Jadis Preamps JPS8, JPS2 and JP80

I never heard of the JPS8. The JPS2 is pretty much a line stage version of the JP80MC full function preamp, which has an excellent phono stage. I'm not sure about recent production of these two units, but I did notice that the JPS2 at least at some point had an additional tube that was used in connection with the CD input circuitry--my JP80 never had that, nor does my JP200, but my old JPL line stage had that extra tube in the CD input circuit as well. I think it was intended to tame the sound of digital. I personally avoided it, as it also degrades the signal--the best input on the JPL was the tape in. Otherwise, expect the line stage of the JP80 to be the same sonically as the JPS2 (assuming you use the same tubes in each, of course).

I don't know about the other Jadis but I have a chance to listen to a Jadis JP80MC in person....This is a wonderful tube pre-amp if you have the $$$. It has the ability to play music like music and human vocal likes human vocal...not electronic sound which were produced by so many so-called hi-end pre-amp.

This is one pre-amp that you can keep for life.

Edle's description captures what these pieces are all about. Had the chance for the 80's big brother, the 200, not presented itself after over a decade owning the JP80, I'd still own that unit. I don't expect to replace the 200 till it can no longer be serviced, even though it takes up four spaces in my front-end racks.

Hey RC, do you notice a large differance between the 80 and the 200 or is the 200 just suttley better? I know when I went from JA 30s to JA 200s I was floored. The 200s never run out of steam. Of course that doesn't matter with preamps. Didn't I also see somewhere that you replaces your JA 80s with Lamms?

The difference between the JP200 and the JP80 is in part a sense of ease--it never hints at being strained by anything I throw at it, and macro-dynamics are handled as well as the micro-dynamics. It DOES make a difference with preamps. Otherwise, it is hard to compare the two in my case, because my JP200 was a special version which initially was thought to be the successor mk II version, using EF86 tubes rather than 12AX7s in the gain stages. The EF86 is cleaner sounding at low volumes than the 12AX7s, which needed some volume before they sounded their best, IMO. Otherwise, the two are comparable, the 200 is just that little bit more real.

Did finally sell my 80s. The Jadis were wonderful to listen to, but definitely colored and rolled in the highs (fat in the bass too, but not a concern for me as I bi-amp). The Lamms are far more neutral than the Jadis, but still manage to get the midrange and natural dynamics right like the Jadis, and Lamm equipment (in my case, the LP2 and the ML 1.1s) seems to work very synergistically with the Jadis preamp. Interesting that two pieces of equipment so diametrically opposed in their design philosophy (Jadis was desined in large part through listening, Lamm strictly by measurements) can both get it right. More than one way to skin the proverbial cat.

Rcprince is correct the stock Jadis JPS 2 or JP80Mc does not have the level of transparency at the top as more modern designs like the Lamm however this is only the case with the stock unit.

My stock Jadis JPS2 uses the awful sounding brass Cardas female RCA jacks through out and appears to also use cards internal wiring which is not especially neutral or detailed. In early 2006 I plan to replace all of female rca's with pure copper vampire jacks and upgrade the internal wiring with better sounding cable. I also plan on using 6.4% silver/copper lead free solder on all soldering joints which sounds much clearer and cleaner than current leaded solders used most commonly today. Just these changes alone will greatly help to bring this fine design more current using top rate connectors. Also planning on replacing the stock male IEC located in the power supply with the much better sounding Furutech FI-10(g). Other future improvements include removing some of the older capacitors in the power supply and replace them with Black Gate electrolytic caps. There are other changes such as upgrading the coupling capacitors I might try later.

When the Jadis products were originally manufactured they used some of the best parts that were available at the time but times have changed. Better and superior copper connectors, wire, solder and caps are now available that were not 10-15 years ago. The basic Jadis design is still top notch but many of the parts are not and in this regard the unit can substantially improved without changing the character of the unit.

Johnny

I spoke to Jadis in France and found out that JPS8 was designed using JP800 schematics. And JPS2,as Rcprince mentioned, was designed using JP80 schematics.JPS2 and JP80 are still best preamps Jadis produced so far. According to Jadis every aspect of JPS2 music reproduction is superior to JPS8.

Thank you guys

I'd add the JP200 to the list of the best preamps they've made so far--what it is in reality is a JP80 for each channel. I had a hunch the 8 designation maent it was like the JP800, which I have never seen or heard.

Johnny is right in that the stock Jadis can be made to sound different by changing some of the stock parts. I would be careful about that, however--take a look at Trelja's post on another thread about the DA60 he bought that had been modified. There are some mods that can be made that will improve the sound of the Jadis but there are some that will change its character, even if delivering better measured performance. Be careful what you play with in there.

I have owned a jp80 for 16 years,it is tube regulated and has ahigh volts b plus transformed winded in a similar fashion but with hmusical sounding pre amp to a fast detail retaining musicality and opennesseavier gauge magnet wire done by myself,i did replaced allresistors and audio caps usingMIT on phone and copper fiol papere in oil by Jensen I even aded a choke to filter the Hv . The Mc circuit was lousy sounding to my ears,dismantled and replaced by 2 Hashimoto step up trannies..All said it turned from a bit dark slow a bit oscure musical pre to amore detailed fast, retaining the wide sondstage and musicality.No way to replace it ....never will.Long happy mariage.

I have owned a JP80 for more than 16 years now I even qinded the high voltage trnsformer myself using heavier magnet wire and respecting the sectorialsecondary into te primary ala audio output trannies. Replaced the Mc circuit with acoupled ofHashimoto tranies ,replaced allresistors using Vishay and Holcos as well as the audio path caps replacing them by MIT in thephono stage and copperfoil Jensen in the lione stage resulting in a bit faster and detail preamp without compromissing the wide sound stage,neutrality and musicalityHope it is the Lord plan for me to enjoy this happy marriage for 16 more years.Amen

I also believe the JPS8 and JP80 have 2 volume controls and the JPS2 has 1 volume control

The JPS2 has 2 volume controls that are tied together

it's simple the worse equipment i ever hear, the jadis equipment is very poor, the sound is black , not defined, and the money pay is only the name , and the name is only an name, nothing else, the best equipment that i ever hear, and talking about valve preamplifiers is WIREGAIN.

Loki1957 mentions the two volume controls are tied together (ganged).
Does anybody know (as I've seen some preamps) with this feature and some products without.
Is this is something they did a newer production models or older models or  models for a few years and now the newer ones are no longer tied together?
I've seen them ganged in jp80mc from the 90's.  

Resurrecting this thread, and thanks for your answer rcprince.
My system (at the moment) is a Levinson 519 file player/DAC driving Mcintosh MC601 mono into B&W 802D3.

it sounds quite good, but I also own a Jadis JPS2, actually the fully balanced version JPS2S.

Since the Jadis has no remote control and has dual volume controls (not ganged), I have some level control choices.

I can put the 519 on fixed output (which is essentially full volume), and use Jadis volume and have (maybe) best sound but lose remote control of volume-

OR

Leave Jadis volume controls where they may sound best (maybe about halfway open?), and use remote and phone app to raise and lower volume on the 519?

Suggestions/comments of any kind related to this system? Is there anything incompatible about using Jadis preamp with Mac solid state MC601 amps?
A short while back a gentleman who already owned some Jadis amps commented that he thought the Jadis preamp was only properly usable with Jadis amps (maybe he was referring impedance matching).
im hoping to hear from maybe Almarg or atmosphere, and all opinions are welcome.
thanks