Testimonials

Please note that the feedback found on this page is in no particular order.

Below is a short list of some of the feedback we have received from our customers regarding our products, services and company.

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Antique Sound Lab Reference modified MG OTL 32DT preamp

Bill:

 

After having burned in my Baker-modded ASL preamp for 360 hours offline, I decided that enough was enough and that my saintly patience had come to an end. I therefore took the bull by the horns and hooked up the unit into my system. I was NOT expecting the extraordinary and astounding things I heard. A true wake-up call for the ears!

Full report after 400 hours....
 

Mille grazie,

 

Frank 

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Reference Jolida 801 amplifier and Musica Bella SP/AV-1 loudspeakers

Hi Bill,

 Just dropping an e-mail to say thanks for the 801 ref. mod you did for me last June and the Bella sp/av-1's. I came up to Endicott with my cd's, you let me move the couch, you switched out speakers (the Adagio's were stunning however above my $$ range), I  moved them around a little, then I loaded cd's and listened. Have been to many a store and was never able to at least try and duplicate my living room (which is small). You answered all my technical questions, with technical answers.  At the end of the morning what put a smile on my face and made my body sway is what I bought. Thanks for the attention and the experience. When I get time to bring my jd100 up for v-caps can I listen to some vinyl? LOL     

 I listen to my system for 3-5 hours at least two days a week and for shorter periods the rest of the week (listened to 3 Lucinda Williams cd's in a row yesterday). The bella's? I do not tire of them. I keep wanting more, and at moderate volume levels they provide (rarely do I go above 10 o'clock on  the dial which is less than a third of the total). My wife does not complain, even a little, about this system. She sings.  

    Good musicians are trying to make something special happen between them, whether it be those back up singers coming in just right, two musicians feeding off one another or the nuances of the solo artist,you should here that little something that emotion. I find myself  tuning into a background sax, organ, vocals or the drummer and listening to what their doing to accent the lead. To borrow a phrase to describe not only the speakers but the system "They have an expansive, very natural, harmonious sound, and at the same time, they present great musical detail (but without being etched or aggressive)". That describes the system.

I also use the system for movies. My dvd player converts to stereo for the 801 and the sound is expansive. Bass is tight and low. Sit anywhere on the couch and its all good.

Finally upgraded the power cord from the stock. Made a tremendous difference in the overall dynamic.    

Thanks again  Mike      

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Thorens TD-2030 Blue Acrylic, Custom Ming-Da 3008 mono blocs.

Bill -

Got everything up and going with the Thorens table.

I recently found a MFSL original master vinyl recording of the collaboration LP between Nat King Cole and George Shearing.  I'd been keeping it for today.  I'd listened to the Red Book CD for quite a while. It's one of my favorites, and thru my Marantz SA-14v2 CD/SACD player, it always sounded really good, so I was really looking forward to the chance to compare the two.

Well, there's no comparison.  This table, the Arum Beta S cartridge, and the MoFi technology, resulted in the most remarkable sound I've ever experienced at home.  It's actually like a different set of takes, the difference is so profound.  And this with a rather modest phono preamp.

Further, I know you hate 'em, (and I don't blame you) but you've got these Ming-Da monoblocs sounding absolutely #@$%$% incredible.  As they've continued to run in, the idle noise is down to practically nothing, and their ability to control the 9" woofers in these Silverline Boleros has really tightened up.  I really cannot thank you enough for all that you've done on my behalf.  They're really a joy now.

Well, just wanted to let you know how great that table sounds.  I know the performance won't be quite as impressive with more common LPs, but nonetheless, I'm really, really pleased.

Hope you and yours are well, have a great weekend, and as always....


Very best regards
MP

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Reference Jolida 801 / SP Technology Continuum / Sonoran Cable w/ Micro Bearing Fill

7/17/06
Bill, It was wonderful to make the "Pilgrimage" to Response Audio. Your accommodation after all the anxiety and trepidation the past couple of weeks brought you could have closed another man down.  Kudos to you and during my ride home and reflecting on the time, conversations and topics.  You know I really had a great engaging evening quite unexpected and a moment in time were I can embellish with the foundation of truth about you, your business and talk about how extra, extra cool your were to me as a perfect stranger, but we had that magic and common thread of music to build our beginning business relationship. I look forward to being able call you a friend in the truest sense.   I thought you were terrific in your complete emersion and passion for your craft and I respect that more than you could really understand.  Mainly because I am a real prick when someone is in a position of authority and power over me and begins to come off causal and confident. Hell you are the most down to earth and well balance guy I have met in the past year.   Musicians can be a real narcissistic bunch and I don't think of, nor do I call people friends lightly.  I know that the audiophile crowd is just as opinionated as the musician crowd.

 

  My philosophy, as if you didn't hear enough of those last night. LOL

I call my friends brothers and would jump in front of a moving car without hesitation.  I am a visceral, aggressive personality if I am cornered of if someone I care about is in danger. Pretty heavy  admission, but I don't mean it literally.  It is my analogy of how I treat and feel I should be treated, but I don't expect to be brought into that circle until I have earned respect and have crossed the line in believing that the person that is my friend will do the same for me.  

 

 I ramble for two reasons tonight it is f&#k'n late, and I mean it from the great first impression I was able to experience in your place of business "the making of a friendship".  Man it feels more like a clubhouse, or a  welcoming sanctuary to the poor souls wandering the street looking for the "Salvation Army of Music"  ahahahaha. Couldn't resist some more levity. The stuff got home in mint condition.  I plan to hook it up over the next weekend for trials, then store it till the studio is dust free and controlled to give them their place of honor. I used Their, for a reason. You stuff is real.  Peace and warmest regards Chuck.

 

P.S.  I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased the two  (Dan Fleugel Project) CD's. 

Chuck

8/04/06 follow-up

Bill I would consider it a very humbling request.    Please feel free to quote or paraphrase anything that I have said or e-mailed to you.   I am an open book and as such I am not constrained by angst or anxiety of what people may or may not think of my points of views or remarks.  You know when we were hanging out it was a good fit.  Sometimes you just know you could be real good friends if we were geographically closer.    I can't tell you how much I enjoyed to the tenth degree the hospitality you showed and kindness you demonstrated by meeting me on my crazy time schedule.  Hell you even gave me a Pepsi.   Man that was one of the best I had had in a while, after 3 plus hours in the car and not eating and drinking much that day.  Whew, that hit the spot.   It was just Cool, Cool, Cool to walk into your shop, only through e-mails, web site browsing and I don't know how to describe it but I felt comfortable and not the least bit worried that I was putting myself at tremendous financial risk not having a significant previously developed relationship.  It was the music Karma.   I am very lucky to let music kind of direct me at all facets and I am pulled in directions every year that if you had told me what I was going to participate in, I would say your nuts! LOL.     Bill Words really can't describe my gratitude and my outright luck finding you and your incredible skill and commitment to music in your own way.  Music makes us brothers and music is always going to open doors to pleasant places and great people.   You know working with the public, every 6 or so months you come across a banana, but it seems that more and more people are believing in you and your product line and philosophies.   I do.   So you have my permission to use me as a reference and a customer, quote me etc... That is the least I can accommodate you with.    Allot of work on my part to say that.   Yeah right!  You do the work.  I just feel like the luckiest guy in the world with my new system.   I am going to be out of town for the next week with the family.  Going to Cape May, NJ for a beachy/peachy time.    You have my cell phone if you every need to call and the line is always open.    Peace bratha and I will touch base with you when I get back in a week to 10 days.  Otherwise bang out an e-mail at your leisure and I will respond.   Sometimes I am the biggest knuckle head because I have so many Irons in the proverbial fire.    My bad, but my credo is " I will sleep when I am dead"   So that's that.  Enjoy the last month of the Summer.  Too, too fast.   Again I hope all is finally cleaned up and you are back on track after the flood.   I keep good thoughts for you and your family always.   I honestly mean it.   Chuck

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Reference Dared VP-845 / Ultimate Usher X-718

Well, it has been four weeks since I took delivery of the Ultimate Dared 845 modified amp that you did for me.  The V-caps are breaking in more and more, so it seems like a good time to give you feedback about the modified amp, and it's fit with the Ultimate Usher 718's that I bought from you earlier.

Keep in mind that my previous major system was either a pair of Magnepan 1.6 QR's or Reference 3A MM de Capos, driven by Cary 805C's, so I was spoiled. The Dared felt like a good risk to take for my smaller system, and with your mod and the Super TNT 845B's, it is amazing.  The spaciousness and listenability of this amp/speaker combo is  beyond anything I could have hoped for or expected.  Bass is most respectable, and I don't find myself longing for my Sunfire sub.  Vocals just seem to float on the soundstage and are locked in focus.  The layering of the instruments and voices is much more 3-D and well placed compared to prior to the mod.  The highs are NEVER harsh or rolled-off, two things I was prepared for with tubes or the 845 tube itself. 

Your work on both the amp and speakers shows complete care and careful placement of wiring and parts.  The amp looks more like an F1 racing engine than the mass of wires that was inside the Dared when I took ownership. When I first called you to see if you would do the mod, you told me "Careful work and top quality parts, combined with a decent amp or speakers will most always beat the high priced competition hands down."  You proved that with this amp, that I so enjoy, and these speakers that perform way out of their price and class.  It tickles me to know that the V-caps aren't even completely broken in yet, and I am still happier with this system than I have been in years.  Driving this amp and speakers with a tubed ModWright modified Philips SA1000 has shown me that careful investment in sonically sound equipment, combined with professional, top-notch modifications is the way to go.

Thank you Bill for all your time, care and craftsmanship. You have been, and continue to be, a joy to work with and someone to whom I will return and refer in the future!

Thomas P.

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Reference ASL Tulip / Follow-up

Hi Bill,
Thought I would give you some follow-up after  about 200 hours of use on your modded Tulip. At present, with Sophia meshplate 45 tubes, I've never had a better amp in my home. It is truly amazing and sounding wonderful. I also can't recommend those tubes more highly.  I thought that the amp didn't do well with the 1940's Sylvania 45's. Well it isn't the amp. The Sophia tubes really make it perform. Thanks again for a wonderful product and happy new year,
Marvin Amstey

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Reference Ming-Da MC7 tube preamp

This is a handsome unit which, in stock form, can be had new or lightly used for as little as $500. The build quality is very good, the wiring is point-to-point and the volume pot is from Alps.

I bought a lightly used MC-7R for my bedroom system, but first gave it a listen through my main system with an Audio Note DAC 4.1x Signature upstream and both Blue Circle BC-8 and AtmaSphere M60 monoblocks downstream to actively biamped custom loudspeakers. In such a highly resolving system the stock Ming Da showed both its strengths and limitations. The midrange was glorious. The soundstage was wide and reasonably deep, with that "air" enveloping instruments and performers that I've only experienced with quality tubed systems. Alas, the bass was mushy, the highs rolled off and microdetail retrieval was poor compared to a $3000+ Musical Design SP-3 SS preamp (outboard 1.2 Farad psu, all Black Gate caps and tantalum resistors, yada yada) it replaced.

I visited the Response Audio website after reading a 'Gon classified ad for Ming Da mods and found that Bill Baker offered a "Signature Mod" package for my preamp model and its near twin, the MC-3R. Being a cautious sort, I phoned him for more info and found him to be down to earth, patient and knowledgeable. Off my MC-7R went!

The Signature modded preamp barely resembled the stock unit (musically, that is). The midrange magic remained, but the bass was now quite articulate, allowing the powerhouse BC-8 monoblocks to really strut their stuff. Treble extension was much improved, complementing the OTL amps' transparency.
Micro-detail retrieval was much better, though not quite up to my SS pre. Overall, though, I actually preferred the modded Ming Da in my main system. There's nothing like the realism of tubes done right. And this for less than $300 over the cost of the stock unit!

Shortly thereafter, Bill announced his "Reference Mods" featuring the new VH Audio "V-Caps". (Teflon units in the signal path with the new V-Cap Oil impregnated output capacitors). I called him and learned that the new mods raised the preamps sonically to a level competitive with the world's best. A pretty bold assertion, but I'd come to trust Bill's ear and work - so off again the MC-7R went!

I've now had the opportunity to hear the "Reference Moddded" MC-7R in my home for about 75 hours. In short, it doesn't just merit the designation of "extraordinary value for its price" (for me, under $2000 total including cost of the stock unit). Rather, it truly lives up to the advance claim of "as good as it gets"! It is quiet, with micro-detail retrieval capable of realistically extracting the ambience of every venue on live CD recordings (I love live music...)I own - be it jazz, rock, chorale. The "air" around singers and instruments is uncanny. The holography of great tube gear is there in a big way. Highs soar gracefully. On well-recorded CDs the attack and decay of cymbal crashes and the like are nothing short of lifelike.

I've also put the "Reference Modded" MC-7R into my bedroom system (Tube Technology Fulcrum CDT > NorthStar DAC192 > Ming Da MC-7R > Ming Da MC805-A monoblocks > Zalytron Phenomenal 3 loudspeakers) with the same result. This system cannot produce the dynamics and scale of the actively biamped floorstanders (Raven R3.1 ribbons/dual 12 inch PHL 4530s) in my main rig, but has that "SET thing" going in a big way with those 805 output tubes. Yet the midrange realism, "air" and holographic soundstage of SETs came through even more beautifully with the "Reference Modded" MC-7R in the signal path. So much so that I snapped up a demo MC-7R from Bill for future "Reference Mods" and use in this system as well.

My SS preamp (great as it is)? Well, make me an offer...

I really can't find the words to describe the deliciously "you are there" experience that the "Reference Modded" Ming Da MC-7R has brought to both of my systems in a far from subtle way. It is such a blessing AND relief to have found a preamp to keep for life.

Please note that I use NOS 12AU7 and 12AX7 tubes in the MC-7R, of the $15-$50 per variety - nothing terribly exotic in my stash. The stock Chinese rectifier needs no substitution, with rugged and inexpensive NOS military replacements available from "DIY Hi Fi" on the web.

Music used during review:

A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
O Christmas Tree (A Bluegrass Collection) - various
A Childe is Born - The Bell' Arte Singers
Inside - Dave Van Ronk
Shaking the Tree - Peter Gabriel
Lotus - Santana
My Goals Beyond - Mahavishnu Orchestra
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (self-titled on Impulse)
Bad Brains (self-titled on Rohr)
I, Eye, Aye - Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Have Moicy - Michael Hurley, Unholy Modal Rounder, Jeffrey Frederick and the Clamtones
Blackheart Man - Bunny Wailer
Original Rockers - Augustus Pablo
Absent Lovers- King Crimson
Squeezing Out Sparks/Live Sparks - Graham Parker and the Rumour
Win This Record - El Rayo X
More Guitar and Faithless - Richard Thompson Band

John B.

Comment: John, very glad to hear you are enjoying the modified MC7. Part of the magic you are hearing is the combination of the V-Cap Teflon & Oil impregnated capacitors working in harmony to provide the sonic flaor you desired. Thank you for the kind words and have a great holiday season and happy, healthy new year! 

 Bill Baker

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Reference V-Cap ASL Tulip

Hi Bill,
Just a bit of feedback: there is now about 150 hours on the amp. It has
astounded a number of my musician friends from the Eastman School - and
of course, me. I've been through a number of tube sets and have learned that RCA  2A3's (double filaments) sound better than Sylvania 45's. There is a bit more bass control. Actually it is the bass response that is most amazing given 3.2 watts. Even with 90 db Thiels, the amp performs better than any I have had. If anybody asks, however, the Decware HDT speakers (96 db) with a single Fostex driver are better than any I have had. More importantly, my wife believes these are the best speakers that we have ever owned. You folks run a good show down there, and I'm pleased that I found you. You can certainly add my name to any list of endorsers.
Have a great holiday and happy new year,
Marvin

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Bill, I got the Ming-Da MC 34-B today. 

 

I really want to leave a positive testimonial for you; you have been one of the best people I have ever done business with, period, and hope we do more in the future.  Your responsiveness (no pun intended) and integrity are exceptional; you definitely should be commended.  I would never hesitate to strongly recommend you to anyone.

 

S. Silverman, Esq.

Miami, Florida

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Ultimate Usher X-718

Bill:
   Now that I've had some quality time to listen to the Ultimate Usher 718's
I purchased from you, I can give you some clear feedback. So far I have
listened to them with 12 and 25 wpc SET's, and an 80 wpc hybrid.  The last
2 way monitors I owned were the Reference 3a MM De Capos.  In comparison, the Ushers give more detail, better transients and cleaner vocals. These speakers have a wonderful sense of wholeness or continuity, providing very specific imaging and layers of depth.  I have found them to be the kind of speakers that unlock aspects of my favorite LP's and discs that I truly had not heard before.  The bass on the Ushers is incredible, both in depth and focus.  No mush or boom here, just tight bass that makes listening to Earl Klugh or Bella Fleck a pure joy.  It is obvious that the crossover mods, reference grade resistors and premium wiring wring every
pleasant bit of sound out of what start out as very good speakers.  I can truly say that my concerns about subwoofers was unfounded given the amount of bass that these Ultimate 718's produce.
   As another customer has stated, I would be remiss if I also didn't comment on the extreme quality of communication and friendliness that you have shown to me. It is rare to find someone with a commitment to the quality of his products who exhibits that same commitment to his customer. You have been a true gem to work with.  Thanks, Bill!

Thomas Portney, Augusta, Georgia
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Reference Modified ASL Tulip

"I recently purchased an ASL Tulip amp from a private owner that had been modified by Response Audio and Bill Baker. Considering that I knew nothing about the amp or Response Audio's service, I was taking a big chance to purchase the amp unseen and unheard. After receiving the amp, I was very pleased to see that the amp appeared as new and sounded great. Because it had low hours (about 75) I was curious about burn-in with the new caps and resistors and contacted Bill. He was extremely forthcoming and willing to discuss his work. It is fair to say that he is intimately familiar with the amps he modifies. I am impressed that he can recommend what sounds best for a given amp due to this familiarity. Looks like a great service. I only wish I had known about it sooner. I can imagine how 22 watts of tweaked SET power would perform on my speakers."

Ralph Gordon (owner ASL Tulip with Response Audio upgrade)

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Usher Audio Subwoofer / Custom cabling

09.10.04: At long-last, my dream system is complete; the arrival of my Usher SW-102 and Bill's gorgeous custom length Usher speaker wires and custom made 20 ft. interconnects finishes off the aforementioned stereo system passionately built by Bill. The Usher sub is a thing of beauty. Its statement of presence and musicality is beyond reproach. Due to what I perceive as "exquisite control", the SW-102 does *not* take a center stage position in the listening field as many powered subs do. Rather it serves as a fine compliment to an already solid full-range performer in the Ultimate Usher X-718's. Listening to a wide range of music yesterday, from Marilyn Manson to Sting, Pink Floyd, Venus Hum, Mozart, and the oh-so-critical Toccata and Fugue in G Minor by J.S. Bach, the SW-102 served to reinforce the excellent full-range tonality and presentation of the X718's, not overpower them or out stage them.

A word about wires from the ultimate skeptic/cynic. My patients with the US Postal system was rewarded with the receipt of a pair of Response Audio custom length, custom terminated Usher speaker cables. Out of necessity, I was using a middle grade pair of Monster cables from my amps to my X-718's. When I swapped them for the Usher cables, several things immediately happened; the sound image grew in height, the midrange came forward, and the breadth of the stage grew perceptibly. Aside from the fact that the aesthetics of these cables are quite pleasing to the techno-geek eye, they make an appreciable difference in delivery and staging. Once again, I bow in adoration to the magicians in Endicott, N.Y. I am a dyed-in-the-wool 2-channel guy, and I am very happy to have yet another magnificent example of RA's work in my media room! Leaving the house to go to work keeps getting harder and harder.... :)

Clint Kapp - CA

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Reference Musica Bella RAM-40M & Ultimate Usher X-718

8-03-04: Taking the term happy-camper to new sonic levels of auditory bliss, I set up my fully modified Response Audio system. Bill Baker built specifically for me, a pair of Reference Musica Bella RAM40 watt mono-bloc amps and a pair of custom Ultimate Usher X-718's. I could list at least 20 adjectives to describe the staging, depth, transparency and width of this meticulously crafted system, and still not completely describe the awe I experience when I sit and listen to my music.

Beyond the system itself, I would be regretful had I not included my experiences in my dealings with Bill. In this day and age of Internet invisibility and anonymity, Bill Baker makes himself easily accessible for questions and answers. My experiences with Response Audio have been timely, courteous and highly professional. It was difficult for me to buy a system, sight-unseen (sound unheard), from a manufacturer 3200 miles from home and mail in a check for many thousands of dollars. Yet, in speaking with Bill regarding what I had wished to accomplish, my reservations quickly became certainties, and my trust has not been  challenged; my appreciation for Bill Baker has elevated beyond my expectations.

I proudly make myself available as a personal reference for any one who is in need of a satisfied customer to speak with.

Sincerely,

Clint Kapp
San Diego, CA

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Custom Signature ASL Orchid

7-26-04:  Bill, I just want to tell you that your deluxe, fully-upgraded ASL Orchid is just too great for words!  Yep, that's my Orchid pictured on your website - the first you've made.  I've had it for several months now, and its component parts have broken in rather nicely.  Instead of waxing poetic over this bad boy, I'll just say it's worth every penny - and then some.  It now has the same detail, speed, and holographic presentation as my Decware 84C-S, but it's way more lush and has way more power and bass.  Maybe it's the big and beefy transformers.    No hum or extraneous noises at all from this amplifier - it's dead quiet between tracks.  Explosive macro dynamics and delicate micro dynamics at the same time.   And I haven't even put in my Telefunken 12AX7's scavenged from my low-hour Fisher 500C (I'll do that after my new speakers have had their 200+ hours of breaking in time).   By the way - don't bother hooking your cable box or TV to this system.  This amplifier is so accurate and great-sounding with a good and clean signal that you will simply not put up with the tinny, harsh, and mechanical-sounding signal from the TV or cable box.  If the signal source is clean and lush, this amplifier will give you a clean and lush sound.  I did not expect this integrated amp to be a microscope for an audiophile; it was a very pleasant surprise. 

        Folks, Bill is absolutely right about using speakers of 95dB+ sensitivity.  With the right one, your system will just sing (and shout if you like obnoxiously loud music).   I heartily recommend the Decware HDT single-driver speakers (got them last week) as a suitable mate for the amplifier.  At 96 dB sensitivity, 8 Ohms impedance, and no cross-over to mess things up, my system as a whole is now fast, powerful, and has lease-breaking volume and bass.  Collective Soul (and even a classical music CD every now and then) never sounded better.   I was very surprised that with the volume control at the 12:00 position, the system was so annoyingly loud that even I had to turn it down to 9:00.  My Rogers dB 101's sounded fine with the Orchids, but the Decwares just blew them out of the water in terms of bass and volume.  The imaging and sound staging is 95% there, but the speakers will sound better over time.  And both the amps (about 20 hours) and speakers (2 hours) are still just breaking in.   Considering the way I listen (I work very long hours), I expect them to start to gel in another year or so.  Cheers!

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Reference Jolida RA502A

Bill,

 Your Reference Series 502A exceeds all of my expectations. With over two hundred and fifty hours of run time, this amp has really opened up. This is one amazing sounding amp, the soundstage and detail are incredible and sound  is true to life and accurate. I can listen to all kinds of music for hours and enjoy every minute. The Clarity Labs Foxfire interconnects are a definite must own, my impression is that they are perfect with this amp. I am very pleased with this product and your service. 

Thanks and God-speed

Mark from Verdemont CA.

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Reference Jolida RA801-REF

Bill, I wanted to say thanks for all your helpful hints and guidance in leading me into the world of tube gear. I've been an audiophile for quite awhile but always  with solid state gear. Luckily for me, I happened upon you as a recommendation made by Chris VenHaus ( he's super also ) . He told me to "come in out of the dark and try tubes" . I've always been tweaking trying to improve things. My journey has seen me using resonating dots, vibration control stuff, diffusion panels. bass traps and on and on. I guess i just could not get the sound I was looking for. After I described my gear to Bill he recommended the JoLida 801 as my speakers were a difficult load . I originally ordered a stock model but then started reading up on the plusses of improved capacitors and internal hardware. When Bill had the unit ready to ship, I

After playing this new unit with all my original gear I was stunned. The mids  (especially voice ) grabbed me in the gut. Sometimes, when I play Miles Davis( the bitches brew ) I'm stunned with how awe inspiring the instruments are. If you are thinking about tubes I'd start talking to Bill and let him lead u out of the wilderness.

thanks Bill,

Carl Palmisano

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Reference Jolida RA-801-REF

 Also, we absolutely must thank Bill Baker of Response Audio for building the incredible sounding Jolida 801's that were used. I guess its about time I shut up about tube amps 'cause I didn't know what I was talking about in the past. Those babies were incredible! They didn't have the mushy low end or edgy highs I've heard from tube amps in the past. Although I will make one point in my own defense. I've always said that there was no reason that tubes COULDN'T sound as good as S-S, just that few manufacturers ever make them. Well...Bill's one that DOES! That thing was one of the best amps I've ever heard - PERIOD. Bill had to build the thing in time for the show and he came through with time to spare. Thanks Bill - you da' man!

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Signature Ming-Da MC7-R preamp mods

Bill, your Signature mods have elevated an already fine product to one that is hard to beat at any cost. You were absolutely correct about the benefits of the Sonicaps and Cardas wiring! Microdynamics and low level detail in my music have really been brought out. Bass is now tight, with quite realistic timbre. The very appealing midrange of the stock preamp is fully preserved.
You have a real winner here with unbelievable bang for the buck!

John - Utah

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I have talked to Bill Baker maybe 6 times now.  He has always been generous with his time and his guidance, even before I ever bought anything from him.  It took me from last February until now to finally be able buy my Music Hall MMF CD-25! It's too long a story for this space, the reasons were my own with money & what to upgrade first, or should I say second.  I've talked with other knowledgeable people in Home Audio from Mike Allen at Jolida (I still owe him for time spent in auditioning Jolida tube amps in his showroom) to some great people at Audio Circle. I almost forgot all the brick and mortar audio dealers.  Of all of those people, Bill Baker is Unique in the advice he offers, in his manner of leading you to what you want/need.  He is the most ethical, kind, generous, knowledgeable, honest & helpful person I have ever bought anything from in my entire life. Last February I was leery of buying audio equipment on-line. Thanks to Bill that has all changed and I'm on my way to building/re-building a great little home audio system.  Tubes rule and so does Bill Baker!  Bill, thank you for being such a great man and a great teacher. 

Marty

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Special Edition Jolida 302B

Bill,

I waited until I had some hours on my unit before sending you my impressions as I wanted to be sure to give the new caps some time to settle in. I also intend to post a review on Audio Asylum when I can pull myself away from the music long enough to compose one!!!!

Let me say up front, that I was very pleased with the sonics of the stock Jolida JD 302B, but being a sometime "tweaker" myself, I also know that to keep pricing down, Jolida (as well as other manufacturers building to a "price point") has to make compromises on some passive part selection in the construction. This is not a criticism - in fact, I find it very commendable that Jolida has chosen to make such high quality sound affordable to those of us who have a deep love of music, but not necessarily the deep pockets that some of the "high end" tube gear has as a requirement for ownership. At any rate, I knew that:  A) the basic circuit design was a good one - the sound of the stock unit was extremely three dimensional and "refined". Probably the least fatiguing (non-triode)amp I've ever owned (and I've owned a few over the years....). B) As good as it sounded, I knew that some well chosen upgrades could significantly enhance detail resolution and transparency. 

Your SE modifications to my JD 302B have exceeded my expectations both in sonic results and in the pleasant and positive nature of my dealings with you. I'm glad I made the appointments to come up to the shop and meet you - it really is a nice drive from CT!!  Maybe I'll take a ride up on the bike sometime this summer........!

So.... the audible improvements as I hear them - first what DIDN'T change - I DIDN'T lose any of the refinement of the originals presentation!!! In fact, the presentation is smoother with an even creamier, more 3-D midrange than stock! The midrange on up is what I've always loved most about the EL34s - and I feel I am getting even more palpability now. On well recorded CDs and LPs the SE can put a vocalist or instrument right in the room with me - something I had only experienced with triodes prior to this. 

The amp also seems subjectively "faster" to me than it had as a stock unit. There seems to be a bit more "snap" to a struck snare drum for example. It's as though leading edge transients have sharpened a bit; but without adding even a trace of harshness to the sound. This also ties in with a definite increase in low level detail and the delineation of images across and through the very well defined - broad and deep - soundstage.

The best word I can think of to describe the resulting sound of the amp with the SE mods is - "organic".  That is to say more organic than the original. The mods did not really change the character of the amp - it took what were already the strengths of it's sound and elevated them to the next level.

I honestly did not feel that I could have afforded this quality of sound before I had you modify my unit. I am experiencing in my own system, in my own home, sound that I had only experienced before while daydreaming in high-end audio boutiques listening to systems that go for more than my customized Harley-Davidson would sell for. Since I am currently listening to the Jolida with ACI Sapphire IIIs(on 24" stands) and a Velodyne CT-120 sub, I really can't comment on bass performance, but the subwoofer outputs you added sure come in handy and work great! There is no noticeable effect on the main outputs that I can detect in my system.

In closing - your Jolida SE mods get a big thumbs up from me!!! The biggest problem I'm having now is getting out of my listening chair!!!! The SE 302B seems to be a GREAT match with my upsampled Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player. It's like I got a new music collection to listen to! Even poorly recorded recorded CDs are more listenable - they still are revealed as poorly recorded - but somehow more easy to listen to.  Currently Yo-Yo Ma(Obrigado Brazil) is in my living room....... Can't be rude - I have to go listen to his performance........!!! Say hi! to Leanne from me and Peta!!!! You haven't heard the last of me yet!!!

Peace,

Jeff Fayle     

______________

Bill,

In writing to you about how pleased I was with my unit, I overlooked saying THANK YOU!!!!   I appreciate your help and advice as well as friendly and accommodating attitude. I may yet have questions for you, so you will be hearing from me again I'm sure. Also, when the time comes and funds allow further system upgrades/additions, you will get my business. As I pick away at building my preamp, I find myself thinking longingly of one of those new Ming-Da preamps...... maybe when funds allow.................

Thanks again........

Peace,

Jeff 

COMMENT:
HI Jeff,
Thank you for the kind words. I am very happy to hear you are happy with the amp and working with myself. Please be aware that if you swing in this summer on the Harley, you may end up needing to call for a ride back unless I have mine by then and we can lock the doors and go for a cruise.

Please do keep in touch with any further questions, comments or concerns you may have. It's always a pleasure.

On a final note, I did receive my new bypass caps and will send you some the first of the week

_____________________________________

Jolida SE502 Custom Basic Edition

Well it has been over 3 months with my Basic Edition 502. It has exceeded all my expectations.
I have called and bugged Bill a number of times with all the modifications that I have done at work. Bill has always been very helpful and takes the time to talk to me about the amp. I have been tube rolling and took out the selector, balance pot with new rca jacks and wires on the input.
Last week I also changed all 6 of the electrolytic caps with low ESR versions and the sound has improved dramatically.

Thanks again Bill for the amp and all the help.

_____________________________________________________

Jolida SE302 Special Edition modification

There is no reason for me to have taken this long to place feedback for Bill and Response Audio, other than the fact that I've been so wrapped up in other things and therefore behind on my computer time.  I've had my modded Jolida 302B since just after Christmas, and I've put in maybe 15 hours of worthwhile listening on it.  I had added one of the RAM PC3 power cords and the Clarity "Emberglow" series interconnects with the order, which was the icing on a very nicely modified cake (the Special Edition mods with 2 Bybee purifiers in the B+ voltage, silver wire for two of the inputs, subwoofer output and removal of the balance control).  Bill was excellent and very helpful when it came to decisions on what to do to the amp, and the results were wonderful.  The only thing I had to change were the stock feet on the amp, which I would recommend Response Audio do as part of their mods package.  The stock feet are crap.  I had some issues with shipping, but Bill worked with me with!
out any hassles.  I felt comfortable with Bill and his company from the get-go, and am very pleased with the goods.  I would do business with Response Audio again.  Thanks Bill! 

    Joel Hile     getnutty@earthlink.net 

Comment: Thanks for the kind words Joel and very glad to hear you are enjoying your amplifier. Considering you are not the first to mention (recommend) replacing the feet on these units, I will start offering something with the forthcoming Special Edition units.

______________________________________

Usher Audio Rack

Greetings, Bill! I only just got the rack unpacked and assembled. I am very impressed with the quality of manufacture and would not hesitate to recommend it. Continued success!!    

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Custom Built Jolida Special Edition 502 (x2)

My brother and I each purchased a Jolida SE502A from Response Audio with the following modifications to the SE package: removal of the selector switch along with all but one set of RCA inputs in back and dual volume controls added. Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 and 12AT7 input/splitter tubes and SED KT88 output tubes added. One amp is configured for triode mode, the other in pentode (ultralinear). The triode amp also has 2 Quantum Purifiers added to the B+ power supply.
Both amps arrived well packaged and in mint condition. We have listened to them for about 2 months now. The pentode version excels in imaging, expansive 3D sound staging and details, details, details. The triode version, used with a suitably efficient loudspeaker, goes one step
beyond the pentode version in being "sweet" yet retaining the finer details of the music. The low end is also improved. Listening to Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain" SACD on the  Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi with Acoustat speakers will literally put you in the recording session. We would also like to thank Bill for following up on phone calls & e-mails, he made extra effort to exceed our customer service expectations. We certainly recommend these Jolida 502A SE amps from Response Audio.
Terry & Tom

_______________________________________

Jolida Special Edition SE502

I ordered the Special Edition modified 502B with silver wiring and received the unit two days before Christmas. This unit had been modified also as a power amp with the balance and source control removed. I am currently using an Arcam A65+ as the preamp which seems to be a nice match. Out of the box It had a good full bodied sound with good bass extension, fine midrange, and detailed treble. It was from the start harmonically involving and detailed. I should state that I have two after market power cords, A Shunyata Diamondback and an Interlink House Stealth HAC. I started with the HAC and after about twenty hours switched to  the Diamondback. BIG mistake! The bass lost definition and became "flubby" and the high end simply lost all detail. Great midrange but nothing else. Then a fine change came as I noticed while listening to Graceland by Paul Simon. On the track Under African Skies with Linda Rondstadt singing harmony realized  that Rondstadt's voice was quite clear and a totally separate entity from Simon's lead both to the side and behind Simon. Horns ,woodwinds and strings are all great and the percussion on Fanfare for the Common Man show a lot of dynamic headroom. I'm anxious to see what  the rest of the break in period has to offer.

_______________________________________________

Bill,

I just wanted to email you that this unit, Usher Digital/DTS Processor, works perfectly.  The sound is wonderful, and it truly looks far more expensive than it is.  I am using my Roksan Kandy MkIII 3 channel amp for the F/C/R, and the internal amps for the SR/SL.  Let me tell you that the 50 watt power is plenty, and it sounds very dynamic. 
It is very easy to use and set, and the basic-ness of it is what makes it so attractive.  Those people looking for tons of sound field options and extended surround capabilities won't be interested, but I never felt the need for any of those things.  5.1 setup is more than enough for my 13 x 25 foot room.  If someone needs all that stuff, they need a Yamaha receiver and take a hit on overall musical presentation for CD's

Ted

________________________________________

Jolida SE302 Modification

Bill,
I know it has taken some time for me to post this feedback but I wanted to let you know that I love the modifications you made to my JoLida amp. It sounds wonderful and the 'static' problem I was having before I sent it in is a thing of the past.  Also, the new wooden faceplate makes the unit look fabulous.  A huge improvement over the factory plate.  It was a pleasure to deal with you and I look forward to future modifications you can do.  Many thanks!!

Alan Golski

golski@comcast.net 

______________________________________

RAM Signature CD25

  Bill,

A quick word.  I said I'd get back after enough time to see if I still loved and respected the RAM-25 CDP the next morning.  I do, and how! I had a friend over this weekend who runs a professional recording studio.  He just kept saying "$1200, really?"  And "tubes!" I think he likes it, he wanted the website.  Thanks again for the opportunity to really hear my redbook CD collection at its best.  As you might figure, I'd recommend this unit to anyone.

 Steve Lutes

  Drlutes@aol.com  

______________________________________________

Hi Bill,
   Just a quick note of thanks for my Music Hall CD-25. It was on my doorstep in 2 days!

   Great dealing with you!!

   Al D'Addario  MA

_______________________________________________________

RAM 301 Signature Amplifier

Hi Bill,
    I have to admit, the RAM 301 has exceeded my expectations.  It replaced a Blue circle preamp and a pair of 80 watt Quicksilver MonoBlocs, and I have to say that I really don't feel that I'm missing out on much, if anything.  In fact, the 301 seems to have an even more "organic" presentation, due perhaps to its integrated nature.  It has plenty of drive for my Meadowlark Shearwaters, like you said.  I was even surprised by its transparency, as it has shown my CD player (Rotel 1070) to be  a weak spot in my system, as a source of grain and stridency (something that was not as obvious in my previous set-up).  What astounds me most, however, is the fact that such sound can issue forth from a component of such diminutive physical proportions--it seems hardly larger than a cigar box!   Thanks again for a great deal and a truly wonderful product.

John

jsuslov@orthodoxinternet.com

_______________________________________________

My name is Erica and I am Bill's Daughter. I am 16 years old and have been around my dad when he has been working and dealing with customers. He is a very dedicated worker and only wants the best for his customers. He says that when I get old enough to understand the value of GOOD music   ..haha..   that he will give me the honor of owning my very own system...Made by him! I know that any produce that he hands out, you will enjoy!!

Erica Baker

Comment: Okay, I get the hint. Remember, Christmas is just around the corner.  As far as the music thing goes, listen to what you like but keep an open mind. Just keep it down.

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RAM Signature CD25

After much trials and tribulations, I finally have the RAM CD up and running in my system. Without a doubt, this is one of the best sounding CD players I've owned and I've owned a few (Heart CD6000, Upgraded Carver 490T, and Ah Tjoeb). For the money, I don't think it can be beat. So warm but yet so detailed and clear. It really does approach the level of high end vinyl. My thanks to you and Dan Wright for coming through on some previous issues. You guys made right. THANKS.

Mario Reyes

Comment:
  Hi Mario,
    Thanks for the feedback. Obviously, I apologize for the "issue" and do appreciate your patience and understanding. As you know from working with me in the past, I always stand behind my products. Unfortunately, this issue was in the stock unit and we did not run it long enough prior to the modification.
  Thanks again and as always, happy listening.

___________________________________________________________

Complete Custom designed/built system

Bill,

I could not go another day without writing to thank you for the truly gratifying adventure on which you have led me to create THE AUDIO SYSTEM.  As you know, I am extremely selective when it comes to audio components and not easily sold on even the "high-end" brands.  That's why I was actually shocked when I began using the equipment you suggested.  The Lexicon processor to which you introduced me is an excellent processor truly deserving the "high-end" description it bears.  The Jolida 1703 amplifier brings both clarity and warmth and in conjunction with the sensitivity and accuracy of the Lexicon, I am able to find tune my system to creath the sound experience I have long dreamed of.

If that were not enough, my system expanded uniquely with the four hand-made, Italian rosewood speakers (main and rear) that you custom-designed and built for me.  I was much more than impressed with the Dynaudio components you incorporated into the units.  I was equally delighted when I added the Dynaudio center speaker.  It was the custom-built subwoofer, however, that gave amazing depth and perfectly rounded out the entire set.

Due to my love of a "warm" sound you accurately recommended the Music Hall turntable for my vinyl appreciation.  I was once again overwhelmed with both the warmth and clarity this component delivered.

The finishing touch, however, has certainly been the Clarity Wire interconnects and speaker cables that you urged me to try.  It was truly an education to distinctly hear the difference that a well-made wire makes.  Also astonishing was acquiring these impeccable wires without the "high-end" price tag.

Bill, you truly are an audio guru.  I thank you for helping create (even surpass) the audio system of my dreams.  Unlike other outfits I have engaged with, your customer service is as custom-designed as the components you make.  What has been most gratifying is watching our business relationship evolve into a sincere and warm friendship.  I give the credit to your instinctive ability to "hear" my preferences and the time you take to share the love of sound.  I know I have found my home for quality, cutting-edge components and service.  I look forward to moving into the next dimension of sound with you as my guide.

As ALWAYS the best to you, my brother
Bill Taylor
____________________________________________________________

RAM Signature CD25

Bill,

The RAM-25 Signature arrived yesterday and I have about 15 hours on it already.  You were certainly right about it sounding great out-of-the-box, and it certainly beats my old Sony CA7ES hands down.

You know the other components (Roksan Kandy MKIII, Dynaudio 70's, Paradigm 12" active sub) and the difference realized by adding the RAM 25 is just stunning.  I especially notice the improvement in female voices, flutes, and cymbals/other metal percussion--no more smearing or ssssss's at the end of phrases.  Bass extension and tightness are much improved, and the whole system lacks any hint of aggressiveness or overly bright treble without any appreciable (e.g., audible) diminution of upper end frequencies.

I'll keep you posted as I run the unit in a bit more and see what happens.  This CDP certainly is a more enjoyable listen and a better value (IMO) than the other units ($900-$2400)I auditioned before throwing the dice on the RAM-25.  Good work!

Steven Lutes
drlutes@aol.com 

Comment: Steven, your feedback is greatly appreciated. I am glad to hear this player is integrating into your system well. Please do keep in touch as you have more hours on the unit.

__________________________________________________________

RAM Signature CD25

Bill, I want to let you know how much I am enjoying the  RAM Signature CD25 (Modified Music Hall) CD Player.
It is much better than I expected. It is warm and dynamic and sounds fantastic with my Jolida 1501 and Vandersteen 2ces. The vocals sound very smooth and the bass is tight. the highs are not shrill like my Sony 555es SACD player. It is also much better sounding than my Ah! Toeb. I think the tubes are making the difference. I am looking forward to buying some of your other products. thanks Again. 

Jim Leiber

Comment: HI Jim, I am glad to hear you are enjoying the RAM CD25 Signature player. Please feel free to keep in touch with any further comments or questions. Thank you for the feedback!

Bill
____________________________________________________________

Below is an email I received today. It has been posted here via permission from the sender with my reply as he received it.

I've read numerous excellent comments on your customer service Re: Jolida products.  As a result I was led to seek out your web site as a first step towards making the jump to tubes.  However, upon arriving I am getting the feeling your company is in the process of changing direction, from heavy on the customer service Re: "Stock" Jolida  to more focus on your "In house" products & mods. which I'm not interested in @ this time.  In short: is the man I read about in all those glowing reviews still alive and well or has he moved on to bigger and better things???

Comment: (email reply)
Greetings Jerry,
      I must admit this is the most interesting email I have received in quite some time. I can assure you that I am very much alive and still dedicated to customer service and providing those ready to experiment with tube life with the answers to their questions. I still spend many hours every evening speaking with people on the phone just as I have always done and will continue to do.
  The reason for so many exclusive products (which you may have noticed are mostly based on Jolida) was due to our dedication to Jolida and the appreciation of what these products have to offer in stock form. It has now come to the point where customer inquiries is what led us to involvement in some of the exclusive products, namely Jolida mods and the Special Edition venture you now find available from myself. Basically the question was "I am very satisfied with my Jolida, now where can I go from here?". This led to the upgrading which I must admit, I truly enjoy sitting back and working on the products that brought me here to begin with.
  The reputation you mention throughout the Internet has taken myself quite some time to develop, I am in no way wanting to do anything to jeopardize it now.
  I have no intention of trailing away from customer service, rather broadening the horizons. Customer service will ALWAYS come as first priority.

Sincerely,

Bill Baker
Response Audio/Clarity Labs

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RAM Signature CD25

Bill, just wanted to leave you feedback on my latest dealing with you. Once again (numerous now) you've assisted me immensely. When I mentioned about getting back into vinyl, you mentioned one of your used pieces on sale. I purchased it and I couldn't be happier for the money spent. You're always a joy to speak with, either via email or the phone. I appreciate your feedback regarding my soon to be modded Jolida 302B. I can't wait until the RAM CD comes to me, I'm sure it will be a winner and I'll leave more feedback for you.

PS - I still think we should start an AA club (Audiophiles Anonymous);-) Take care.

Comment: Always glad to receive feedback Mario. Keep it coming and I may have to start a dedicated feedback page just for you. Happy to hear you are enjoying all your new products and ventures.  Vinyl is usually a last step for source, be careful as it is very addicting. 

Bill Baker

______________________________________________________________

Jolida SE502

Growing curiosity about tube sound led me to stumble upon the Response Audio website, and it has changed my music listening life completely around. I was cautious about spending thousands on a first foray, so the Jolida integrated tube amp line seemed like the ticket.  And when I saw that a slightly used, modified 502B amp and a virtually new JD100 CD player could be had for under $2000, I took the plunge. 

All the standard-touted benefits of tube sound have proven true.  I have found detail and nuance in my old CDs that I never knew was there, and everything seems warmer, more three-dimensional and just more musical.  My 20 year old Polk Monitor 10s have never sounded so good.  It's also true that once you've heard tubes, you don't want to go back to solid state; so much for my multichannel/sacd/home theater setup in the other room (which still remains a fun novelty).  Next up is to pull out all my old vinyl from the basement....

Many thanks again to Bill for walking me through set-up and break-in, including patient and prompt responses to my evening and weekend e-mails.

Peter Harrar
pharrar@optonline.net 

Comment: Glad to hear you are enjoying your new modified 502B and tube sound in general. I'm sure you will be extremely surprised with the sound of vinyl through tubes. Keep in touch with ANY further questions you may have.

Bill Baker

________________________________________________________________

Jolida SE302 Modifications

Bill, just wanted to drop a line and let you know how much I am enjoying the mods on my Jolida 302B. Probably have about 100 hrs of burn-in now and system just sounds superior in every regard.  Main reason for the upgrades was to match the performance available from my Quad L22's.  Before the mods, the amp seemed to labor, especially at low volume...now so much more authority and presence.  
Thanks Bill for the quick turnaround and wonderful communications.

Mark Gilbert

Comment: Thank you for the feedback regarding the modifications on your 502B. I am glad to hear it has brought to you a new level of listening pleasure.

Bill Baker

_________________________________________________________________

Over the years I have owned dozens of high quality audio components. Always mixing and matching to find the "right" sound. I have known Bill Baker for over 20 years and we have enjoyed the journey seeking sonic perfection. Long before RESPONSE AUDIO was in existence Bill was purchasing and trading every known component this side of the hemisphere. Bill has unequalled knowledge in regards to speaker building as well as equipment performance characteristics. He will go above and beyond to ensure you find exactly the sound you are looking for at a good price.
The greatest thing he has taught me is its not about the piece of equipment- its about the music and the smile it leaves on your face. If you are in search of great service and musical reproduction knowledge you will not be disappointed with Bill and RESPONSE AUDIO.
After all it is about the music- Right Bill!!!

 Blaine Edwards

Comment: Well Blaine, I had a feeling that once you were exposed to other options you would see things differently. After all.......It's all about the music.

Bill

__________________________________________________________________

I caught the upgrade bug and was curious about the whole "tube thing". Much of my research had been done over the net, and there really wasn't anywhere I could audition any tube gear locally. After hearing so many positive reviews about JoLida I was intrigued, especially in regard to the hybrid amps, which seemed to feature the best of both worlds. Looking over www.Audioreview.com , I noticed that there were many who purchased from Response Audio; the commentary was glowing, if not gushing, about the service and products received. Knowing I was still taking a chance purchasing gear which I hadn't seen, let alone heard, I bit the bullet and placed the order with response. This was after a series of messages sent to Bill Baker, who promptly addressed my questions and concerns. I even got a message back from him within 30 minutes ON A SUNDAY! Where else can you get that? Anyway, I ended up going with the JoLida 1501, and I couldn't be happier. The sound is smooth and spacious, and the unit itself is well-built and looks darned impressive. Bill even installed upgraded tubes! Needless to say, I am very happy with my purchase and the service I received. DO NOT HESITATE to conduct a transaction with Bill; people who are genuinely focused on customer satisfaction and quality are a rarity these days!

Matt Maloney
ttamyenolam@yahoo.com 

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RAM 501 Signature Amplifier

Bill,
This is preliminary feedback on the RAM 501, which I just received today, and also a comprehensive review of my experience with Response Audio.

Most pressing is that I adequately represent my thanks. Thanks for the effort to acquire and impart the knowledge of high fidelity. Thanks for taking the time to understand and respect my musical preferences. Thanks for your initiative and confidence which resulted in the RAM products. And thanks for facilitating the return of my musical captivation.

Out of the box, the amp just plumb struck me with its honesty. Although my source is an old Denon CD player, I had recently purchased Paradigm Reference Studio 60 v.2s. Even with the amp far from being broken in, the the RAM rendered the essence of the music. No veils, no compromises. It is an absolutely stunning upgrade from my Denon DRA-825RA receiver. Most importantly, it was exactly what you had described, and what I had highly anticipated.

After listening for hours now, I'm being inundated with sonic information which hid undetected in these old and neglected CDs. The true contents have been bared for the first time. I protested with Zappa, hoped with Bob Marley, partied with Zeppelin, spaced out with the Beatles, loved with Sarah Vaughan and kissed Al Dimeola's freekin' axe! And it's only going to get better! Now, I can prattle on about bass response and technical hussei and such, but if that mattered to a discernible extent I should have wound up owning a Krell or a Musical Fidelity which I had demoed. But my ears and brain are the judges, and those amps, amongst others, didn't stimulate the waves like this RAM does. That's all that matters.

I have always been in pursuit finding the best value in items-du-jour because, frankly, I'm an over-analytical type, and I don't have a lot of cash to fling around. It took me three months to research and buy a vacuum, and six months to purchase a tractor. You've probably never heard of either one of them, but they're great. Well, this amp quest was the same type of intense study program, and I wound up with Response Audio and the RAM 501. And once again, I chose wisely. And, obeying my desire for a new CD player, I now have one less choice to make. Thank you Bill!

Marc Migliore

bleeb@msn.com  

_________________________________________________________________

Just before Christmas I bought several components and cables for family and friends who deserved better sounding audio systems.  Buying equipment for other people is not cheap - especially when one can selfishly spend the money on one's self! 

Bill Baker was enormously helpful in putting together systems that simply play music brilliantly at astonishing prices.  Add to this  equation the fact that Bill epitomizes customer service and is incredibly responsive to inquiries and you come to realize you cannot go wrong. 

I like lots of different stuff - some of which Bill does not sell.  However, when I am in the market for equipment where Bill offers an option I am interested in, I will always go to Bill first.  At least where I live, you simply do not get Bill's service!

Damon C. Ladson
dladson@harriswiltshire.com 


PS: ask him about automobiles, but do not attribute it to me (no he isn't selling any!).

____________________________________________________________________

Clarity Labs Reference Cables

Bill,
I've been slowly switching my interconnects over to the Clarity line from the Transparent Audio's, first based on your recommendations and then based on what I heard after I installed them!
With each interconnect that was swapped out I could hear subtle changes in the sound, a little fuller, a little clearer, especially with the Foxfires. Now Transparent Audio makes very fine interconnects and speaker cables so I have to say that hearing the improvement no matter how subtle it was says a lot for the Clarity cables, but with the last change I made I was not quite prepared for what I heard.
I had Transparent Audio MusicLink Plus speaker cables hooked up between my Jolida Monoblocks and the speakers, TA Musiclink interconnects between the Jolida 3000B preamp and the Jolida Monoblocks. Not being happy with the sound I was getting from the preamp you suggested I try a Foxfire or Harvest between the pre and the monoblocks and also upgrade the tubes in the pre to Svetlana's.
After playing around with the cables and the tubes I found I was getting closer but not exactly were I wanted to be with the sound so I asked you to build me a custom speaker cable based on the Foxfire design. Knowing that I would need 100 hours to burn in the cables I was not expecting to hear such a significant change in the sound, especially this soon. I purchased a pair of the new Ram PC-3 power cables for the monoblocks, a pair of 7' Foxfire cables to go between the preamp and the monoblocks, and a 2' Foxfire custom speaker cable set. With 12 hours of burn in time the sound is incredible. Thiel speakers are very exact and revealing, this new combination on wires has unveiled a layer of sound that was previously hidden. More information seems to be delivered to the ear, the depth and width of the music has expanded. It's great. This new speaker cable is an absolute winner.
Tell Mike Allen from Jolida if he wants to make the 3000b preamp sound like a $2500.00 unit, all he has to do is pair it up with this cable set and some Svetlana tubes and he'll have a real winner. I was going to unload the 3000b in favor of a better sounding unit until now.
Thanks for the help with figuring out how to get this equipment to sound excellent and pass on my thanks to Tom at Clarity as well for building the cable. Awesome sound .....

Sincerely,

Joe
________________________________________________________________

 Bill, once again you've gone up and above my expectations for a vendor. First with the 102B, now with the upgrade to the 302B and RAM power chord. Both excellent products. The RAM power chord adds a nice silent backdrop and adds punch across the entire frequency range. Its most noticeable in the bass frequencies (which demands more power). Sure there's more expensive and exotic chords out there, but for the money, I'm very satisfied. The 302 is a work of art. Jolida, for the money, can't be beat. Beautiful highs and midrange and nice bottom end that's not extreme but just right. All this and Bill's excellent support....I'll continue to purchase products from Response Audio.

 Mario Reyes

__________________________________________________________________

Clarity Labs Foxfire

Bill-
I have used the Foxfire for at least 100 hours and will keep it. It is a very good good component cable, and well worth the price. In my system, it easily battered the budget (Homemade Silver and a DIY cable using silver-plated copper) cables I had been using. Best quality, I think, is the balance across all frequencies, although on some recordings I do feel that the bass is rolled off a bit (could be recording, of course). Good to very good detail from mid-bass up, nice image focus. The soundstage opened up a bit, but of course, this probably has much more to do with the recording and the phono pre-amp. The sound is very "refined" (little or no electronic tizz or haze) and true to timbre (brass instruments especially) and has opened up some since I first used the cables. All in all, very good value for $189 and a satisfying cable regardless of price. It has me thinking about new speaker cables -- now, if you could design a great speaker cable that could be used in lengths greater than 10 feet and is well-matched with the Foxfire......

 Thanks again for a fine product at a reasonable price.
__________________________________________________________________________

Clarity Labs Reference Cables

Bill,
In my quest to put together a two channel stereo, I have talked to many people. My budget was modest, but my goals high. You consistently provided me with great products that met my budget, such as the Clarity IC's and speaker wire. My system is not quite finished, so I am not commenting on the sound quality yet. I will comment on the Quality of Response Audio, first class!  It isn't often that I get the opportunity to deal with someone as helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly as Bill Baker. Keep up the good work!
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Dealing with Bill at Response Audio has been the most pleasurable audio experience that I have EVER had. Great products, no pressure to buy, knowledgeable, fair pricing, timely shipment, etc...

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Jolida 102B

Its been a PLEASURE dealing with you (Bill and I think there was one other?). All my calls/emails have been answered professionally and politely. I love my Jolida 102B amp. You're right, EL84's are glorious sounding tubes. You're right on another note; this amp does NOT need tone controls. The full frequency response is delivered from this little gem of an amp. Thanks, I am a TOTALLY SATISFIED customer. I've only played it for 10 hrs, it's just starting to break in.

Mario Reyes

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Response Audio Custom speaker design

Bill,
As you know, I have used your Model 1 speakers for testing all my wire designs with great success. However, since running your Model 2's, I believe we are ready for a change. Although the model 1's do fill our listening area quite well, the 2's I find more suited to this area. Bass response with the 2's are every bit as good as the 1's along with the mid-range. The highs I find are just a bit more pronounced and offer the detail needed to test my wire capabilities.
Please know that you will not be getting these back any time soon unless you improve on an already great design.
Thanks,
Tom Grot
Clarity Labs

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Clarity Labs Emberglow Interconnect

I just wanted to say how much of a difference I believe the Emberglow ICs and Speaker Cables have made to my system. The music is clearer and the bass is more pronounced and more true than ever before.

Ron DuBois

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Jolida 102B

I purchased my Jolida 102B amplifier from Bill at Response Audio. Bill was just great to deal with. The amp. sounded great right out of the box, but now its "WONDERFUL" and here is why .I have 4 Tesla jjEL84 drivers now. Preamps are: 1 Sovtek 12AX7lps 2 Phillips 12AT7WC's. This tube change really made this amp "REALLY ROCK" Also I set the bias to factory specs. I could not ask for more from this jewel of an amplifier. Thanks Bill  

 Bruce in Wisconsin

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Musica Bella SP/AV-1

Bill,

Thank you very much for allowing me to visit your shop for several hours recently, where I was able to spend time listening closely your new Musica Bella SP/AV-1 speakers.  Also, thanks for allowing me to play some good vinyl that I know well, and for being such an excellent and friendly host. I was able to spend almost 3 extremely enjoyable hours soaking up the Bella’s sounds.  Unlike most speaker evaluations, it was great having the designer and builder present, because you were able to provide detailed information about the construction and materials used for the speakers. 

It was also good to be able to hear the Bella speakers through two different amplifiers: a 25W push-pull 300B amplifier, and a 40W 805-tubed SET amplifier.  Vinyl included Jacintha’s Bossa Nova (45 RPM), Best of Lambert Hendricks and Ross, Eva Cassidy, Dave Matthews, Rikki Lee Jones “Volcano”, Duke Ellington “Blues in Orbit”, etc.

To get right to the point, the Bella speakers were wonderful.  They have an expansive, very natural, harmonious sound, and at the same time, they present great musical detail (but without being etched or aggressive). I think that the external cross-overs (with a low cross-over point), and the two-way sealed-box construction contribute to the highly musical performance of the speakers (no port boominess).

The treble performance is accurate, exhibiting great musical detail, but without being grating or harsh (or annoyingly revealing).  One of the Bella’s particular strengths was the ability to reproduce piano clearly and realistically (usually challenging even for the best of speakers), with the ringing clarity of high notes and the power of lower notes. 

The bass/woofer performance differed between the two amplifiers.  I though that the 300B-tubed amp presented a sweet, balanced sound.  Due to the sealed enclosure, bass seemed slightly recessed.  However, the 300B tube is not known for its low frequency performance – rather it is known for a beautiful midrange, which is what the speakers conveyed.  When I switched to the 805-tubed SET amp, which is known for stronger bass output than the 300B, the bass/midbass performance kicked up a notch and the sound jumped into a harmonic balance that I rarely hear.  Bass was punchy, controlled, and strong but fully integrated.

The speakers really get out the way of the music and sound clear, musical, detailed, and naturally accurate.  I keep coming back to the word “natural”.  The sounds just flowed from the speaker, without edginess or effort.  One other aspect that was really nice was the high efficiency of the Bella speaker. Both the 25-watt and 40-watt amps drove these speakers to quite loud room-filling levels (and your listening space is quite large!).  Also, this sensitivity allowed for highly nuanced dynamic detail.

One other aspect of my listening session is worthy of mention: the tweeter “waveguide” technology definitely contributes to a wide and even dispersion of sound throughout your large listening space.  You jokingly mentioned that this reduced the need for the listener, especially with listening company present, to jockey for the “sweet spot”.  That made me believe that perhaps there was not a strong sweet spot, but I was wrong.  In the right spot the focus and soundstage improved dramatically.  So these speakers allow dual function -- they present highly musical sound for groups of listeners, while also excelling in a focused listening session.  For me, your speakers set a new standard for musicality (especially at this price point).  I hope to hear the SP-2's in the near future!

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Bill,

Well, I hooked up the Jolida this evening, expecting a closed-in, tight, treble sound, and WOW - WAS I WRONG.  I WAS AMAZED AT THE SOUND THAT CAME OUT OF MY SPEAKERS.   I was caught totally off guard.  Surprised in the extreme.  I hope you are getting my drift.  I am also sure this reaction occurs every time you do this, so I hope I am not boring you. 

I connected the new power cord, hooked up my Sound Dynamics speakers (300ti) and put on Jacintha (Girl from Bossa Nova 45 rpm), Crosby Stills & Nash (1st on Classic), and the RCA Shaded Dog Classic Record Iberia vinyl recordings as initial tests.

The sound is fantastic, even before burn in, right out of your box.  The bells and triangles rang out so clearly I thought they were in the room, percussion was crisp with the right body, the bass was strong, clear and well controlled, and the midrange was sweet and enveloping, yet absolutely clean.  The music came out of a very black background. I am still shaking my head in disbelief.  I can't imagine that the Jolida is going to sound better over time.  I feel like I went out and bought a mega-buck Audio Research or Conrad-Johnson unit, but I suspect the Jolida with your mods sounds better.   

Thinking about your modification, I suddenly realized the tremendous value of the service you provide: that is, a person can purchase a Jolida (or ASL) base amplifier from you at an affordable price point, and get a very good sounding tube amplifier, and then, after a some period of time of listening to the original unit, a person can upgrade the unit to provide phenomenal sound quality, thereby completely satisfying, in an affordable way, the natural urge to refine the sound of one's system.   One can improve the system in steps, and not lose any of the past investment.  This service is an incredible value, and one that the audiophile magazines never even hint at.   As an equipment owner, I don't need to get hung up in selling my equipment on the used market (with all the potential risk and time required), the down time for upgrade is minimal, and the results are just astounding. 

I'll bet you were laughing to yourself when I suggested that I was not expecting too much from the upgrade this early in the burn in.  Now I am laughing at what I must have looked like with my jaw dropping down to the floor.  You have demonstrated, in a very real way, the advantages of your approach - buy quality affordable equipment, and then upgrade to perfect sound through (affordable) reference modifications. 

It is an absolute crime that the audiophile magazines do not adequately cover this aspect of the market.  Granted, Response Audio probably does not have the same level of staff and annual revenue as Krell or ARC, but the unbelievable quality of sound you provide with your modifications are equally on par with any of the stratospherically priced equipment that is reviewed each month.  Each of these magazines should have a special issue on reference modification services, with reviews of upgraded equipment, to expose more audiophiles to this valuable element of the market.

Thank you for all your hard work, and especially, for the incredibly musical results.  

Bill Cesanek

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Reference ASL AQ 1003DT

I purchased a modified Antique Sound Labs AQ1003DT about 6 weeks ago.  This is the first tube amp I've bought, but not the first I've lsitened to---a friend has the Zen amp driving Tannoys, and that made me acquire a tube-driven CD player (the Ah! Tjoeb) and started me thinking about getting a tube amplifier to replace my old Amber 70. I have Snell C speakers, which are roughly 90db efficient, but have a pretty hungry crossover and big 10-inch woofers.  Bill Baker spent a good deal of time on the phone and online with emails, and felt that the ASL 1003 would be a good sonic match with my gear.
   The amp has been "burned in" now for the requisite 400 hours, and the sound is -----well, it's very hard to describe the sound of this amp, as it really seems to be an audio chameleon; whatever is on the Cd is expressed out of deep silence, and with a wonderfully emotional presentation.  The deep organ pedal fundamental on the Telarc version of Brahm's Deutsches  Requiem (Shaw, Atlanta SO) movement 3 is so clean and so rich it is almost scary, it shakes my walls but does not sound out of balance, and one can pick out individuals in the chorus, as well as separate the various instruments.  The amp possesses wonderful resolution, but is not edgy or dry.  The first time I heard Arleen Auger sing the "Dulcissime" from Orff's "Carmina Burana" (Mutti, Speraphim) tears came to my eyes, it was the first time I've had the emotional content of the music come through my Snells and into the living room.  The treble was so clear and pure and unstrained!!  What a terrific job Mr. Baker
has done with this amp! ASL is not generally considered "high end" but I've not heard better sound from Levinson, Krell or Cary.    I find it very hard to write about the sound of this amp----when I put on a CD, the music takes over, and the amp becomes just presents  the performance.  THat's the way it should be----the components should just be a window to the music. 

Terry Roth in Puget Sound

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Daedalus DA-1 Loudspeakers

I took a chance on the Daedalus loudspeakers without hearing them first but the gamble paid off in spades. These speakers are what I've been searching for for many years. I've had many expensive speakers over the years which were great in there own right, but Daedalus speakers are just so musical and accurate. these are definitely keepers for a very long time. Thanks again

Dave Cecere
Niagra Falls, NY

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EXtreme Hurricane Modifications

Bill,

The Canes are going well. I tightened a couple of pin holders in the socket and, presto, everything is good. I left them on continuously for 2 weeks to facilitate "burn in". Everything checks out and bias is holding steady. The sound just keeps getting better. I don't' know if the amps are getting better, the Bybees on the drivers are burning in or the additional caps on the crossover are breaking in, but I had to turn the pot down to balance the ribbons with the woofers on my speakers. It isn't just the dynamics-- clarity, harmonic balance, impact, decay, you name it, are all getting better. All parts seem to be congealing into a beautiful organic playback system that disappears and lets in the art. I don't get bogged down on individual notes. Rather, I hear the themes and emotions of the music that transports you into a different place. I know Big B uses SoA amps on these but I can't imagine anything sounding better on the ribbons than these 120 watts of triode Cane magic.

Keep me posted on your Bella SET blocks and how they do with different speakers. In particular, I am curious if these little amps would mate well with the new hemp/leather Omegas.

P.S. Dan's linestage may also be contributing to the improvement!

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Signature Jolida 3205 / Reference Ming-Da MC-3

I can't believe how happy I am with the amplifiers and CD player I recently purchased from you.  I have paired the  Signature SE3205A and the Custom level 1 Jolida JD100 CD player with my old Klipsch Forte II's and right from the beginning they sounded great.. and are getting better all the time.  I also hooked the Ming-Da MC-3R preamplifier (with your Reference upgrades) to a vintage power amplifier and hooked them up to the Klipschs using the Jolida CD player. The combo sounds so warm, but with good definition and kick to it.  My greatest surprise, however, was when I hooked the Ming Da up to my existing solid state system ( a couple of 200 watt amplifiers driving some big speakers.  .with powered subwoofers) I was shocked to find that the combination worked so well... the pre amp added a whole new dimension to the system...

My wife thinks I was crazy to drive to Endicott NY to visit you and your store. I couldn't be happier that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and talking through my options. It was a pleasure to do business with you and I would recommend your work to anyone who is looking for custom work done on tube amplifiers etc.. It isn't that often that you run into honest, knowledgeable people anymore. I'll be back for some mono blocks one of these days. All the best...

Bob Olsen
Ridgefield Ct

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Reference Jolida JD801 220V w/ Remote Volume

Hello Bill,

 

Was a very happy man and very pleased when I took delivery of my amp this afternoon and it was in perfect working order.. Have played it for a few hours and am already extremely impressed with it's performance despite only 50 hrs of burn-in which you have done and using only my Pioneer DVD player as the source (sent my CDP in for full mods yesterday - V-caps & all). Without going through the whole vocabulary of sonic performance, I can honestly say its what I've been looking for _ superb ! When all the rough edges are eliminated after full burn-in, I confidently anticipate sonic bliss.

 

Do you know that I initially thought of getting a Krell integrated which would have cost about the same here as what I've outlaid for your Reference 801 but decided after a lot of research & soul-searching to take the plunge. I'm very glad I did !  A couple of my audio friends thought I was nuts to pay so much for a "bloody China-made" amp instead of the Krell. I'm planning to get them over when it's fully burned-in.

 

May I express a huge thank-you for your infinite patience and advice and the superb job you've done for me _ It is much appreciated. I have been most impressed with the wonderful and professional manner with which you deal with your customers, unlike some so-called experts who are condescending & arrogant that I have encountered recently . As an audiophile it has been a pleasure and a learning experience. I will not hesitate to recommend you to other audiophiles. I will certainly provide you with feedback as I go along.

   Australia

September 2005 follow up 

Hi Bill,

 

Have passed the 450 hrs burn-in mark and am very, very pleased with the results _ it's playing beautifully in every respect especially after I had all my cables (including power cords) rejuvenated by "cooking" them for 24hrs with my AudioKharma Cable Cooker .I do this every few months.

 

The top-end is rich and clean, the mids sound luscious while the bass is "solid" and true without being "boomy". The soundstage is magnificent despite limitations in the acoustics of the room. Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy, Maria Callas and Beethoven never sounded better !  It's brought new life to my collection of "reference" recordings like the Klemperer Beethoven symphonies.

 

As previously mentioned, I made sure that the other components in the system did justice to the amp by having them all upgraded _ I believe that a system is as good as it's weakest link. It has been a worthwhile journey and I'm glad that I chose your Reference Jolida over a Krell !  I have since silenced my friends who thought I was mad to buy a China-made amp costing as much as a Krell _ they were stunned by the sound. The 2 designers of  Duntech and Orpheus speakers ( both belonging to the same company) reacted similarly _They plan to take on board the mods I did to my speakers.

 

Thanks again Bill for your patience, sound advice and your dedication to fine workmanship _ it has been a pleasure dealing with you. If you have any serious enquiries about your products from any genuine audiophile from Australia, I would be more than happy to endorse your reputation as a most trustworthy person and the quality of your products. I also plan to post a message on one of the online audio sites like Audiogon when I find the time _ am busy getting my tax documents ready for my accountant to file my tax return.

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EXtreme ASL Hurricane Modification
 

After owning the ASL Hurricane 200 DT's for six months, I noticed a modification ad for Bill Baker of Response Audio. After a quick consultation, I decided the Extreme modification was the best way to go. After putting  600 plus hours on the Extremes, I now realize this upgrade yielded three important things for me, rock solid reliability, exceptional sound, and great service.

   Before the modification, a blown tube could mean checking both fuses and utilizing a multimeter to check the anode resistor or screen resistor and then employing a soldering iron to replace.  The Extremes keep humming along even if you loose a tube. In over 600 hours I've had zero problems.

   The stock Hurricanes sounded good, but with Bill's modifications the Hurricanes soared to a whole new level. The new nonexistent background noise helps to squeeze out every detail and produce a blacker background. The sound now has a nice liquid, non fatiguing feel to it with. This has increased both my quality and quantity of the time spent with the Hurricanes.

    Bill's service in the modification business is unmatched. Bill always seems to be reachable by phone or email, and He's extremely knowledgeable and patient with questions, and never tries to sell you what you don't need.

     I now look forward to many years trouble free audiophile sound with the comfort of knowing that help is a phone call away.

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Level 2 Custom Jolida JD100 modification

Hi Bill,

  I just want to let you know that I am very happy with the modification you did on my Jolida cd player. I would recommend this modification to anybody who wants,  what I consider to be ,"the best bang for  buck" upgrade being offered by anybody, anywhere!!!!!!!

I cant begin to describe the difference in overall performance your mod has made to my system, but I  know that now I can very much feel the music as well as hear it.  Thanks again for the fine service and products that you offer.

 

Mark
California

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Mini Review Jolida Custom JD100 Tube CD Player

I have been on the lookout for a new digital front end for the last year or so. I heard a number of units in stores, at friends, and at shows. I enlisted help via suggestions of members here and on some other boards. My budget was $4000 max, if I could get the kind of digital enjoyment I was after.

At the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I heard lots of systems in less than ideal situations. One of the best setups there was by SP Technologies and Jam'n Audio/ Response Audio. The SP speakers I own, the Timpieces were in a system using an expensive Goldmund CD player as a front end. Very nice sound! After the show, I contacted Joe Jurzec from Jam'n Audio outside Chicago. I asked for his ideas on new CD front end. He gave me several and one he thought might at least tide me over and give me more enjoyment until I found the Holy Grail of CD front ends was a new mod developed by Bill Baker at Response Audio, his east coast partner. Since these guys were involved with 2 of the best sounding speakers and systems at the show (the SP technologies and Daedalus), I figured they know what they are doing.

I decided to try the new mod that Bill had developed and ordered up a new Signature Jolida JD-100A. The version I ordered has some damping done to the case and Chris Ven Haus' designed V-Caps in the output stage of the Jolida. Bill installs two brand new Oil Impregnated V-Caps in the output stage and two smaller Teflon V-Caps in the second stage. He also includes Joe's Jam'n Audio power cord to the mix as well as swapping out the stock tubes for Svetlanas. I have a lot of respect for Joe and Bill and Chris so I was excited to get this new machine. If it was not better than what I had at least I could use it in my office system, I thought.

The unit arrived several weeks ago and I began breaking it in. For grins I decided to listen in to the progress with my Grado SR-125 phones with the front panel mounted headphone jack and volume control. Nicely detailed sound and more real sounding than my CD player through my Grado headphone amp. I found out later that the headphone circuit does not benefit from the Cap mods as they are not in that signal path. A good beginning!

The break in period, I was warned, would be at least 100 hours and my initial reaction to the sound was that the mids were nice and less dry, and bass full but a bit flabby and highs tizzy. No worries, I have learned to be patient. I just went through a 400 hour breakin on my speaker cables (VH star quad) and it changed a lot from the first few hours.

Breakin did take about 100 hours. Let's start at the top. Details in the high end are very good and a cymbal sounds like a cymbal, yea! I have heard lots of cd players that get it wrong. The transient response, wave front and decay were all better than my player and many I have heard. Highs appeared with good believability and less air than some machines. But more real to me. Moving down to the mids, there is a slight edge or glare in the upper mids on some recordings that are not the best recordings. This is hugely dependent on the power cable used. With the stock cord it is annoying but not real bad, remember the recording is the culprit here. Don't expect the modded Jolida to smooth everything out.

Using the Jam'n Audio cord (a Belden design) at less than $100 smoothes things out significantly. Not only that, it takes a bass that is clearly too fat and tames it with good definition. This minor quibble about the mids is just that, as the midrange on this machine is clearly the best I have heard. Background is black as can be with no noise artifacts that I can tell. In fact this is one area that makes a high end system. From power cord or outlet upgrades to these fantastic caps. Getting a black space background as black and quiet as can be is key to a fairly convincing reproduction of a real musical event. And notes are focused in the soundstage better than many players I have heard. They just emerge, jump, etc. from distinct locations within the soundstage wall. And do so with more real body or palpability.

Male and female vocals are outstanding and much more real than I have experienced, yes more 3 dimensional. I can almost see how the best reference systems might give a clue to a head turn being noticed, but I have not experienced that quite yet. Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell on the Chieftans album tears of stone" sound more real to me than on any other player I have auditioned. And Johnny Adams singing on "One Foot in the Blues CD is so dynamic! A very good recording! Goldfrapp's Cd "Felt Mountain" is a workhorse for letting a system define what the producer is doing to create some of the sounds. It has very good depth and space ques and it sounds so much better on this player especially the location of sounds within the field and there placement relative to front and back. The soundstage is not wider or particularly taller than some others I have heard, but the realness of the notes and the impact of dynamics are pure joy. These caps are doing amazing things to the music with this player. It simply is a more real experience to me.

On down to the low end. Bass is freaking awesome with this machine. I thought my former machine has great low end. In fact it was noted for it. This player has tone detail, dynamics, and balls in the low end. In fact, percussion tone and attack are fantastic. My friend says he has not heard a system that does drums and percussion this well. I agree. No wonder! Chris VH is a drummer. I used Mickey Hart's CD a lot when evaluating components. When things get complex, this modded Jolida does not get flustered, instruments stay where they are with no irritation or compression.

Changes to the power cord are noticeable, as I mentioned earlier. And as good as the Jam'n Audio cord is over the stock cord, going higher up the resolution chain pays dividends. I tried the VH-Audio Flavor 4 on this player and it takes care of most of the slight glare on most not so perfect cds that exhibit this, without screwing with the rest of the tonal spectrum. It also adds more weight and impact to the low end. Where the Jam'n cord leans to a slight leanness and a focus on resolution, the Flavor 4 makes things more organic, open, and slightly smoother without losing definition. Even at close to $300 it is an upgrade I will be making.

Other tweaks to my system over the last few weeks after it has broken in are very audible. Adding Herbies Tenderfeet under the stock feet help with image stability and definition and Herbies Hal-O Jr IC dampers for my interconnects lock in focus. Who would have thought these down right cheap tweaks would have so much impact! I also replaced the spring loaded tube covers with Herbies Hal-Os . I cannot tell if they had an impact by themselves, since I have not done a good test. But the Hal-Os work so well on my other tubes, that they should be a good tweak.

All in all, my search for the holy grail has been sidelined for now. No this is not going in the office system. Is this the Holy Grail? No! We all chase after it but it doesn't exist. Is this the best player on the market, No! But it is a very good value and highly musical and resolving. With everyone and their brother doing mods on Jolidas with clock mods, rca, mods, wire changes, etc., I was a bit skeptical, but Jam'n Joe Jurzec and Bill Baker have something really special here.

I think the V-Cap is a unique and very relevant component to the musically wonderful sound of this player. I am impressed with the work Bill did on the mods, and like the solidness of the Jolida. I have a feeling this could be considered a "giant killer" Yes I said it! It is for me! At under $1400, I would have to be blown away with some stock machine before I would part with the Signature Jolida and I know something like that would cost in excess of $4000.

All of the above has to be taken with a grain of salt. These are my opinions only and yours may differ. When writing about audio all the little things get magnified and one mans big change may not be so with you. I know you can only get so much out of a few paragraphs, you have to listen to decide for yourself. Me sharing my thoughts is to help those who have helped me in the past discover something that may bring joy to their life. To all you folks looking for a moderately priced ticket to musical nirvana, you might want to get a hold of one of these and decide for yourself.

Chris Ven Haus has hit a grand slam with these caps and Bill and Joe are pioneers in bringing an excellent value to audiophiles who just want good tunes without the hype and cost often associated with this lifelong trek.

Cheers

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Reference Dared 845 SET and Original Usher  Ultimate X-718s with AuriCap capacitors.

Last year I got caught up in the "Is Dared a bunch of junk foisted off on well-knowing audiophiles" debate when I took a chance and bought an 845 SET amp. I actually found it to be most musical and was even more impressed when I substituted NOS input tubes and SuperTNT 845B output tubes. Now it really began to cook, and soon took on a quality I hadn't enjoyed that much since owning a BAT tubed amp. I had recently bought, owned, and sold a pair of Cary 805 C's which were wonderful but way too expensive for the sound they produced.

I had found out about Bill Baker at Response Audio through Dan Wright, who had done a complete upgrade and tube mod to my Philips SA 1000. The bottom line is that I sent my Dared to Bill Baker for what he calls the Ultimate modification. In essence, he stripped it of resistors and capacitors and replaced them with Rikens (sp) and V-Caps, broke every solder connection and resoldered with silver solder, rewired that entire amp with custom wire and rerouted it for most quiet, and replaced inputs and speaker terminals with Cardas and WBT. I would have had it months sooner if UPS had not dropped it and broke some of the solder connections (quite a feat as it came triple boxed and encased in foam). I sent it back to Bill to put it back together, and now have it for about a month.

The V-Caps are still breaking in, but I have to say that this is the most musical tube amp I have ever had (including C-J MV75, Bat Vk-60, VTl 85, Mesa Baron, AR VT 100, and Cary 805C's). It images like a bandit, and throws as deep and detailed a soundstage as I could ever want.

I am using it with a pair of Response Audio Ultimate Usher 718's (No this is not a hidden ad for Bill Baker, I just love his work) which together yields a better sound in my music room than my Cary's did powering Reference 3A mm De Capos. Bass is deep enough that I don't long for my old subwoofer, and the highs are sweet, clear, and not rolled off in the least.

All is all, this is the "cheapest" system I have owned in years, yet it yields the most musical satisfaction. I have truly come to believe that decent equipment (Philips SA 1000, Dared 845, Usher 718's) bought at near bargain prices, then carefully modified with parts that OEM can't afford to put in their high end equipment due to the 5 to 1 ratio, yields amazing sound and much, much musical satisfaction.

In the end, the Dared 845 was a great buy at near $1,100, to which I added tubes $150, and the Response Audio upgrade at about $1,000, which gives me a solid, very musical amplifier. To say the least, I am a happy camper.

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Reference Jolida JD801 / Ultimate "Silver and Oil" Usher X-718 
(Initial Impressions)

First impressions are very , very favorable. Jennifer Warnes on "the Hunter" was very seductive. Holey Cole was both playful and sultry, depending on the cut. Copland's "Fanfare" was honest and uplifting, though the big kettle ( ? ) drums at the start don't have the same depth they do with my other system ( which uses two subs, go figure!!!), but the bass off these speakers is really pretty remarkable given their size. Stacey Kent, on Dreamsville sounded like the fresh girl next door we all wish we grew up with.

Overall, I'd have to say you nailed the system with respect to what I was looking for. I can't imagine that things could get much better, honestly. The presentation is pretty much what I  was after...natural, balanced, unstressed yet articulate, no excessive sibilance, excellent command of the lower registers which delve deeper than expected in my setup with tightness verses flabbiness.

This setup just invites you to listen, and rewards you when you do. I'll stop gushing for now....  I know it's only after one evenings listening, but I can understand how someone who goes to your showroom could be smitten with this setup. I'm no expert at this, but neither am I a newbie. I've got four other systems at home and have listened to many others. Trust me, I would be very honest if this were not what it is. 

For another viewpoint, Janet  was completely won over within the first two tracks. She thinks the speakers are gorgeous, as well as the amp.  Janet is very perceptive towards clarity and timing. She plays piano and has an excellent sense of timing and timbre. She absolutely abhors bright, over -extended systems and their associated harmonic overtones ( don't we all ??) . She played the ultimate compliment. she just relaxed and enjoyed the music. This does not always happen. Can't say too much more

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Custom V-Cap Modified Dared VP-300B mono blocs

To who ever may be interested, I am not a professional audio critic by any stretch of the imagination. I am simply a very picky listener on a tight budget who has found a service out there that I feel is well worth a recommendation. I am “married” to a pair of Klipschorn speakers that I have had for years and after buying some Dared 300B tube amps I could finally start to hear why people love Klipschorns.

After owning my 300Bs for a while I started to listen to other tube amps and have auditioned a couple with my speakers. I was frustrated to learn that my speakers could sound even better with the right amp but I didn’t have the budget to make another major upgrade. I did some research and contacted Bill Baker @ Response audio after seeing that he had modified a similar amp to mine. Bill did the upgrade and was very patient and flexible during the whole process.

When I received my amps back I could immediately hear the difference! Bill had advised me that the V-Caps needed time to break in before I would really hear the difference. I couldn’t wait to hear what they would sound like so I ran them for several hours a day to break them in. After around 300 hours of “burn in” time, the great sound that I was hearing had even more depth and better dynamics. I will not attempt to use any articulate verbiage to describe what I heard beyond that my system sounded incredible!!

I had been using some $600 speaker cables and always wondered if I could really hear the difference between them and some 12 GA Monster cable which I had used before. This was a real testament to Bill’s magic. I swapped out my Audioquest cables for the Monster cable and I could actually hear the difference where I couldn’t before the upgrade. I have since upgraded my preamp and my source is next. The upgrade that Bill did to my Chinese made Dared VP-300B monoblocks has changed everything about the way my system sounded, I am still amazed.

An audiophile friend (who hates horn driven speakers and who has never liked Klipsch products) came by one afternoon to hear my system. When he heard by Klipschorns driven by the modified 6 watt SET amps he was very impressed. I didn’t choose to upgrade the amps to impress anyone but it is nice when someone who knows audio gear validate my decision. For the price that others pay for cables Bill has given be a whole new level of performance that I would never have been able to afford otherwise. Thank you Bill!!!

Joel
Denver , CO .

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Jolida JD102B

I just wanted to let you know the amp arrived in perfect condition. I have it up and running and it sounds terrific. It's great to be back to tubes after 30+ years. You have been an absolute pleasure to do business with and I have posted your e-mail address on the Ecoustics forum. May Response continue with great success, and may 2 channel stereo live forever. Thank
you Bill!

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Custom Reference Modified Jolida 300B

Hello Bill, I would like to thank you for the great job you did on the Jolida 300B amp that I purchased from you. The sound is the best that I have ever heard. I would highly recommend your service and products (Jolida 300B) to anyone; Please feel free to use my name and email address to anyone interested in this modification.   THANKS  Danny T........ Charleston, S.C.

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Audio Note AZ- Two loudspeakers and AI integrated amplifier

Bill;

Wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much I'm enjoying the new system.  (And while she won't admit to it, the wife likes it too.)  The AZ-Two's sound just incredible.  I don't know if I should attribute it to the quality of the AN's or the Audio Institute integrated tube amp, or the combination of the two, but I couldn't be happier.

I could sit here and tell you all the things I'm hearing in my music that I never, EVER heard before, even on recordings I've had since the early 70's and know really, really well, but I think I'll go and listen some more instead  :o)

Thanks again!

Brian in St. Louis

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Ultimate "Silver and Oil" Usher X-718 initial impressions

".......We compared the speakers first, upgraded vs. non-upgraded (Usher X-718's) and everyone agreed it was an improvement. The specific things I heard were better instrument and vocalist placement. Also, the bass was less 'wooly' or warm... or just cleaner. The highs were more extended but not harsh. Overall, a good investment. The nice thing about the mod is that it doesn't lose the sound I liked about the 718's but makes them better. I also think they need a wee bit more break-in...."
Carlman - AudioCircle member

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ASL AV-20 (20 watt mono bloc amplifiers) Signature modification

Bill,

 

The modified AV-20 amps arrived this week, and all I can say is, WOW! What a difference. I have other unmodified AV-20's which I have been using while you did the mods for me. These other amps had the stock tubes replaced by Svetlana 6L6 and Ei Elite Gold 12AX7 tubes, which greatly upgrades the sound quality when compared to the stock tubes. All I did was swap out these old amps for the new modified ones, and there was an immediate audible difference in all the key categories that tend to be used when people review equipment. Larger, deeper and more focused soundstage, better clarity of individual instruments and voices while retaining a very musical balance to the whole of the performance, clearer treble, sweeter midrange, deeper and more controlled bass, hearing new things in very familiar music - it's all there. From Stan Getz to Bach to Rubber Soul to The Who and beyond - an amazing change for the better. Thank you so much for taking these amps and making them sing!

 

Cory Simmons

Concord, CA

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Usher Audio V-Series Loudspeakers

Greetings Bill,

Sorry it took so long for me to write this, but I wanted to share my experience with you as well as others.

I just wanted to share what a great experience I had with Response Audio and how satisfied I am with my purchase of the Usher V9803's.  What a great deal you were offering in those speakers!  I built a completely vintage 2nd system consisting of a 2 completely rebuilt and overhauled Dynaco MkIII's and rebuilt Heathkit SP-2 and was looking for a "budget" speaker to complete
the system.  I was looking at several options including the Spendor S3/5's, Von Schweikert VR 1's, and Soliloguy 5's.  Having heard the previously mentioned and never heard the Usher V series, I took a chance on the Usher's based on Bill's recommendation and the incredible price - I am not
disappointed.

The bass is very solid and the mid-range is outstanding, female vocals are right in the room with you!  I was a bit apprehensive they would be bright due to the metal dome tweeter, however they are not bright at all. Overall, they are a very good match for my system and I would highly recommend them for an office, bedroom, or 2nd system. Keep in mind however that they are
not small speakers, they are in fact quite large.  I found I got just a much performance and speaker as the others mentioned for a great price. The Ushers are in the same league as all of the other speakers and for the price I was impressed with the finish.  They are a very good match for low powered or vintage tube equipment and blend quite well to create a very musical system.

As for Bill and Response audio - I could not be happier with my purchase and the service I received.  The speakers where received within 3 or 4 days in perfect condition! Bill spent a good bit of time on the phone with me for a relatively small purchase and in my mind that spoke volumes about him and his operation. Bill even offered to take them back if I did not like them.

He is a class act and so is his operation - highly recommended!

Thanks Bill,

Mike Helfrich

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Reference modified ASL MG Head OTL MK III

The following is regarding OTL mode only, using Sennheiser 580 Jubilee headphones.  They are essentially identical to the HD600 model.

 

Yep, you were absolutely right about the ups and downs of it all.  It has been quite stable now after the 400 hours.  I only have a little listening time so far, though.

 

What I can say from the quick listens so far is that the amp is a much improved version of what it started out as, which is exactly what I'd hoped for.  Now it is much more 'organic' and real sounding.  Right away I knew I can better connect to the music it plays.

 

I'd recommend this upgrade to others as a no-brainer.  This is now a world-class headphone amp and is very revealing of what it plays.  In fact, it is so good that I now feel it's justifiable to find some killer vintage tubes for it!

 

That said, I believe it to be only 95% or so of what it's capable of.  I'll let you know in another 600 or 800 hours of use when it should be done breaking in!  Kind of exciting to think it is still improving!

 

Thanks again,
Dave K.

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Almarro EL84 amp custom V-Cap upgrade

I asked Bill to upgrade the fixed "lamp cord" to a good grade power cord. I also asked to have a direct input for a preamp in order to by-pass the internal passive Alps pot. In addition the speaker terminals and RCA connectors were upgraded. The coupling caps were replaced with the new V-cap Teflon ones. The amp has about 40 hours or so on it including Bill's listening and mine in the last 24 hours. This amp was sweet and wonderful before modifications. At this point in time it is distinctly more open and transparent, but it is too early to tell about the cap benefit. I will report back in a few weeks. This amp with Bills mods is still under 1K. It is among the best amps at <5 watts that I have heard. Recommended highly.

August 2005 Follow-up

There are now over 200 hours on this amp. The caps have "broken in". One just wakes up, turns on the amp, puts a favorite disc in, and he/she just knows that something is different with these caps. This little 4.5 watt Japanese amp with Bill's mods now sounds better than any that I've
had in my home, including the 2A3 Tulip that Bill modified (I still own it and will not give it up). Not that this is really better, just different. I am partial to the sound of the Almarro. The mids and upper frequencies are as transparent but sweeter. Sorry, I don't know how to define that word more precisely. The bottom end is more dynamic with more British "prat" and better control so that the lowest notes on a double bass are less muddy. If any of you are considering a single-ended amp  (in this case, it is a pentode, El84), try to audition the Almarro and then have Bill upgrade the caps, cord, and have the volume pot by-passed in order to use your own preamp. You will not be sorry. Remember, however, you need 96 db sensitive speakers.
Thanks, again, Bill,
Marvin
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Reference V-Cap Modified Jolida 302/502A

Hi Bill,

 

I've been trying to find some time to send you a bit of an update.  We are about 20 hours into the break-in period.  Friday night was a long one as my wife and I tried to listen to our whole record collection all over again.  The Jolida has caused quite a stir in our household and become more than a small attraction.  I had one friend visit, ( a Mac guy with an MC275)  who was quite surprised to see a set of KT88's powering the amp.  Anyway, to sum it up: THE JOLIDA SOUNDS FANTASTIC! The level of transparency and detail have greatly improved. Cello and bass resonate with deep richness that will only be equaled in a live performance I am sure. The quality of the voices is like none I have heard before, at least in my house.  We (my wife and I) are immensely pleased. It's like the people inside the stereo have been unlocked and set free in our living room.  We had Billy Holiday at our place for dinner.  It's quite an experience. Thank you very much for the work on the amp.  We can't wait to hear the amp improve during it's break-in period.

I will keep you posted on the results with the tube rings.

 

Best regards

 

Chris in Canada

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Reference V-Cap ASL AV-20 mono blocs & Ming-Da MC3 preamp

Good evening Bill!  
We received the 2 pkgs this afternoon, currently I am listening to my equipment.  I am happy with your work and they look a lot better esp. the cones and the binding posts...thanks a lot and looking forward to do business again with you..

Richard G. - California