Steve's next upgrade

[DaveF]

Time to upgrade to the JA80 MK2 Steve. Think I prefer the older gold chassis instead of the silver. In any case bring on the KT150s.

http://www.jadis-electronics.com/en/ja80-mkii-21.php

[Diapason]

You don't surely think that he's not already on top of this...?!

[DaveF]

If he priced the Mark 1's accordingly I'd say he'd have no bother selling them.

[Diapason]

If he priced the Mark 1's accordingly I'd say he'd have no bother selling them.

Not least to me!

[Steve]

LoL Dave!!! I'd seen that Jadis are now offering the MkII version of the JA-80's (and the JA30's) with the KT150 valve's.

I was wondering if possible to upgrade, although hadn't gotten around to contacting Jadis yet and asking. I can see that the bigger KT150's are actually physically spaced differently on the chassis, so maybe not possible to upgrade from the MkI's.

Audio Research are also now using the KT150's in their very latest power amp, the GS150. Not really too familiar with the benefits of the KT150 over the KT120 - but they must be quite real as it's not as if Jadis change their designs on a frequent basis!

So despite the title of the thread, no plans on upgrading the JA-80's for the foreseeable future. That link that Si posted on the JA-200's is very interesting. But the cost of ownership of amps that are 15 yrs old and would need 20 x KT88's (not sure if they can use KT120's) is I think a little daunting...

Outside of Jadis Class A tubes, I'm not too sure what else would be nice to consider. I say Class A as I do think this lends a certain signature to the sound that I'd be a big fan of. It's not particularly fair comparision, as it was in a much bigger room than I'm used to listening to the JA80's in - but have heard the Amati Futura's on the end of an Audio Research Reference 150. And this seemed to give a darker, more distant view of the presentation than with the Jadis amps. Less precision and slam in the bass department too. But a number of things were different in the chain, not least a different room..

Now maybe a Convergent Audio Technology JL2 would be interesting (!) Seems to be the mother of all stereo valve amps, operates in triode mode and weighs a mere 82kg. Anybody ever hear one?

[DaveF]

I think your power amps are as good as you're gonna get. Don't know much about your preamp though and they say a good pre is important. If you wanted to add something without giving up the JA80s maybe that's an area to look at in future.
I havent heard your system yet but the most magical sound I've heard to date was Ciaran's Airtight Pre driving the Jadis JA30's.

[sebna]

I did not realize there is so many Jadis amps around. I was very tempted on few occasions to try JA30 but I never took a plunge.

[Steve]

Seb, would definitely recommend giving Jadis amps a listen if you happen to come across the JA-30's that you mention. There's an open, airy presentation to them that really draws the listener in. The Class A amps can take a tight grip on the bass end too, notably more so when using KT120 power tubes. Just my take on them...

Happy enough with the Aesthetix Calypso, Dave. Pretty sure there are indeed pre's out there, Jadis included, that will add more magic. But such would require an order of investment that not willing to make. For me, adding in the pre was all about a further degree of resolution, 3D soundstage and a sense of the live acoustic that the increase in gain brought about - at least in my setup. And content with what the Calypso brought to the show here.

Curiousity on potential changes would more be in the area of driving the Amati's with more power - of the Class A variety. To see if this would increase scale further and perhaps extract that last few Hz out of the Amati bottom end that I know they're capable of. And to understand what, if any, trade-offs would be in the mix over the JA80's. A curiousity that hopefully will go away as quickly as it started!