[BaronKyle]

Can someone give me a primer on Jolida?

It looks like they have some nice modern tube gear.  How long have they been around/what are some of their more respected products?

HQ is in Brookeville, MD.

[daves]

Kyle, there are two Jolidas, with the Chinese version being bad news. Their products generally are a cut below the two you already have.

[JLM]

Timely thread, stumble upon their Fusion series, in particular the Fusion DAC/Preamp.  Hard to find anything via google.  Anyone have any words of wisdom?

[Bob in St. Louis]

I've got a JD202 (EL34) that's my prized unit .... although it's been idle a couple years now. 
Recently, I've been thinking about getting it back into the mix.

[Phil A]

Several years back I visited a retailer (United Home Audio), who, at the time, shared a location with Jolida.  It was in the same building at that time.  I'm not sure if there is or was a business relationship (the retailer was a dealer and much of what was on the floor of his showrooms was Jolida at that time).  It was an hour and 45 minute drive for me at that time one way.  I walked into the various rooms and there were two sick kids in one room watching a movie in one of the show rooms.  The back room is where the Jolida stuff was assembled.  I didn't want to walk back there but I waited about 10 minutes (and called out and no one answered) and walked near the entrance and called out very loudly.  After a few minutes no on answered so I walked back there.  There was no one there and I started to walk out and apparently the retailer walked out of a closed room where he was on the phone and had a mini fit about me being back there as he saw me walking back towards the showrooms.  About a minute later the guy from Jolida walked in through a back door.  Apparently he took a cigarette break.

It looked like many of the parts came from Asia from what I could see.  So I'm not really sure what the distinction is between stuff made in China or here.  I didn't even stay to hear anything and rode the hour and 45 minutes back home.  The guy was not overly polite (I'm being kind).  I didn't appreciate the crap (given to me) after the long ride and basically having no one there for 15 minutes and I called out loud enough for anyone to hear and so I gave some back to him.  I wasn't impressed by the manufacturing facility.  It was more of just assemble the parts in a kit like fashion.

I know nothing about their newer stuff.  I have a friend that bought an amp many years back and I help him set the bias and I thought it was a good value for the money.

[hibuckhobby]

have had the amps...worked just fine.  Still have the JD9 phono unit.  I like the way it sounds
and there are a bucket of mods on the net if you are so inclined.
Hibuck...

[jaylevine]

Can someone give me a primer on Jolida?

It looks like they have some nice modern tube gear.  How long have they been around/what are some of their more respected products?

HQ is in Brookeville, MD.

I was just surfing the board when I read your post---always wondered myself about these guys so a little Google later I came up with this:

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0905/088.html

[BaronKyle]

Really great article Jay.  Hit the spot along with my morning cappuccino.

[daves]

JoLida split, and has the good distributor in NJ, and the less than good distributor from China. They are somewhat like Rogue, where they do have some good stuff, and then some dogs.

There are different manufacturers who have had great success utilizing parts or wholey manufactured lines from China, but they utilized American QC and QA managers. Monarchy Audio and Eastern Electric are examples from the past that succeeded in properly sourced production.

In the long run, generally you do get what you paid for...if you are going to mod, then why not source and mod on vintage or American gear of proven track record?

[Phil A]

In the long run, generally you do get what you paid for...if you are going to mod, then why not source and mod on vintage or American gear of proven track record?

Absolutely.  The knock I've always heard about Jolida is quality control.  When Odyssey Audio exhibits, I always like the sign that Klaus displays that nothing is made in China.

Many years back Adcom had a high touted $900 preamp.  I walked into an audio shop where I knew the manager and he called me in the back room to listen.  He had two units set-up.  One sounded great and the other literally like crap.   They stopped carrying the brand shortly after that.  There are many products made that are made on assembly lines that are not dedicated to audio 100% of the time. They may have been making microwave ovens the week before.  If they run out of a particular part, they may substitute something that works but won't sound as good.

[finsup]

I've have the Jolida JD 801A.  I  really like this integrated.  It has a rich full sound. It is a pain to bias the tubes.  I have to turn the unit over, balancing it on a coffee can.  It weighs 47 pounds so not that easy of a task anymore for this old guy.  The new version makes the biasing easier.

[jk@home]

I've have the Jolida JD 801A.  I  really like this integrated.  It has a rich full sound. It is a pain to bias the tubes.  I have to turn the unit over, balancing it on a coffee can.  It weighs 47 pounds so not that easy of a task anymore for this old guy.  The new version makes the biasing easier.

I'm looking at the new version? (JD801BRC). There seems to be a by-pass switch... how does this work? Does it convert the unit to a power amp, bypassing all the other inputs, controls, etc.? The description of the sonics sounds like it could be a good match for my KEF LS50s.

Also the Fusion 3502 looks interesting, with the switchable power tube option.