Official Jolida JD9 thread
- Thread starter helios660
- Start date
Heres a couple of shots on mine after I added the Clarity caps. I have the opamps on order and have used damping material on the bottom and rolled in Baldwin greens. So far I Really like the sound and depth of soundstage and can`t wait to do the opamps.
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
and are reportedly very very fine caps
Yes they are Huge but they fit under the hood just fine thanks. 
I waited until the place in England dropped their price to half and ordered them. These guy`s:
http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap_mr.html
I waited until the place in England dropped their price to half and ordered them. These guy`s: http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap_mr.html
bigdirty
High fidelity brah
Yes they are Huge but they fit under the hood just fine thanks.
http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap_mr.html
partsconnexion also just started stocking clarity caps. I may have to give these a try.
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
Ok boys...
Put the Obbligatos in yesterday and put some sonicaps across the power electrolytics
I went in a little different direction with opamps. I now have 4 opa627 and 2 opa637. The gain is high enough to use 637 so I was told and they seem to be doing ok
I'm not sure where I will end up putting the 637s ?? For now they are in the inputs (5&6 from picture) any suggestions?
Also I put some 12ax7 back in. Gold Lion ECC83.
Results: Damn good... I have not heard my AT15/20ss sound so good. I will report back in a few days
Put the Obbligatos in yesterday and put some sonicaps across the power electrolytics
I went in a little different direction with opamps. I now have 4 opa627 and 2 opa637. The gain is high enough to use 637 so I was told and they seem to be doing ok
I'm not sure where I will end up putting the 637s ?? For now they are in the inputs (5&6 from picture) any suggestions?Also I put some 12ax7 back in. Gold Lion ECC83.
Results: Damn good... I have not heard my AT15/20ss sound so good. I will report back in a few days
bsujeep
Go Boise State!!!
Frank I sure appreciate you posting your experiences with the AT20SS since I own one as well. I LOVE reading your posts, saves me a lot of experimenting and give me a great place to start working up the mods especially the opamps. Keep up the good work!
I still have the obbligatos sitting next to the JD9, but those russian POI's bypassed by the daytons sound so freaking good I am having trouble changing them up. I may just start picking up some opamps to play with instead.
Keep all the good post coming everyone, this thread just keeps getting better!
Bill
I still have the obbligatos sitting next to the JD9, but those russian POI's bypassed by the daytons sound so freaking good I am having trouble changing them up. I may just start picking up some opamps to play with instead.
Keep all the good post coming everyone, this thread just keeps getting better!
Bill
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
AT20ss is a winner for sure... ZERO sibilance or IGD
Opamps do take the JD9 to a higher level
Try the Obbligatos! Their clarity is noticeably but I havent tried those caps you have
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
I *think* I'm finished with my JD9... I've closed her up
1st off I want to emphasize something, do experiment with larger (>1.0uF) caps and using bypass caps. I used several brand caps in several mix-matches. I finished with 1.0 Obbligato + 1.0 Auricap in parallel = 2.0uf. Every combo and size gave me a different 'sound' but the above matched my system the best.
The opa637 ended up in #s 1 & 2, opa627 in 3-6 (from pic)
Gold Lion ECC83 for tubes
I left the film caps on the electrolytics
Keep in mind that I got my JD9 2nd handed already with some Underwood mods (caps, resistors, diodes, feet, damping ect)
Finally, I can now, for whatever reasons, run my MM carts from the 'High Outputs' without such overbearing gain even with 12ax7/ecc83 tubes. I think having 2.0uF caps helped the most here
It was fun... But I'm going to just relax and enjoy it as-is for awhile
Last edited:
Jeff K
Super Member
JD9 problem
My JD9 phono pre is doing some strange things and I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have.
It's about 5 years old and I'm running the Groove Tube Mullard reissues that I understand had reliability issues, but I got the the "Platinum Grade" from Upscale Audio and they've been great.
Anyway, recently when using the hi level outputs, I'll get loud clicks followed shortly after by a huge increase in volume and my HK 990 integrated's protection circuits kicking in.
This doesn't seem to happen with my other phono stage or any other input. Can a bad tube cause this or does it sound more like a cap or resistor? I really don't know a whole lot about this kind of thing. Thanks for any ideas.
My JD9 phono pre is doing some strange things and I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have.
It's about 5 years old and I'm running the Groove Tube Mullard reissues that I understand had reliability issues, but I got the the "Platinum Grade" from Upscale Audio and they've been great.
Anyway, recently when using the hi level outputs, I'll get loud clicks followed shortly after by a huge increase in volume and my HK 990 integrated's protection circuits kicking in.
This doesn't seem to happen with my other phono stage or any other input. Can a bad tube cause this or does it sound more like a cap or resistor? I really don't know a whole lot about this kind of thing. Thanks for any ideas.
Installed the op amps yesterday and sat down for a listen. Much better detail and definition as well as depth of soundstage. As these Clarity caps break in it just keeps getting better. Having used my "reference" records I am Impressed with the difference for the money. Definitely worth every cent I have put into it so far. Thanks for all the Great info guy`s!
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
Good for you!
I'm not so sure if this would be the correct upgrade order for better sound from a new JD9 but:
1. Caps
2. Op-Amps
3. Tubes
However, by doing the above you will turn a <500.00 dollar 'stock' phono-pre into one that will compete with the bigger boys
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
Liar, liar pants on fire
Received a pair of Baldwin Green 12ax7 today and will plug them in tonight for a listen.
I've found the Gold Lions are a bit harsh when using a LOMC cart. I mean the really low ones. Great tubes with MM carts tho.
And :scratch2: While I'm inside I will desolder the auricaps and try the Greenies with only the 1.0 Obbligatos
I've been looking for a phono stage to try with my line stage. Based on the popularity with AK of the Jolida JD-9 I have been keeping my eye open for one. Royphil345 sold me his a few day ago and I just got it hooked up to my system.
Playing with the settings but I like what I hear so far. I've only tried a couple of phono pre amps to compare (C-85 and DB-8).
The cartridge is a Goldring Erocia HOMC on a Music Hall 7. Line Stage is a First Sound Presence Deluxe.
According to Roy this is an early Maryland unit. I installed a couple of matched Telefunken ECC83 in place of the Chinese tubes (with covers off). Roy says he likes the Chinese tubes the best.
I'm looking for recommendations on settings. It is a non modified unit. It was setup for 47K ohms, 100pF capacitance, and 50db of gain using the low outputs.
First problem is the gain is about 20% less than my other sources? 50db should be enough for a HOMC?
I know the setting are what sounds best to me, but any help would be appreciated as I am not up to speed on these things.
Playing with the settings but I like what I hear so far. I've only tried a couple of phono pre amps to compare (C-85 and DB-8).
The cartridge is a Goldring Erocia HOMC on a Music Hall 7. Line Stage is a First Sound Presence Deluxe.
According to Roy this is an early Maryland unit. I installed a couple of matched Telefunken ECC83 in place of the Chinese tubes (with covers off). Roy says he likes the Chinese tubes the best.
I'm looking for recommendations on settings. It is a non modified unit. It was setup for 47K ohms, 100pF capacitance, and 50db of gain using the low outputs.
First problem is the gain is about 20% less than my other sources? 50db should be enough for a HOMC?
I know the setting are what sounds best to me, but any help would be appreciated as I am not up to speed on these things.
Last edited:
Bob_in_OKC
Addicted Member
Although Goldring specifies 47k Ohm, I like my Eroica H best in my system at 1k Ohm. I think the capacitance setting shouldn't make any audible difference, but Goldring specifies 100 to 500 pF. In combination with your cables, every capacitance setting on the JD9 will land you in this range. As for gain, I see no reason not to try a higher setting, but I prefer to just turn up the volume higher with the turntable, rather than try to match the volume to the other sources.
Thanks for the input. I played with the higher gain setting, but like you said, I tend to like the the sound of simply turning up the volume and leaving it at 50db of gain. I will try the 1k setting but right now I am just enjoying what I have.
nsgarch
McStatic
Jolidaland
Before I begin, I want to encourage everyone interested in Jolida products to read the 'Warning' and 'history' pages at www.jolida.net Apparently there are two companies, the one above, the original, and another one, www.jolida.com registered in Maryland, and making counterfeit products, in China, just a few blocks from the original factory :nono:
OK. Without realizing it at the time, I bought the conterfeit product; from Rick Sawvell at www.audioforce.biz. I bought the full upgrade package which included Clarity caps, Hexfred diodes, high grade grid resistors. It also has 20Kohm, 2W resistors across the 'lo' outputs (and no trim pots.) It comes with reissued (New Sensor) Russian Tung Sol 12AX7's. The op-amps are the Texas Instruments OP37G which if you look up the datasheet, I think you'll find they measure better than the 627/637 op amps (let me know if you don't agree ;--)
The tubes are as good as you're ever going to need for a BUFFER STAGE which is what the JD9 tubes do. They provide NO GAIN and therefore any differences anyone THINKS they hear from tube rolling indicates to me the tubes they'd been using were bad to begin with! The JD9 is NOT A TUBE PHONOSTAGE, even though it's printed right on the faceplate. It's a solid state phonoamp, with a pair of cathode follower tubes at the output. This is a marketing scam in my opinion, and will never provide the kind of "tube sound" and "preservation of low level detail and micro-dynamics" you get with tubes in the gain stages
My unit seems very well constructed and sounds great -- although nowhere near as smooth and articulate as my Mark Levinson 25S, but hey, the 25S is one of the half dozen great SS phonoamps on the planet! And the JD9, with upgrades, can't benefit from any further tweaks as far as I'm concerned. BTW, leave those damn tube shields in place!! They're spring loaded and provide plenty of damping (if you're silly enough to use microphonic tubes in the first place :scratch2
but more important, this unit WILL PICK UP RADIO STATIONS when used with MC cartridges (at the highest gain settings) and with the preamp volume turned all the way up (with no signal of course )
My point here is that the "counterfeit" unit I bought is not shabby in any way, except that it's a fake AND you can get better prices and free shipping direct from the "original" company in China. So . . . I'm going to sell mine very soon because I'd wanted to hear and compare the sonics of a tube phonoamp with my SS phonoamp -- and was misled into thinking that's what the JD9 is, but found out too late that it isn't. I could have made them take it back, but I wanted to 'fool with it' a bit, and I got such a good deal that I'll just pass it on to the next person. Nevertheless, buyer beware :nono:
(I'll try and get some pics of the innards of my unit uploaded soon.)
Neil
.
Before I begin, I want to encourage everyone interested in Jolida products to read the 'Warning' and 'history' pages at www.jolida.net Apparently there are two companies, the one above, the original, and another one, www.jolida.com registered in Maryland, and making counterfeit products, in China, just a few blocks from the original factory :nono:
OK. Without realizing it at the time, I bought the conterfeit product; from Rick Sawvell at www.audioforce.biz. I bought the full upgrade package which included Clarity caps, Hexfred diodes, high grade grid resistors. It also has 20Kohm, 2W resistors across the 'lo' outputs (and no trim pots.) It comes with reissued (New Sensor) Russian Tung Sol 12AX7's. The op-amps are the Texas Instruments OP37G which if you look up the datasheet, I think you'll find they measure better than the 627/637 op amps (let me know if you don't agree ;--)
The tubes are as good as you're ever going to need for a BUFFER STAGE which is what the JD9 tubes do. They provide NO GAIN and therefore any differences anyone THINKS they hear from tube rolling indicates to me the tubes they'd been using were bad to begin with! The JD9 is NOT A TUBE PHONOSTAGE, even though it's printed right on the faceplate. It's a solid state phonoamp, with a pair of cathode follower tubes at the output. This is a marketing scam in my opinion, and will never provide the kind of "tube sound" and "preservation of low level detail and micro-dynamics" you get with tubes in the gain stages
My unit seems very well constructed and sounds great -- although nowhere near as smooth and articulate as my Mark Levinson 25S, but hey, the 25S is one of the half dozen great SS phonoamps on the planet! And the JD9, with upgrades, can't benefit from any further tweaks as far as I'm concerned. BTW, leave those damn tube shields in place!! They're spring loaded and provide plenty of damping (if you're silly enough to use microphonic tubes in the first place :scratch2
but more important, this unit WILL PICK UP RADIO STATIONS when used with MC cartridges (at the highest gain settings) and with the preamp volume turned all the way up (with no signal of course )My point here is that the "counterfeit" unit I bought is not shabby in any way, except that it's a fake AND you can get better prices and free shipping direct from the "original" company in China. So . . . I'm going to sell mine very soon because I'd wanted to hear and compare the sonics of a tube phonoamp with my SS phonoamp -- and was misled into thinking that's what the JD9 is, but found out too late that it isn't. I could have made them take it back, but I wanted to 'fool with it' a bit, and I got such a good deal that I'll just pass it on to the next person. Nevertheless, buyer beware :nono:
(I'll try and get some pics of the innards of my unit uploaded soon.)
Neil
.
Last edited: