2. amps-preamps
  3. 1146791949

Jadis Orchestra Ref + Pre-Amp?

Wondering if it is possible to use the JOR as a power amp, with a Pre-Amp and CD feeding in, and whether this would help with the avoidance of clipping - I have no background in electronics, so I'm unsure whether the pre-amplifier boosts the signal in a meaningful way, and if so whether this translates to an easier time for the JOR - the issue at the moment is with solo piano music, where there are large changes in dynamics and a crash of chords brings distortion, which sounds like clipping, albeit 'soft' clipping; needless to add turning down the volume prevents this problem, but then I'm listening at a lower volume level than I've been accustomed. I was warned about the amp being a bit underpowered for the difficult load my speakers represent (Wilson Cubs) - distortion never occurred with a previous, more powerful, ARC amp (D125). I still have an ARC SP9MkIII pre-amp.

If the above is possible, would it be preferable to run the JOR with the gain wide open, and use the pre-amp to attenuate volume, or the other way around?

Thanks for your anticipated help.
Rob.
bezimienny

Showing 4 responses by bartokfan

bartokfan
664 posts
 
Yes that is what Richard Grey told me, that it would be major tweaking to supply a preout.
Richard did say the KT90's add abit more bass over the 88's.
I'm not going to switch tubes, just seems a better option is to upgrade to the Cayin. I mean whats a good pre going to cost you? 1K? Throw in another 500 and you get the beefer Cayin.
Makes more sense to me.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
I do not know how to bias my JOR if at all possible.
Never cared for flat toned sound, so I place the trebel and bass controls 95% gain. If I put the controls all the way up, I get a slight hum.
My Jadis are driving prefectly the Thor's. A pretty hefty MTM design, rated very low at like 87db. I hae no issues with loudness.
I recall when I first got the Jadis, I took it to a friends house, his ARC 200 and Mirage 1's, a big hefty 3 way. He agree the Jadis outperformed his ARC is clarity/details. But of course the big ARC 200 took the little Jadis is terms of power.
I suggest looking for another speaker, amybe a Tyler or a bigger amp, maybe the Cayin A88.
I do not think it was possible to use the Jadis as amp, over ride the pre.

Paul
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Bbro's experience with the Jadis certainly attests to the power offered in the smallest of Jadis amps. My friend with the big hefty ARC VTL200 was quite impressed that the Jadis delivered a much better sound vs his big amp/pre. Though we both agreed its not ideal for the Jadis to drive big speakers.
I'm surprised the Jadis holds up under Bbro's relentless punishment.
Any other amp would have broken down. Especially any other medium size tube amp. One buys the JOR not only for sound quality but also for its superior build quality.
The only reason I'm going with the Cayin A88 is for that extra 5% I'm hoping the Cayin will offer.
5% is alot in audio.
However the Jadis will stay in the family.
bartokfan
664 posts
 
Bez, the weak link in your system in not the JOR, it is with these Wilson Cubs. Not sure what apeaker you are refering to, did not see it on wilson's web page.
I heard 3 Wilson models 3 yrs ago in a showroom and was not impressed in any way. One of the worst speakers I've heard.
And "didps below 3 ohms", I can believe it and would never hook anything unfriendly to my JOR.
Let me ask you did you buy your speakers first , THEN the JOR?
You did it backwards. Buy the amp first, then look around for speakers.
Look at Bbro's line of speakers he uded on the JOR. Thats punishment for a little tube amp, yet the JOR worked the load.
The JOR will deliver high dynamics on the right speaker.
In any system, there are 3 sources for coloration/fatigue.
Amp/speakers/cdp. The object is to find the least coloration/distortion in each category.
If one of the 3 is of poor sound, it will drag down the other 2.
Paul
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