I recently got a JoLida 1501 here on Audiogon (Thanks, Jeff!). I have a pair of Dali Grand Coupe speakers --acquired through this site as well last fall-- but my JoLida 502 wasn't quite pushing the speakers enough for their needs, they are mildly inefficient. I started thinking I might unload the Dalis, but decided to give them another chance. Looked at higher wattage amps, the Parasounds and a few others including the 1501. I got lucky and a 1501 with an unusual Response Audio cherry faceplate became available here and I was able to score it at a very reasonable price, with EH 12AX7's installed. The amp's power drives these speakers effortlessly and I'm enjoying a lush, clear tone to instruments that exceeds everything I've owned before, including the 502. (Actually the 502 teams up with some Tannoy System 1000's quite well. But I'm liking the smaller --and louder-- system so much I consider selling the other; only if I must.) The cherry face matches the Dali wood almost identically. I now have a most modest dream system. I highly recommend the line of Hybrid amps by JoLida.
Review: Jolida JD-1501 Tube amp
Category: Amplifiers
I listen to mainly Jazz, Rock and Singers & Standards, everything from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa! When I first turned on my Joliday 1501RC, I was not too impressed. This is a hybrid integrated with a tube preamp and MOSFET power amp. The stock Chinese tubes MUST go if you want to get the most from the 1501. It was only after about 50 hours and rolling Sovtek 12AX7LPS and, recently, Ei 12AX7 tubes, did I realize the potential of this astounding hybrid integrated amplifier. I've now owned the 1501RC for 6 months and have become very attached to it.
The amp is able to pull off the neat trick of providing excellent detail with smooth tube warmth and excellent imaging along with realism, presence and wide 3D soundstaging. It is so smooth that I can listen for hours without fatigue.....but all the detail is there.
It drives the 4 ohm MMG speakers with ease. I take the 100 watt/ch rating with a grain of salt. I KNOW it's capable of putting out more than the rated 100 watts. Build quality surprised me when I opened the case to swap tubes. The toroidal transformer is massive, the MOSFET's are atached to substantial heat sinks, the volume control is a nice ALPS, and the face plate is 1/4" thick aluminum. The tube sockets have spring loaded metal shields.
The remote is plastic junk although it works well. The volume knob actually turns when using the remote. There are no balance or tone controls. It comes with 4 inputs and a pre-out which I use to drive a powered sub.
The bottom line is that the Jolida 1501RC provides astounding performance and build quality for a small price. There's nothing I know that can touch it for $600.
Associated gear
Magnapan MMG Speakers, Compaq Laptop, iTunes, Stereo-Link DAC, Dayton 10" subwoofer, Onkyo CDP
I listen to mainly Jazz, Rock and Singers & Standards, everything from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa! When I first turned on my Joliday 1501RC, I was not too impressed. This is a hybrid integrated with a tube preamp and MOSFET power amp. The stock Chinese tubes MUST go if you want to get the most from the 1501. It was only after about 50 hours and rolling Sovtek 12AX7LPS and, recently, Ei 12AX7 tubes, did I realize the potential of this astounding hybrid integrated amplifier. I've now owned the 1501RC for 6 months and have become very attached to it.
The amp is able to pull off the neat trick of providing excellent detail with smooth tube warmth and excellent imaging along with realism, presence and wide 3D soundstaging. It is so smooth that I can listen for hours without fatigue.....but all the detail is there.
It drives the 4 ohm MMG speakers with ease. I take the 100 watt/ch rating with a grain of salt. I KNOW it's capable of putting out more than the rated 100 watts. Build quality surprised me when I opened the case to swap tubes. The toroidal transformer is massive, the MOSFET's are atached to substantial heat sinks, the volume control is a nice ALPS, and the face plate is 1/4" thick aluminum. The tube sockets have spring loaded metal shields.
The remote is plastic junk although it works well. The volume knob actually turns when using the remote. There are no balance or tone controls. It comes with 4 inputs and a pre-out which I use to drive a powered sub.
The bottom line is that the Jolida 1501RC provides astounding performance and build quality for a small price. There's nothing I know that can touch it for $600.
Associated gear
Magnapan MMG Speakers, Compaq Laptop, iTunes, Stereo-Link DAC, Dayton 10" subwoofer, Onkyo CDP