Jadis JA30 Mk2, how great???

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.

@inna, the best person to offer opinion here would be my very close friend, The Doctor (Mechans), as he’s owned the DA60 and JMlabs loudspeakers at the same time, and brings an incredible wealth of knowledge.

Personally, I feel the larger (4+ output tubes) Jadis amplifiers would represent an ideal match with the JMlabs speakers. Especially, given your insight. My Orchestra Reference offers fixed bias and 2 output tubes per side. As such, lower frequencies are not its strong suit, and that circuit topology presents a more forward presentation, neither of which would complement the Utopias. My DA30, while moving to cathode bias, also doesn’t present the best low frequency performance or control. However, when you move up to the DA60 / DA88S with two more output tubes per side, things really move to the top shelf. You get incredible soulful, rich, full-bodied sound, with the type of lower-end slam and performance that sits as the perfect foundation for the entire musical spectrum.

@daveyf, I’ve been around and own both older and more recent Jadis amplification. My amplifiers illustrate the evolution, though the differences don’t go anywhere as far as some try to tell me. So much of it comes down to output tube selection, as again, my experience has shown tubes more critical to the end result than most other amps I’ve encountered. The company tends to prefer the larger tube types, and have evolved from 6550 to KT90 to KT88 to KT120 to KT150 through the years for reasons related to sonics, reliability / durability, and availability. Personally, I prefer all of them with EL34 output tubes, as I feel the midrange rises to a level that few other products attain. 

Regardless of where you head, I hope you enjoy as long and wonderful relationship with your amplifier as I have, and excited to have you as part of the small group of Jadis owners

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.

Trelja, thank you. I heard that Jadis has a cult following, just as Lamm. Different amps. I always think of a high-end set-up as the one with monoblocks.

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!!

@daveyf  Awesome that is what this crazy hobby is all about the music! Glad your finding new nuances and subtleties in your recordings it sounds like your in for some very fun listening this weekend! Cheers!

Daveyf:

So happy for you! Isn't music great when it moves to treat your inner spirits.
Music will do more for you than that new California Canabus (marijuana) law that just passed ha. 
Just remember now if you are happy to not change anything. Life will be good with that advice.
Will keep you posted on my final journey. CAT Black Path preamp. shows up today.
My Best,
Gwalt

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.

Davey:
I have 6 hours on it and following break in protocol. Run awhile and then let sit awhile turned off to allow caps to fully charge/discharge etc.
I can take the hint from listening so far that this is a very special piece of gear. 
To say it is refined would be an understatement! Smooth with dynamic holographic imaging and it is not even broke in. Now starting to get that dynamic contrast that this preamp. is noted for. Wow this is so fun to listen to driving the CAT JL5.
As you know it is built like a tank. I found that out when unboxing. 
My goal was to end the equipment journey and this CAT combination should end it for anyone I would guess.  
It has many hours to go to fully develop and it makes you want to listen with the powerful dynamic presentation that is so refined. Makes one realize how important the preamp. is to a stereo as is the engine in a car.
Gwalt

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.

Davey:

What I have noticed as of now with only 20 hours is its drive performance and refinement. Moving the soundstage back about 3 rows the whole room is now just full with massive 3D weight. The CAT Black Path has a lot of caps so many hours to go. Wow!
The 4 ohm tap and 8 ohm tap on the JL5 CAT amp. have two distinct purposes. On the Gamut RS7i speakers on 4 ohm the speaker exhibits more control but is not as extended or open. Now with this preamp. I prefer the 8 ohm tap for its openness. I have learned that even though your speaker might be a 4 ohm speaker (the Gamut is 4 ohm down to 2.6 ohm at 120 hz) it does not mean the CAT amp. cares. Further reading in the manual Ken Stevens reiterates the 8 ohm tap will likely sound better on electrostats.  Now moving to that tap I prefer it also. 
I know initially I had trouble giving up remote volume control but the longer run of interconnect fixed that. Now I am afraid I have created a lazy man situation where I am 18 inches from all settings. The only time needed to ever get up is to change a record and then it is 2 feet away. I can change CD's from my listening position.
Now in retirement this is just pure heaven having this type of sound. 
I have a good 30 days of break-in for the cables and preamp. yet and I am shocked how it good it is already with more to come.
Gwalt

Hi all, I am the new owner of the Jadis JA30 MKII. May I know about how long it needs to be burnt in to achieve its full potential? Newly fresh out from the box which was already pleased me so much for its precise & detail sound! I do believe it need to undergo a long journey before it becomes stable, isn't it?
Allan

Moreover how to compare a JA30 with its SE300B? If output driving power wasn't be a concern?! I have much interest to get a pair of it as well？How would you all thoughts about its performance? Though it wasn't a single 300B tube amp, it still caught my attention for a push pull  single ended type of amp which just deliver a 10W only power. It should have plenty of driving power?! Is it? Thanks!
Allan

@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?

The SE300B is a different Jadis amp actually and it looks to be parallel single ended and not pushpull hence the lower wattage.
http://www.jadis-electronics.com/en/se300b-43.php

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).

Jadis is  one of those companies that just consistently has  the knack of  building beautiful sounding emotionally engaging amplifiers that connect the listener to the music. There's obviously something they understand  and are executing  right.  

I'm a 300b SET aficianodo through and through. I haven't the opportunity to hear the Jadis SET offerings but I'm confident that they got it right. I heard a Jadis el34 push pull integrated (Not even one of their higher level models)  and it was very good sounding.  It displayed that special ability to pull you deep into the music..

It they can achieve this level of sound quality with an el34, I can imagine what they're capable of with a 300b in their  upper level range of mono block amplifiers.  As daveyf noted you just need the appropriate speaker matchfor the amplifier. 
Jadis is exceptionally adept at reproducing music beautifully. 
Charles 

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.

Thanks all for your comments! I have just found how good the JA30 sounds, so arouse me of much interest to get their 300B amp as well. But honestly it seems can't bring enough power for my Sony AR1 speaker which was also newly bought! Anyway I will run them well for the next couple of months to see how changes they will be! 

Hi samhvcc,
As I wrote earlier I’m a hugh fan of SET amplifiers. Matching them with the appropriate speaker is crucial for a successful outcome. Sam I don’t believe that the Sony SS AR1 is designed with the intention to be driven by SET amplifiers.

It a 3 way, 2 crossover (Multi slope per Sony)
4 ohm nominal load (Drops to 2.7 ohm in upper bass and part of the midrange per Stereophile).
88db sensitivity .

Now I’m a proponent of the "Listening is superior to relying on the measurements " philosophy . However specifications/measurements can be used to help develop some initial idea of potential compatibility of matching audio components.

The Sony seems to be a challenging speaker match for most SET/PSET amplifiers. It seems it was built to be driven by higher power/current capable type of amplifiers.
Charles

@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!).

As an standard audiophile I owned numerous equipment, Sony & Jadis are just bought recently! My Sony was intended to be driven by my now owned Esoteric Grandioso M1 mono actually. And I paired them with great success! But now I just want to try the JA30, trying how it would go with my Sony.The result, is obviously not a good matching couple, for sure. My newly bought JA30 was supposed to drive a pair of smaller bookshelf, targeting at Franco Serblin Accordo or ATD admonitor premiere, which I am still looking for the right one...

It makes perfect sense that the Big Esoteric mono blocks would be a very successful pairing driving the Sony SS AR1 speakers. High current capable transistor amplifiers are what the Sonys were meant for. The Grandioso's output power doubles as the load impedance is halved all the down to 2 ohms. The Sony dips to below 3 ohms at certain lower frequencies.

Jadis JA 30 paired with the Sonys will not exploit the potential excellence of either product IMHO. The Jadis can display sonic/musical brilliance with properly chosen speakers.
Charles

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

So if wonder if the SE300B will sound as great if power/speaker sensitivity wasn't be a concern in this regard. Very interest to try the 300B as well for full range high sensitivity speaker. 

Samhvcc,
You express considerable interest in the Jadis SE 300b mono blocks. Although this is a PSET (Parallel single ended triode) topology it is rated at a relatively low 10 watts per channel. Typically a 300b PSET is rated at 16 to 20 watts per channel.

What this suggests to me is Jadis is more interested in achieving the best sound they can rather than extracting more power from the parallel 300b tubes. They chose to run the tubes at lower operating points (OP) to maximize sound quality. Higher OP parameters would easily provide more power.

Given Jadis’ established track record for excellent sound quality this decision is not surprising. To take maximum advantage of this amplifier’s potential I recommend the following.

Most important IMO is finding a speaker that’s easy to drive with low power. You want a relatively flat impedance curve that avoids wide fluctuations. You want a speaker with relatively high nominal impedance, say 6 ohm or higher.

Sensitivity of 94/95 db rated (measured) at 8 ohm impedance and even higher is desirable.
Both of these are important parameters but I believe that the speaker impedance and ease of driving are of higher priority for SET amplifiers.

For the SET amplifier itself output transformer quality and power supply quality are paramount but I feel that Jadis has this covered. Focus on speakers that were designed with the goal/intention of being used with low power amplifiers.

IMO the Jadis SE 300b will genuinely sing if paired with the right speakers. Best of luck to you.
Charles

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.

No doubt each individual designer or manufacturer has their own ideas and philosophy regarding the best approach to produce good sound quality. I certainty haven't heard every ARC or Jadis amplifier but based on my limited sampling I'm more draw to Jadis. Obviously this reflects nothing but individual taste.  Thankfully High End audio has something available for a multitude of different tastes,
Charles  

Congrats on your jadis JA30 monos. If I did not have this Deft7, for sure the JA30's would be my 1st and only choice. I noted most images on google show the 150 tube,,,if that is what you have please consider biasing for the superior Svetlana 6550. Also agree with others suggesting  Tele's in the AU/AX pre socket. 
I have all Tele's in the pre. I noted a slightly superior nuance over all other NOS tubes.
The 88 is nearly identical to the 6550, but for me Svetlana has a  superior stability/construct vs other russian power tubes...Good thing with the JA30's you can very easily roll as it only takes a  pair each mono,, the Defy has a wopping 12 tubes.
Also note later on you may consider upgardes on the caps. Ck out my defy7 upgrades...
Also in the middle of having Richard Gray swap out all the stock Jadis Metal oxide resistors in the DLP to <<Takman Rey Metal>> and the results so far are stunning. 
Superior resolution.. Ricahrd's last suggestion in my tweaks is to swap out the 1st AX tube in the DPL fora   12AU7, gone was the slight murky mid/boominess.
We have ,,ohh another 15+ resistors to swap out. 
Not sure which res the new JA 30 use, but if they are the old stock Metal, I'd suggest trying some Takman Rey in the power supply circuit. Then go from there,,But most certainly the cap upgarde was a  nice neauance gain. Went with Mundorf Supreme EVO SGO, = nota  cheap upgrade @ $45 each x12 ,,but end result was worth it vs the lower cost EVO SGO. 
Here are some vids of my new upgrades. 
I will posta  vid after all res are swaped out...maybe 3 weeks, Richard is taking it section by section, a  pair here, there,,, this way I can note exactly how each res swap changed the sonics. So far = SUCCESS!
Mods can be seen at minute 6 and music starts about 11 minutes into vid.
This vid is with a  LS9 preamp <<Jadis clone with M caps> now sold.
Also I now havea  new Shanling 3000 cd player and beats out the Cayin CD17 in this vid + I have new xovers which are NOT in this vid.
I am nearing the end of all my upgrades,,,= another 4 weeks will be fully completed. Just waiting on Richard to finish installling the Takman's in the DPL and maybe we might go with Takman in the Defy,,I have takman Rey in the Defy's power suplly circuit,, the Takman Rex Carbon were too <,smooth>> = warm,,I prefer ide cold highly defined/separation. = more lifelike sound stage.
anyway here's 2 older vids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpVCbHX6jWU&t=1097s\

and the DPL with  Mundorv EVO SGO and some Takman,,and the AX in the 1st socket which is now a 12AU7 and sounds superior. 
btw the tube buffer cd out which has critics griping about,, I found to be superior vs the AUX out. 
music starts around 6:17,, this has the 12AX7 in the 1st socket which did not affect the Cayin's perf,,,but did make my new Shanling cd player sound,,,too <<wooly/bomy>> witha  12AU7 in that socket, made the Shanling clean more soundstage = which is why the Cayin will be up for sale in 1 week. I do not need 2 world class cd players,, Both are built like tanks = the Shanling will last forever with no repairs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7iPHN9r_SY
Jadis sings music like The Angels. and built to last forever with no worry about making  repairs. 

I have just swift the original driver tube to a pair of Mullard NOS. I can't believe the improvement that it has brought!!
I will change the AX7 to Telefunken as well today to see how they make another miracle :-) 

Richard Gray just insalled 4 430k Takman Rey resistors in the DPL, wow factor high, can now put more gain on vol, w/o risking any breakup, 
Not sure what res Jadis has in later models, all i can say is this pre 2000 DPL has metal oxide and the Takman Rey's easily out perform their stock resistors.
IMHO  all Jadis fans might want to consider swapping out a  few res in their pre/amps.
I have 12 plate Rey's in the Defy, after Richard installs another 10+ res in the DPL, I will ask if he will take on the Defy upgrade,,,not sure if he is willing, as Richard prefers working clean solders,,,= the board has to come off = alotttt of labor/time,, The other tech just snipped and soldered w/o taking board off, works just fine,,,I doubt if Richard will go alongw ith that style of <<shoddy work>>
See me vid on the snip/solder work on all the caps.
Sure can't resell like that, but i have no plans to sell the Defy anyway.
The result of swapping out the latest res  a quad of 430k, really opened up the DPL resulting is  nice gains in high fidelity. The Seas Thors never sounded so clean/natural. 
IMHO Takman Rey is the most musical res in current production,,, the Rex Carbon's were too smooth for my taste in the Defy's power supply. 
Possibly Rex are prefered for ss amplification,,sort of adds a  <<tube-like>> effect of smoothness.
For tube amplification, its Rey's all the way.
Just ordered  the other Rey's we will install. Richard likes to make 1 swap at a time, to see how  the circuit responds,,with each swap,, the sonics  made nice gains, this last swap was the biggest and best. 
have no idea where this is/can/will go. 
Its already <<high fidelity>> I mean once you are on Mt Everest peak,, where else is there to go?
I might hold off adding the Seas Bifrost project off. I mean its hard to pass up the Cresendo's incredible velvety power and lushness, but with the Millennium's responding as they are to the new Takmans''' do I really want to spend   $2200 on the Bifrost project??
Next year we will see.....
Jadis, power/authority with finesse <<but with a  lil help from our friends>> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgaUQO4lvII&t=50s

@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.

@charles1dad Always has fantastic opinions on tube amps in general and SET amps in particular definitely take his sage advice.
@mozartfan a question is the Richard Gray the same Richard Gray that makes power conditioners?

Having stayed with my JA30 MKII for 3 weeks time, I decided to let them go! Don't get me wrong! These little babies was so good that I would like to go straight to their JA80! Other than the extra power of 80 processes, do you all think they have merits over the 30's? Are they share the same kind of sonic characters?
Thanks! 

I would believe the JA80 MKII should be able to cover a wider range of speakers choice. 

Hi samhvcc,
I haven't heard the Jadis JA 80 but given the description of them on the Jadis web  site leads me to believe that their sonic signature would be very similar to the smaller JA 30 mono blocks. The JA 80 doubles the number of  power output tubes.  Each mono block is heavier by nearly 30 pounds.

That's a quite substantial weight gain and suggests larger power and output transformers and a lager more robust power supply. One would expect the JA 80 to be a better match for the Sony speakers as compared with the smaller Jadis JA 30. So in essence you gain power  (And presumably more current capability) with an identical or very similar circuit design.
Charles 

@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.

Understand, let me think of it seriously, thanks! 

I have finally ordered the JA80MKII, try to evaluate the differences between 30 ,other than the power itself! Since i was told the 80 is another legend comparing with the 30. It may takes some more months to have my 80 arrived. Anyway, the JA30MKII absolutely has enough power for my Sony's after my Sony has been running in for a few more while! Of course  i believe larger power will be better for my main speaker. 

@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....

At the very beginning I said that my JA30 hasn't got enough power for my Sony. I believed it was due to my newly Sony hasn't been running in yet. But having a longer burning in from my Esoteric monoblock. The drive units goes much smoother than before! Plugging in my Jadis again seems working much much better! Then  I would have a conclusion of matching them together isn't be a problem at all. They match well enough for sure now. I would say, enough, but more power, much better honestly for my Sony however! Switching to JA80, which I believe, would extend the potential of Sony, giving more punch & power than the 30. So I would curious to try out how far my Sony can go with the JA80!

Just spoke with Richard Gray, and posed the Q, <<do you think the JA30's will deliver more what i am looking for vs my tweaked out Defy7 is delivering??>>
Richard agrees , suggesting having dual monos will deliver a  more true separation of imaging vs the Defy's sharing of the main trans, + shaing the big Philips caps  on top of chassis. 
I had a  hunch after cking over the JA30 design, just a  pair of power  + separate power trans. 
I really do not need the extra power which the Defy offers, as i listen to low volume in my quaint sized listening room.
So now after spending big bucks in all the Mundorf cans, and new Svet's 88's, I realize the JA30 is really what will deliver my classical music is a superior sound stage/resolution, uppermids/upper highs.
I tried to tweak the Defy as high as possible, but seems the JA30 design has a  inherent subtle nuances which the Defy is not gojng to  ever match.
Live and learn I guess.
Eventually , my plan is to sell the Defy, <<<solderings are done by <<botched job>>, not clean soldering>> as Tech guy mentioned to remove board will cost another $200m to remove in order to get at solder board underneath,, WE decided to just snip the leads , as i figured I'd never sell the Defy,, thinking it will be my <<last amp>>
Seems I made a  mis calculation as to future possibilities.
Lesson to audiogones, spend the extra $ to have all mods/tweaks done correctly for future resale value.
The JA30 will beat out the Defy7 in all departments. 
My guess is the JA30 will even .might even beat out the new Jadis 100  which replaces the Defy7. 
True monos according to Richard Gray is the ideal configue vs a  single block amp.
Besides the Ja's weight in at 40 lb each, vs the Jadis100 at <<<125 lbs>>> Ridiculous. 

@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)

@samhvcc,
I'm certain that you are pleasantly surprised by the sucess you're experiencing with the JA 30 MKII. Your Esoteric amplifiers serve as a high power solid state amplifier reference point.  Which of these two amplifiers do you prefer driving the Sony speakers? 

1 If it's the JA 30 MKII then it reasonable to assume that the JA 80 MK II may possibly provide 'more' of the same. 

2 If overall you prefer the Esoteric amplifiers it may not only be due to increased power but perhaps the possibility that solid state  power may be more suitable for the Sony speakers specifically given the load impedance characteristics. 
Charles 

@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)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hey davey
Well Richard lent me his Allen Organ mono blocks, the big bys the Allen 90's. 
Right off with jazz ref cds I thought this might be another option for a  2nd amp experience,,,,i was seriously considering buy the pair off Ebay,,but Richard suggests 1st  lsiten at least 1 full hour to my ref cds, before making that decision... The JA30's pair over at another site, is  out my budget,,,After some testing, I found the Allen's  lacking some of the <<musical experience>>  during the Allan Pettersson sym 8, which  on the Defy offered some subtle musicality that is a  trademark of all jadis amps. 
Afterwards I revisted the 3  YT vids showing off the JA30 in operation,, although my speakers are superior to all  3 in the YT uploads, I could hunch the JA30 <<honestly>> did not <<wow me over>> 
I'm sure the 30 monos offer something <<other>> than  which <<might be>> lacking in the Defy, obviously YT compressed vids hardly tell the whole experience. ,,, Both amps I am sure voice beautifully, <,just slightly differently>> 6 of 1 /half dozen the other.

Its possible the 6 88's per channel is really the experience i prefer vs the dual tube/channel of the JA30's. 
Stock amps, yeah the JA30's seem to be the winner in all areas. 
But with the Defy *upgardes/mods* I think the Defy now matches the offerings in the stock JA30. 
Possibly the fture holds a  pair of JA30's making their way into my system, 1st have to recoup my losses from my failed tube flipping business.
If I add the 30's,, will make the same  *upgardes** as in the Defy, new Mundorf caps/Takman Rey resistors.
Right now Richard will be looking at what other res we will swap out in the Defy, But unlike the <other tech guy>>  he plans to pull the board,
Richard likes/ONLY does soldering the correct way = no snip N go thing.
WE just completed all new Takman Rey;s in the DPL, and will upload a  new vid on that upgrade. For my taste the takman Rey's are a  nice upgrade vs Jadis stock metal oxide.
Jadis employs metal oxide for its inherent <quietness> of that res. I found the Takman's to offer more musical tones, though some might find that sound a  bit <noisey>  I am expecting the same results as we figure out which res to swap out in the Defy. Its going to bea  1 time deal, there are lots of res in the Defy, hopefully its a  <WNNER>  decision.
Richard will be working on that upgarde over the next 2-3 weeks.
Will upload a  vid once completed.
For those who might have missed my Defy YT vid showing off upgrades, here it is once again
I highly recommend other Defy owners to make these very same upgrades. The Defy has really come to life with new caps, new res.
The Blue Philips caps voice so beautifully are<< worth their weight in gold>>, leave those alone.

Vid starts around 6:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpVCbHX6jWU&t=650s
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@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.

Just update the status! My JA80 is coming soon! Now trying the new Diapason from Jadis which sounds as great paring with most mid to high sensiti ity speakers! 

How are the new JA80s?