Response Audio / Jolida 3205 Feedback

With well over 300 custom built and/or modified unit currently in consumers homes, I have decided to devote a page to some of the feedback we have received.

I hope you are recovered from the flooding. It appears from your website that things are (almost) back to normal. I wanted to share some thoughts about the modifications to my Jolida 502b and CD player. I've run them for about 200 hours now. I used Valve Art KT88s, Brimar CV4004, and RCA blackplate 12at7s until about a week ago. I have to mention that all these tubes were thoroughly broken in and have at least 750 hours + of use. The initial performance of the equipment astounded me (and continues to). The improved detail and sound stage of the music is just unbelievable. I just re-tubed the amp with Telefunken EL34 (1960s W. Germany vintage), Siemens ECC83, and Mullard CV4024. None of the tubes are broken in yet, but the sound is just incredible. Absolutely no noise and music that sounds as if I am hearing it live. I have discovered details on CDs and LPs that I never knew existed.
The money I invested in the upgrades may be the best $1500 I've ever spent in my life!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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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!!

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.

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, 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.

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

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.