easily surpassed anything that I have managed before. Right now I am pretty happy!
When you get it right, the question becomes is it wise to get off the bandwagon, or continue to tweek....hmmm??

Like you guys correctly point out, synergy is so darned important in this hobby. But wow, once it all locks in...:0)

trelja, Thanks for that. Currently I am utilizing a pair of Siemens 12AU 7 and 12 AX7's...not the standard EH tubes that come stock. I may roll in some Telefunkens or some NOS Mullards ( like I have in my preamp).

Guys, what era of Jadis are we talking about here? IMHO, the current mk 2 versions have a different sound than in the past. The new KT150’s are, again IMHO, a lot more revealing and full range than any of the prior tubes that I have heard.
When I heard Jadis amps in the past, I thought they all had a slightly too warm signature, however, I do feel that the new versions have gone away from that warmth and added a certain increase in neutrality, that I find exceptional. The mids and highs are still great, although I also think they are resolved more than in the past.
Tube rolling is always a good idea, although IME one has to be careful, as you can go backwards just as easily as you can go forwards.
I’m certainly listening to my current tubes for a while to get really used to their sound before I roll in NOS or other tubes.

trelja, I think the Jadis mono blocks have a little more 'punch' than the integrated models. I would think that any of the mono amps ..with the possible exception of the JA15's, would work well on JM labs speakers. Have you heard any of the new Mk2 models with the KT 150's. I think these are, at least to my ears, superior sounding to the EL34's models that I have heard in the past. Nonetheless, you cannot really go wrong with any of them.

I have now had the amazing Jadis JA30Mk2 in my system for a few months. Last night, after a long listening session, one thing struck me that these amps have more than any other amp I have heard....Resolution. I was playing the MFSL Anadisc Muddy Waters 'Folk Singer' LP. This LP is one of my go to LP's when it comes to Blues and the ability to hear how voice and guitar can sound. In the past, I was always aware of the fact that Buddy Guy was playing on this LP. He always seemed to be a homogenous part of the make up of the sound. Last night,and for the first time, I was made aware of how big a part Buddy actually plays on this LP!! Buddy's guitar was presented not as a homogenous part anymore, but as a very separate entity....and one that was allowing me to hear ( as a guitar player myself) when Buddy made the few mistakes that he did!! I'm fairly certain that most of you who have heard this LP have probably not heard the contribution as microscopically portrayed as the Jadis amps are able to bring to the fore. It was an eye opener to me, I have heard this LP on numerous occasions in the past, and never has Buddy's guitar sounded so very much in the room and as precise as it did last night. The JA 30 MK2's are so much more resolving ( this word is a cliche, but certainly applies in this instance) than any other amp I have heard in my system...so much so that the smallest sound and noise is resolved....almost uncanny!!

Gwalt, glad to hear that the CAT Black Path preamp finally showed up and now you will be enjoying it in your super system.
To say a BIG smile will appear on your face once it is broken in a little, is an understatement! These preamps rarely show up on the used market...and for VERY good reason. Ken has ’sharpened’ his design over the years, but IME even the older models can still show off almost all of the current competing contenders...and with ease!!! Says a lot about his newer gear.
Remember, consider tube rolling as a way to add some nitro to the engine, but don’t do it until some time has gone by. You will shake your head in amazement once those NOS tubes are rolled in, LOL.

Gary, the CAT preamp is the heart of the system...you can work around it, but it will be the strength of your system with most any ancillary gear....like you said it is the engine. Before, I think you were working with a 4 cylinder motor....now you are working with a 12 cylinder motor.

@samhvcc Congratulations on becoming a new JA30Mk2 owner.
The amps do need a little run in before they can show their full potential, like all new gear. I would also suggest, like the manual states that you don’t listen that carefully until about 1.5 hours of playing time has gone by. The large transformers definitely do need some time to get ’warmed’ up. Nonetheless, the amps sound amazing from turn on...just a little better after the transformers get ’warmed’. Also, after you have lived with your amps for a while, I would highly recommend rolling in some NOS tubes into the 12Ax7 and 12Au7 positions. I just rolled in some NOS Telefunken 12Au7 smooth plates and some NOS Siemens 12AX7’s - this makes for a big upswing in SQ.
As to your question about a 300B amp, I am not understanding your point. The Jadis can deliver up to 45watts/ch...where does 10watt/ch come from?

@samhvcc Like Charles1dad just stated, the Sony SS AR1 is not that efficient a speaker, if you are even considering that the JA30Mk2 won’t be enough power for them, then the SE 300B will only lead to one thing...Major disappointment!
Matching the amp to the speaker is a major factor when acquiring both pieces...how many folk have bought a very inefficient speaker ( or one with a horrible impedance drop) and then acquired an amp that cannot drive the load and been disappointed. Conversely, how many folk have bought/owned a low powered amp and then acquired a speaker that cannot be driven by said amp..very easy to do! ( Usually a costly mistake in both instances!).

Once again, some great advice from Charles1dad!
More than likely with the 300B Jadis amp, one is looking for a horn type of speaker. This aspect is another reason why i have never been that enamored of 300B type amps..and not because I don’t think they have the potential to sound good.

@samhvcc  The new Jadis JA30Mk2 amps really do respond well to tube rolling in the driver stages. I rolled in NOS Telefunken smooth plate 12Au7's and NOS Siemens 12AX7's, a great match up for this amp.
I have now gone through a number of different tubes in the driver section, from RCA clear tops to NOS Telefunken ribbed plates to NOS Mullards, all are interesting..and depending on taste, one could be preferred over the other, but right now the mix i have is where I am going to stay for awhile.

@samhvcc   The JA80 Mk2 is going to give you more power and therefore headroom than the JA30Mk2. It is going to be a much better match to your Sony's. As to whether it will sound better, on your speakers ..yes. However, if one can utilize the lower powered JA30Mk2, then IME the lower powered amp typically sounds better than the higher powered brethren. On my speakers, the JA30Mk2 are preferred over the JA80mk2's. Horses for courses.

@samhvcc Color me confused. In one post you state that your JA30mk2 was not a good match to your Sony SS Ar1’s...which I can well believe as the Sony’s have a fairly nasty impedance dip at certain frequencies, now you state that the match was good since you burned in the Sony’s, yet you have let the Jadis 30mk2’s go?? Then you tell us that you will compare the Jadis 30mk2 to your upcoming 80mk2, how are you going to be able to do that when you had a pretty bad amp/speaker match up with the less powerful 30Mk2 in the first place?? Obviously, if you have solved your faulty speaker/amp match up with a correct speaker/amp match up ( assuming the Jadis 80Mk2 is 100% correct ( while I know it will be a better match up, as I stated above, nobody knows for sure how better until the match up is done) it may not be the ideal synergy given the still nasty impedance dip that it too will have to contend with!) surely you are comparing apples to oranges....

@samhvcc  Once again, from your description of what you feel is still missing from your Jadis/Sony matchup, IMO you are still hearing a classic amp/speaker mismatch. The Jadis JA30Mk2 has plenty of slam and power with the right speaker. Will the JA80Mk2 give your more..perhaps, but will it sound better...only if it can handle the nasty impedance drop better, which frankly remains to be seen. 

@mozartfan  Your journey does seem to be one of frustration. Just remember to tell the next owner of your Defy of all of the mods that you have done..they should be interested in that. ;0)

@mozartfan Remember, the typical vid you are watching on YT is of the original Jadis JA30, not the 30Mk2...which is a much newer design and frankly, sounds IME very different to the original. ( as it should, since the transformers and KT150’s are very different). If you heard the original, which is highly likely since there are few 30Mk2’s out there, and certainly not many on YT. ( although i think I may have posted a vid). Then you didn’t hear the new amps, plus, like you state, YT vids are basically meaningless when it comes to actual SQ of the piece in question.
IF you do acquire a JA30, (whatever vintage), i would suggest/opine that you DO NOT MOD IT, like you have the Defy!! IMHO.

@alexatpos I might agree that the original Jadis JA30’s may not have had enough power at 30 watts/ch to show the GH’s at their best; but the new model Jadis JA30 Mk2 has an output of 48 watts/ch ( due to its larger and more robust power transformers and its use of the new KT150 tube).
The new model is as i stated in the reference from Charles above.

 @alexatpos  I use two different amps with my GH’s. Not at the same time. The Jadis mono blocks are my go to tube amps, but I also have a modded Jeff Rowland model 8 t ss amp. This amp is a real brute, puts out 250 watts/ch into 8 ohms..and doubles into 4 ohms etc. I can tell you that the gain position on my preamp is about the same for both amps, and that the Jadis JA30mk2 doesn’t even break a sweat handling the GH’s. Same goes for the ss amp.

@mozartfan  Funny you are talking about weight of amps. Yesterday, I was at a dealers and they suggested that I bring in my big Rowland to demo with their YG's. While this made some sense, as the YG's are notoriously difficult to drive, the idea of lugging this amp in..was a definite no no! The JA30 Mk2 mono blocks, while still heavy, are at least quite manageable in this regard. Something that I think maybe should be a factor for us to consider when it comes to living with an amp. 

@mozartfan LOL, glad you like that older vid of my system, prior to the upgrades and new preamp etc., If you liked the sound then, it is a lot more resolving and impressive now. The GH's are the speakers, they use an Audio tech mid/woofer and a version of the Dynaudio Esotec silk dome. They do not use carbon fibre cones or have a neodymium magnet. System has come a long way since then...

@mozartfan  JA30 are over priced?? I don't think this is a true statement. The new JA30 Mk2, NOT to be confused with the older model JA30, is priced at a point that it would be hard for you to name other competing new products at a similar or lower price point that can better it...but do try.

Ok, now back to the regular scheduled programming......

@thieliste  IME, the best sounding Jadis for your system is the one that will still drive your speakers and is the lowest powered model you can get away with. This is why i went with the JA 30Mk2's. Like most amps, it seems that the higher powered models sound less impressive than the lower powered models, assuming of course that one can drive their speakers correctly. If your Thiels need more power, I would think the JA80Mk2 would be a good match up.