Jolida jd-100 - anyone own/listened to this unit?

markC · « **on:** 26 Feb 2006, 06:26 am »

Well, I think my QDS-15, (Norh CD-1), has bit the dust. Every time that I open the lid, something seems to fail. This time I was searching for the cause of distortion comming from the right channel. Sounded like a bad tube-waterfall sound. Tubes tested fine. So, I thought while I've got it open, I'll replace the last 2 opamps that I'd previously left alone. Long story short, after putting it back together, it does not respond to any of the command buttons. Just lights up, displays time 00 track 00 and track list 1 through 20>. Drawer won't open. Too bad, I really enjoy the sound of this unit with the upgraded opamps, diodes, tubes,etc. Anyway, I'm thinking of trying a Jolida jd-100 or going with a cheap transport and dac. Any recommondations on a decent low cost transport or feedback on the Jolida would be appreciated. Thanks.

arthurs · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 11:45 am »

I had the JD100, it's a pretty sweet little player at it's price point. I would also seriously look at the DAC 60 everyone is raving about right now, they are right about it, pretty incredible stuff at three or four times it's price point. Good luck on your search...

gostan · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 12:08 pm »

The Jolida sounds great, but I found it to be of questionable quality. Additionally, the company's customer service and communications' abilities were not what one would expect.

I ended up choosing a Cary CD303/300. A much more expensive alternative, but definitely far superior to the Jolida.

arthurs · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 01:19 pm »

We took the same path. I went from the JD100 to the Cary 303/300 and it kills the Jolida in every way, but should at the price point. I did not have any build or service issues with the Jolida, but have heard from several people who have, so that may be a good heads up.

That said, and I am a big fan of the Cary player, I just sold my 303/300 and went to the DAC 60, in my system and to my ears, it is a step up from the Cary, YMMV of course...

Loftprojection · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 04:03 pm »

I compared the JD100 to about 10-15 others a year ago when I was looking for a CDP.

At it's retail price point, the JD100 was the nicest I listened to but as soon as I upgraded my budget a few hundred $ then the competition was beating the JD100. I ended up buying a demo Arcam CD23T that I negociated for just a bit more then the JD100. The JD100 is sweet sounding but to my taste the CD23T is overall quite a notch above in just about every category. If you are tight on $$$ and you get a great deal on the JD100 then I'm sure you will be happy with it but look at the used market, the other day I saw an Arcam CD23 for $850, there is often some Unison Unico also that sound great. If you are patient, check out used Audio Aero, those are also quite special!

If you have a good PC setup, then a DAC might be a good option. I'm sure a Liteaudio DAC-60 from GR Research, or Apogee MiniDAC or a few others could best the JD100 but if you don't have a PC setup then a good CDP is still a good investment that you can be sure of the sound.

markC · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 04:31 pm »

I was offered a very good deal on a new in the box jd-100. $760. I'm still on the fence about this, as a very good friend built his own dac using the latest burr-brown chip and 6n1p tubes. It sound very good. But, I still need a transport as a pc set-up is not in the cards right now. hmmm.....decisions, decisions.

marvda1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 04:56 pm »

arthurs, what are you usng for a transport?

marvin

arthurs · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 04:59 pm »

CEC TL51X goes in tomorrow....today is just my Denon 2900 and it sounds awesome...

djbnh · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 05:15 pm »

I own and enjoy the JD-100. Absolutely NO issues with build quality that another poster mentioned; my unit has never needed servicing. [I note I purchased mine from United Home Audio in MD; excellent sales, communication, etc.] I also found that upgraded tubes (the NOS Sylvania gold/yellow 5751 tmb tubes kill in this unit with my gear), and VH Audio PC make a huge difference, as did some no-cost isolation. The unit was made even better by treating the RCAs and tube pins with Walker SST - SST on the tube pins seemed to provide notably more detail, better imaging (the imaging is already wonderful with the Sylvanias mentioned above). I find the JD-100 provides miles of toe tapping fun with my gear.

Are there better units? Sure, there's always something better, even ones far better than the units others mentioned that they upgraded to from the Jolida; however, I haven't run across anything that beats it at its price point. The price of the unit you're being offered seems reasonably attractive. Whether there's synergy between the JD-100 and your other gear is something you're going to have to decide, since your gear in your room to your ears will probably sound different to another person.

Best of luck with your decision making, whatever you decide to do. Happy Listening!

markC · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 05:34 pm »

Thanks. Since my old cdp was /is also tube output, I have a supply of sylvania 5751 3 mica black plates

That's one reason I'm leaning towards this machine. Glad to hear that the sylvania tubes sound good in it. Definatley my fave in the old machine.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 06:31 pm »

Hi Mark,
The Jolida quality control has not been an issue for me and I have moved a large number of these players since their introduction.

My recommendation, should you decide on the Jolida, would be to buy from a reputable dealer that stands behind the products he/she sells.

Mathew_M · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 08:32 pm »

I owned the Jolida (now sold). I preferred a Ah! tube CDP to it. There's a reason you see more Jolida's available on Agon than the Ah!. Granted I never rolled any expensive NOS tubes in the unit (just some old RCA's I found for free) and many people say that it makes a significant difference in sound. In stock form it sounded rather homogenous, pretty laid back and smooth. Kinda blah overall. Maybe tubes make a difference but I myself prefer more dynamics.

markC · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 03:55 am »

Thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking outloud here that the QDS-15 and the JD-100 will sound similar. Maybe a bit more realisic presentation with the Jolida and some new caps, since the the tube stage is not just a buffer.

DavidS · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 04:44 am »

Just wanted to add my experience - I have a Jolida 100 player and very pleased with it for past 2.5 years. It is fairly tricked out in that it has a Level One Parts Connexion Mod, has a Neuance platform with ceraballs underneath, has $50 NOS tubes, and upgraded power cord (Virtual Dynamics). It is very good - have heard it against a number of others ( including Rega Planet, AH Toebj, Benchmark Dac, and a Sony sacd) and it holds its own for the price. Have had no reliability problems. Have had a hard time pulling trigger on upgrade - thinking Esoteric 50S or even Ayre but Jolida just sounds so good in my system. Just my two cents.

David

markC · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 05:26 pm »

How noisy is the transport on this unit? Can you hear it if everything is dead quiet and the volume turned off with a disk spinning from say 4 feet away?

Phil A · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 06:17 pm »

Quote from: gostan

The Jolida sounds great, but I found it to be of questionable quality. Additionally, the company's customer service and communications' abilities were not what one would expect.

I ended up choosing a Cary CD303/300. A much more expensive alternative, but definitely far superior to the Jolida.

I can assure you the quality issues you experienced are the tip of the iceberg. If you even visited their location, which they share with an audio dealer they're in business with (see info below, incl. a link to the audio dealer), you'd have a much lower opinion of the quality (and so would any customer or legit audio dealer who cares about their customers let alone how they undercut the dealer network with customers all around the country). I agree their stuff sounds decent for the money.

JoLida Inc.
10820 Guilford Road, Suite 209
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

**************************

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablspkr&1148337539

djbnh · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 10:08 pm »

Quote from: markC

How noisy is the transport on this unit? Can you hear it if everything is dead quiet and the volume turned off with a disk spinning from say 4 feet away?

Not my unit.

95bcwh · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 11:15 pm »

Quote from: arthurs

That said, and I am a big fan of the Cary player, I just sold my 303/300 and went to the DAC 60, in my system and to my ears, it is a step up from the Cary, YMMV of course...

This is very interesting, I have been pondering about getting a Cary 303/300 for quite a while but wasn't sure whether the price is justifed. Reading what you've just wrote, I feel much better not splashing the cash months ago..

By the way, how much is this LITE DAC60 with Sonicap Platinum and Blackgate Mods?

thanks
barry

arthurs · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Mar 2006, 01:08 am »

Around $760 with the Mods. An exceptional value for the monaey....

95bcwh · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Mar 2006, 08:02 am »

Quote from: arthurs

Around $760 with the Mods. An exceptional value for the monaey....

So your CEC transport + modded DAC 60 cost around $1350 + 760 = $2110 and it beat a $4000 Cary 303/300...that's very good value indeed.

Did you get all the mod on DAC60 done by GR Research?

I think it is worth comparing the CEC tranport with an squeezebox ....based on all the rave reviews in this forum on SB so far, I am eager to know how they compare..