System upgrade - Jadis I-88

[mcq]

I recently took delivery of a Jadis I-88, a purchase that, I feel, is a major turning point in my hifi journey.

Last year I purchased the Constellation Audio Inspiration Integrated, an excellent solid state amplifier which I loved at the time but spending a year in its company highlighted the primary importance of system synergy.  As time went on, I felt progressively disengaged from my music on an emotional level.  The musical experience had become more refined and more cerebral but was stimulating me less and less emotionally and I finally decided it was time for a change.  

For many years, I have discounted valve amplifiers based on my worries of excessive heat output and power consumption, but my experience with an admittedly state of the art solid state amplifier finally made me re-evaluate my priorities.  The vast majority of satisfied Kharma owners  -  both on this forum and on other Internet forums  -  drove their speakers with valve amps and I decided it was high time that I explored this option.

I mentioned my interest in valve amps to Ivan Cloney and he was kind enough to loan me a Jadis I-50.  The impression was immediate and my first thought was, "What the hell took me so long to come round to valves"?  The sound that filled my room was sweeter in the treble, more nuanced in the midrange, more muscular in the bass.  The amp seemed to take hold of the speakers in a way that the Constellation seemed unable to.  There was more definition and clarity to the articulation of musical passages and an enhanced impression of air and breathing space around instruments and voices.  Most importantly, the emotional connection re-asserted itself quite forcefully and tears flooded my eyes as I played and re-played my favourite music.  It is impossible to overstate just how hard this hit me in the gut.  The Jadis retained the analytical clarity of the Constellation amp but eclipsed it utterly in its presentation of a rapturous emotional experience.  To paraphrase Van Morrison, I was stoned to my soul and it did not take long to ring Ivan and order a new I-88.

It took almost two months for the arrival of the new amp but any impatience during the waiting period was ameliorated when I came home after work each day and switched on the I-50.  However, I was delighted when Ivan rang me to let me know that the new amp had arrived.  The I -88 is almost twice as powerful as the I-50, delivering 90 watts of blissful Class A manna from heaven.  The soundstage has been pushed forward  - more immediate and palpably evocative in its recreation of the recorded performance  -  and images appear more concrete and fixed in place.  The tonal saturation that was a highlight of the I-50 has taken a major step forward.  Listening to favourite albums  -  singer-songwriters such as Judee Sill and Julien Baker, jazz musicians such as Mary Halvorson and Bill Evans, my most cherished period performances of baroque and renaissance music  -    over the last few days have underlined my belief that this is a major step forward in my hifi journey.  I feel myself growing ever closer to  my music and I eagerly look forward to hearing further improvements as the amp breaks in.

[Diapason]

That's an amp I've always admired from afar, without having actually heard it, I "know" that I'd like it, based on other Jadis products, and I imagine it has excellent synergy with the Kharmas. Congratulations and enjoy!

[cybot]

Congratulations Paul and enjoy too! Welcome to the world of valves......

[mcq]

Thanks for that, lads.  I was seriously considering a pre/power solution from Jadis but decided to be "conservative" with my first valve amp and set my sights on their best integrated amp.  I love the simplicity of having one box solutions for my amp and source.  I have a small to medium sized room (roughly 4 metres by 4 metres) and I want to keeps things neat with a minimum of clutter.  However, that may change in a few years as the love affair with valves develops ...

[tony]

Wow Paul what a set up nice set up I saw the I50 on Saturday whilst the chassis and Tx look more or less the same as the DA50 the output from the Jadis amps have taken a big leap.
Haven't read about the DAC they are putting into it.

[mcq]

Many thanks, Tony.  I can't stress enough, however, just how good the I-50 is.  I know that €10K is lot of money but I think that, in the crazy world of highend hi-fi, it is really good value for money.  Don't forget that the I-50 replaced the very well-regarded and rather more expensive Constellation Inspiration Integrated and I found it much more satisfying emotionally (in the context of my system, I hasten to add).   I really get the impression that Jadis think long and hard about pricing their products and releasing new models.  I understand that the main reason for the release of the I-50 and I-88 was the introduction of the KT150 valve which Jean-Christophe Calmettes of Jadis was hugely impressed by and he wanted to introduce new integrated models specifically to showcase the new valve.  

The I-50 is beautifully made and so very musically satisfying, it is built for long-term satisfaction.  The I-88, on the other hand, is on another level entirely and I would put it up there with amps costing two or three times its price.  I simply haven't heard my Exquisite Minis sound this good before and remember that the I-88 costs almost a third the price of the Kharmas.  There is a magic about the sound which is quite breathtaking.  Delicacy and finesse combined with oodles of enthusiasm and energy and a sheer love for the music, it is a masterpiece and I know that the best is yet to come.  I had the I-50 on loan for almost two months while my I-88 was being assembed and it blossomed beautifully during that time.  I can only imagine how good this is going to get.  One thing is guaranteed: it is going to get emotional and tears will most definitely be shed.

[tony]

Can't disagree with any of that Paul the amp built with the lads over the last two years cost a lot of money in parts alone. It hasn't got anywhere near the finish of the Jadis. Factor in the long hours of free labour in assembling it all and the margins for the shop/distributor you can see how the price mounts up. Not forgetting the vision of Nigel for coming up with the concept/design, Fryderck for his work on the boards, Fran for all the tidying up of wiring issues near the end. If everybody charged out for their time, expertise etc you wouldn't be far away from the asking price of the Jadis to put it into Cloneys.

Can see a future where I will be scouring the hifi sites for a good secondhand example!

Oops forgot Pearse and Gerry's 3D printing and amp front panel!

[Steve]

Hadn't seen this thread before. That's a crackin' review of the Jadis amp! Gives a great insight into the experience a really good valve setup can give.
It very much echoes my own experience with Jadis. In fact practically identical. Some years ago, I had bought Ivan's set of Kharma CRM3.2FE's. I was using a Mark Levinson integrated at the time but was also aware that many Kharma owners were using valves to great effect. The Cloney gents have always been big fans of Jadis and so Ivan loaned me a set of JA80's that he had brought over for a show. They never went back... As you say, a much more involving experience. I remember being startled at just how much more grip the JA80's had on the Kharma's. They really opened the window on what the speakers were capable of.
Over the years, I dabbled with some high powered solid state amps from both Classe and Krell as I changed speakers. But always went back to the Jadis amps as extended listening sessions with the solid state amps left me detached from the presentation.
I happened to see the i50 in Cloney's during the week. Those KT150's certainly are a serious looking tube! Expensive too, mind you. I currently have a pair of JA200's and revalved them earlier this year with KT120's. Had considered asking Jadis if they could mod my JA200's (which are Series 1) to take the KT150's but went with the KT120's after totting up the costs. Maybe something for down the road!

Enjoy the valve journey with Jadis. I think you'll never look back!

[mcq]

Thanks for that, Steve.  You're right, I don't think I'll ever go back to solid state.  

The new JA200 Mk2 amps are designed specifically around the the KT150 tube and, like all of the new Mk2 amps from Jadis, are considered to be a step forward from the original Mk1 amps.  Have you tried the JA120s?  Unlike the JA200s, they are single chassis amps and take up less room than the JA200s.  The JA120s were designed around the then-new KT120 tube and came out a few years ago.  They are the most powerful of the single chassis Jadis power amps, putting out 100 watts in Class A.  There is a very enthusiastic review from Roy Gregory in Hifi Plus available online.  

According to Jadis, the choice of KT120 or KT150 tubes is entirely down to the user's listening preferences.  If the user listens primarily to classical and jazz, then Jadis will recommend the KT120 and if the user prefers rock music, then Jadis will recommend the KT150.  Personally, I listen to 80% classical/jazz and 20% rock/singer-songwriter so, theoretically, I should prefer the KT120 which I may try sometime next year.  However, my Kharmas appear to thrive on the added snap and punch of the KT150 even with my primarily classical/jazz listening habits.  I am going to give it a year before swapping out tubes  -  partly to allow the amp to fully break in and partly to allow myself to becme fully accustomed to the sound.  

Prior to purchasing the Jadis I-88, I did give a lot of thought to a pre/power setup, specifically the JPS2/SE845nec combination, but this would have taken up a lot more space and I thought it was more prudent to spend time with the best one-box solution from Jadis before jumping in at the deep end.  I might well pursue this option in a few years' time but I do like the simplicity and elegance of an integrated amp and an integrated CD player.  This approach does allow you to optimise the cable loom and equipment rack.

The funds I did save by purchasing the I-88 rather than the JPS2/SE845nec have been allocated to an upgrade of my CD player, moving from a Meridian 808v5 to an Esoteric K-01xs (which was delivered this morning and which I will post about in a separate thread).  Initial impressions of the new player are  -  to say the least  -  extremely positive and more than justify the allocation of my available funds in this way. 

[Steve]

That's very interesting feedback from Jadis regarding their recommendations between the KT120 and the KT150. My own musical collection would be quite varied so I guess either could apply. I bought KT120's not long after they first came out for the JA80's I had at the time. A great boost in bottom end control and more of a front row presentation compared to the KT88's that they replaced. They also proved to be far more reliable as a number of different types of KT88 had failed over the years.

Yes, was aware of the JA120's but never had a chance to hear them. The extra chassis of the JA200's does take up a bit more rack space alright. But still a very pleasant sight to behold! And does a great job of heating the room during these dark evenings.. The 200's were, for me, a really enjoyable jump up from the 80's. Built further on the same qualities, with a magical mid and top end that all in the family readily noticed. Opened a much bigger window into the mix. Must admit to being curious how they'd sound with the KT150's. But definitely for another day!

Having read about the merits of the KT150's, I'd be surprised if you really need to try any other power valves in your I-88. Not surprised to hear the Kharma's like them!