I have read/heard from several sources that the Jadis JP-80 was a class above the rest.I heard that preamp at Harry Pearson’s house driving our MA-2s on a set of Pipedreams. It was a nice preamp, but IME not really in a different class. It did support balanced operation properly (that is how it was driving our amps) and when you do that there isn’t any going back to single-ended. I think that might have set it apart in some people’s minds; in that situation you eliminate the effects of the interconnect cable to the amps. Its not the only preamp to do that; its one of the few. Other preamps that can drive balanced lines correctly (IOW support AES48 which is the balanced line standard) also have that ability, and do sound better on that account. I know of two that don’t have output transformers (which the JA-80 had) and thus are more transparent.
Replacing my MFA Luminescence B2 preamp
I have in the past year returned to high end audio after a ten year lapse. I just got my JC Verdier La Platine TT out, purchased a brand new ZYX Ultimate 100 mounted on a 25 year old SME V. The only other source equipment is a Wadia 16 of 1990’s (?) vintage. Amplification is through Von Gaylord / Legend Audio mono block amp. I dug out an old pair of Morel MLP 202 bookshelf speaker. And I started playing music through my thirty year old MFA Luminescence preamp. ( I know, It’s an eclectic mix ! )
My question has to do with the preamp. It’s a vintage piece of gear, apparently still sought after. But I am decidedly not technically oriented. Every so often, it requires maintenance. As I write this, it is sitting in a shop, because the phono section works only in one channel. MFA Luminescence is brilliant in action, but it’s the down time that has me thinking I should move to a simpler setup. I wonder if moving to a Coincident Phono preamp might not be the answer? It fits my set up of only two source equipments. Would it be a step down? Any other options?
please help!
My question has to do with the preamp. It’s a vintage piece of gear, apparently still sought after. But I am decidedly not technically oriented. Every so often, it requires maintenance. As I write this, it is sitting in a shop, because the phono section works only in one channel. MFA Luminescence is brilliant in action, but it’s the down time that has me thinking I should move to a simpler setup. I wonder if moving to a Coincident Phono preamp might not be the answer? It fits my set up of only two source equipments. Would it be a step down? Any other options?
please help!