I do believe the Music Hall 25 and Sony ES could be improved by tube output mods. It is obvious the ss crowd is coming to grips with their unit's shortcomings.
The Jolida, on the other hand, does not need modification. It's electronics were fine tuned, after the first manufacturing batch. I wouldn't want to disrupt the synergy of the Jolida's parts.
My last ss cdp was a wildly popular Sony ES. An acquaintance brought over his early model Jolida 601. We listened to a good cut firstly using the sony. Next, we tried the Jolida. I took the Sony back to Good Guys the next day.
It was night and day. The Sony gave its best impression of what music sounds like, but the Jolida brought the music to life.
The JD100 is a serious improvement over old Jolida models. During my ownership of one, it has proven structurally sound. As has been noted above, the magic truly happens when fitted with triple mica black plate 5751 tubes. I have been preaching thus for two years.
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Matty, I'm glad you asked.
It may be because I skipped almost all concerts, or it may be the genes, but my hearing is unusually acute.
My speakers, Apogee Scintillas, are arguably the most sensitive transducers around. Their mid and hi ribbons utilize fifty feet of feather weight aluminum to waft waves up to and beyond our hearing. The Pass X600 amps that power the Scintillas are equal to the task of letting the detail through.
A friend brought over his Wadia to try. I have a cd disc featuring cathedral organ music. I can hear the stops being pulled, leather hinges working, the vaulted room reverberations, and the air hissing by the tiniest whistles, all the while the biggest pipes bellow.
This was all lost on the Wadia. The omissions were obvious in the first bars.
Detail isn't my biggest concern, though. I want musicality, accuracy, and aliveness. Most of all, I want a cdp that is completely unoffending.
Even though I wouldn't even consider modding my Jolida, go ahead, and get the MS 25 modded. Although I would go with Bill of Response Audio for that mod. |
Matty,
Good to know that. I would love to hear the tube modded CD25. It hardly qualifies as a mod. I think I read the op amp is discarded, and a tube/transformer curcuit is put in it's place. |
Hi Distortion, give the Jolida a long break in. It will first appear constricted and anemic.
If I were you, I'd lose the MIT, unless your amp is the great offender. MIT works through subtraction. I have never liked their results on a good system.
The Jolida will augment fine systems. It will not fix glaring amps, or strangling cables. I have recieved email from at least one unhappy purchaser, who expected the Jolida to be the magic bullet in an ailing system.
Good luck |
The Jolida itself will seem to take an inordinate time to break in. The tubes I've rolled, on the other hand, have exhibited most of their character at the outset.
Now, I'll make a liar of myself. My first listen to a Jolida was with a rude pre amp and an amp that exhibited most ss faults. The tubed Jolida did work miracles (still had to get rid of the two.} |
Hi Distortion, Congratulations! Look at the plastic inside. Black plate is black. All 5751 tubes beat any 12ax7 tubes IMO.
Just wait a month. The Jolida will increasingly give you ever more satisfaction. |
What you have are later date 5751 tubes. The two circular grey things you see are mica discs. The strange looking vertical pieces are grey plates.
Earlier (50's and 60's) have three mica discs, and usually black blates. There are early grey plates, but they will still have three micas.
The stock Jolida tubes are relatively clear sounding, and are sweet, but have a flabby bass.
If you have the money, $45/pair, I would get RCA tripple mica black plates. They are very good. |
Milind, no one should give final judgement on the Jolida without upgrading tubes, and without breaking in. Your modified Jolida will come with Svetlana tubes. This will give you the impression the mod Jolida is better. Whereas, I can tell you the Svetlanas can be bettered still.
I can't say the Jolida has the last word on bass, compared with solid state. It is a true tube powered unit. Everyone knows tube bass sounds different than solid state.
I enjoy plenty of bass with my stock Jolida, and it is a musical bass.
A friend of mine and I switched out his Telefunken tubes in his Llano amp with black plate 5751 tubes. The black plates sounded more natural. |
Distortion, you are just reminding me that we all will hear different responses depending on strengths and weaknesses of team components, primarily speakers. Some speakers are noticeably bass heavy. Others might have a bright tweeter. My speakers are fairly civil, and sound best with a neutral tube.
When the Telefunkens were exchanged for my Sylvania 5751 tubes in the Llano, the transformation left all listeners speechless. That was with using Martin Logans.
The bass was tight, and musical, the mids clean, the highs sweet and fully articulate. Images were natural.
I enjoy the same response with my Jolida/Pass Labs/Apogee combo.
Since 5751 tubes are getting hard to impossible to find, and with the prices soaring, it would be great, if in your tube rolling, you find a good substitute. |
Distortion, I have a pair of EH coming, on your recommendation. I honestly don't expect much, but I'm more that willing to be surprised, since my very favorite tube type has been wiped out. |
I'm running them now, for the first time, Distortion. I don't hear the microphonics that plague nearly all 12AX7 tubes. The mids are very good. There is a trade off between the EH tubes and the Sylvania 5751 black plates (my personal favorite). The EH tubes are gently rolled off. This gives a softer, not unpleasant female voice. The bass is more soft, but forgiveable. Because of the roll off, the EH tube is not as concise or detailed as the Sylvania.
I will give the EH tube high marks, though, because compared to all 12AX7 tubes I have tried (Mullard, Telefunken, Phillips, etc.) the EH is the most enjoyable, and they don't call attention to themselves, their faults being relatively minor.
Now I have switched back to the Sylvanias. The roll off is gone, and the leading edge, so important for transparency, is fully restored. The bass has tightened, as I knew it would.
I am surprised that the 25% less gain of the 5751 isn't pronounced. That might be because of the higher treble energy.
For casual listening, I will keep the Electro Harmonix in the stable. Thanks for the tip, Distortion. |
