Jam'n Joe Audio

Eric · « **on:** 24 Apr 2005, 08:44 pm »

I just wanted to encourage people in the Chicago Area to visit Jam'n Joe Audio in Lake Villa IL (See the Response Audio website for details on his lines).

I am a firm believer that relationships are just as important as price and quality. Thats what drew me to ACI. Mike Dzurko is a class act whom I highly respect. His products are second to none.

Joe is in the same class. His business runs out of his home. The bonus to this approach is that you can listen to the equipment in real world applications. Joew has put together some systems that have great synergy.

The first room I listened to was a Stello/ Daedelus, Grommes combination. The Grommes tube mono's have their own volume controls, so the Setllo DAC and transport went right to the amps.

The Stello products are a great value. I own the CDT-200 transport, and the DAC is just more of a good thing. Plenty of airy highs and detail. The Grommes amps combing SS slam and tube texture in a very alluring way. Te Daedelus speakers have great craftmanship and are extremely musical. They are the type of speaker you could listen to for hours without fatigue.

The next room had SP Technology Continuums driven by the Nuforce amps and Modwrights new preamp. This combo was like sitting in a concert hall. No matter how loud you pushed them there was no distortion or clipping. Build quality on all three was awesome

Finally I listened to Jolida gear driving some high-efficiency Omega speakers. This system was so smooth and musical it had that goosebump factor.

Joe is the kind of dealer I like. Low pressure, and willing to take the time to let a person listen. He clearly loves music and the equipment. My wife even came with and enjoyed herself (A minor miracle in itself)

Joe also carries Sistrum and Senoran cables (which I bought)

There are other products as well that you can check out on the web sight

gonefishin · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Apr 2005, 08:55 pm »

If I'm near Lake Villa, I'll have to give him a visit:)

thanks,

dan

zybar · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Apr 2005, 09:40 pm »

Although I haven't visited Joe or purchased anything from him, I have spent a few hours on the phone with Joe and I echo Eric's comments.

Joe was kind enough to discuss his products with me late at night to fit "my schedule". He never tried to pressure me into buying anything and even talked me out of one idea I was thinking about b/c he felt it wasn't the best approach.

We absolutely need more dealers like this.

Keep up the good work Joe and I hope you continue to have great success.

George

Music Maven · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 02:05 am »

Always great to hear of the small dealers who really get enthused about audio and "understand" us. A lot of reports on some of the walk-in brick-and-mortar "audio salons" suggest that the sales staff there (who probably know less and certainly care less) put on airs and look down on us.

Jerry

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 07:06 am »

Question Eric, in your opinion , the NuForce amps had enough power to run the SP Tech speakers ? Were these the 100 watt amps ? Thanks !!

Karsten · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 08:16 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Question Eric, in your opinion , the NuForce amps had enough power to run the SP Tech speakers ? Were these the 100 watt amps ? Thanks !!

I'm expecting a set of NuForce Ref 8 today, I'll let you know how they do with the SP Revelations.

Brg,
Karsten

alotaklipsch · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 02:20 pm »

Look forward to stopping by, and spending some $$$ if I fall in like with something, thaks for the heads up.

Eric · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 04:46 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Question Eric, in your opinion , the NuForce amps had enough power to run the SP Tech speakers ? Were these the 100 watt amps ? Thanks !!

I thing they were the newest version, as he got them last week. I will check

JAMn Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 08:40 pm »

Eric,

Thanks for the kind words.

Lonewolf,

The NuForce amps are the latest version. When Eric was here we played Hell Freezes Over track 6 at near concert levels (far louder than I would normaly consider listening) just to see what the little amps have in them. The Continuums are more efficient than your Timepieces but they should drive them at reasonable to high listening levels.

On Sunday I did drive them into clipping intentionally to see how high I could go and how the amps reacted at those levels. The little blue LED's started blinking as the sound cut out, the speakers choked and couphed until I rescucitated them by bringing the levels back down to a more sane point of listening. No damage occured to either product but I was able to reach the limits. The amps react very similarly to the way the Butler 5150 amp does at that level although I think the Butler bottomed out a little sooner. The SP Techs are not efficient and they love power, the NuForce amps did very well by their standards and requirements. The NuForce amps remind me of the very best hybrid amps I've listened too.

It will be interesting to here Karstens take on the amps. I can tell you this, I can't wait to hear the 300 watt version of NuForces amp with the SP Techs. That should be very cool

Joe

Karsten · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 08:54 pm »

Well, I have only had the NuForce amps for 12 hours, so it is a bit early for a real review, but it will come later.

I can say already now that these are some of the most interesting amplifiers I have evaluated so far. They go REALLY well with the SP Revelations. I cannot drive them into clipping at any level where I would want to stay in the listening room.

Tonality, details, dynamics and woofer control is excellent, distortion is very low.

This is it for now

Brg,
Karsten

Scott F. · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Apr 2005, 11:06 pm »

Hiya Guys,

Welcome to the Gateway Audio Society

Joe, next trip I make to the Chicagoland area I'd defiantely like to come by and give the Grommes a listen. And on the way up I need to stop by and give a listen to Dans (gonefishin's) Edgar Horns

Mike D · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 12:56 am »

Joe

I am tentatively planning a trip with my wife and another couple to the House of Blues. During the day, the girls will go wish they had more money at the Magnificent Mile while my friend and I visit audio stores.

Who knows, maybe us GASsers will take a road trip some weekend. We've discussed it at least once.

Thanks,
Mike

JAMn Joe · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 01:14 am »

Scott and MikeD,

I look foward to meeting you guy's and playing some tunes. Just give me a call so we can coordinate a date. Hopefully I''ll have the new tweeter installed in the Continuums by that time.

Joe, JAM'n Audio

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 03:08 am »

Thank you Eric , Joe , and Karsten for you comments !!!

gonefishin · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 03:28 am »

Hi Scott (and guys)...I'll be sure to have a couple Goose Island's chilled or a fresh pot of coffee on for ya. Just let me know

As far as the system goes...it's currently in pieces

I've recently moved it downstairs and it's awaiting on another pair of amps to be built and a DEQX-p to be shipped and configured. So it may take a little while

As I've got no clue what I'm in store for.

But it would certainly be great to get together one of these days

take care,

dan

oh yeah...hopefully by that time we'll have my brother modified Altecs done too. Ahhh...what a hobby

Scott F. · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 03:37 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

....late addition....how did this thread get from Two Channel to the Gateway circle.???????? [/list:u]

I was wondering the same thing

Thats why I welcomed everybody to GAS

Hey, thats OK though. We love the traffic

Besides, lots of Cards fans are closet Cubs fans too. If the Cards are out of the running, some of us are secretly rooting for Chicago (but don't tell them that

)

Dan,
I'll take you up on that offer next trip up

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 04:09 am »

Quote from: Scott F.

Quote from: lonewolfny42
....late addition....how did this thread get from Two Channel to the Gateway circle.???????? [/list:u]

I was wondering the same thing Thats why I welcomed everybody to GAS

Hey, thats OK though. We love the traffic

Chris[/list:u]

Mike D · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Apr 2005, 01:05 pm »

It is my humble opinion that the reason why this particular thread was attached to the Gateway page is solely due to our proximaty to Jamin' Joe in Chicago.

Happy Tuesday

Eric · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Apr 2005, 01:57 am »

Plus I started the thread and even through I live in Northern Illinois I have an Uncle in Belleville. My family is also from Gillespie IL which is a little East of St Louis. So there is a connection