Price Paid:  $0.00 from OZenterprises---audi

Summary:
This review has 2 parts. If you want to read about the amp only, jump to nr 2 directly and skip the 1st part where I speak about how I got to know Jolida. 1.Someone introduced me to Jolida over the internet while answering a question I had asked concerning tube amps. He seemed so enthousiastic about the Jolida amps that I had to go out and listen to one. So, at his suggestion, I went to Codell (Montreal). Cedric was kind enough to hook up the 1701 and the 1501 for me. He is a great resource plus he LoVeS the Jolidas and is very welcoming. However, do not let Todd intimidate you out of the audition room! He chases everyone away from it, not only young students like myself. Unfortunately I know at least one person who does not want to return to Codell after being told to stay away from the audition room. Maybe Todd isn't always like that, although a certain consistence has been noted. Besides, Codell is apparently the only place in Montreal where you can buy a Jolida. ANd last, you can always make sure Cedric is there! Enough about Codell. Omer Humayun from OZenterprises in Ottawa will mail you one at a far better price than Codell's (shipping is free) You are responsible for the return fare (10$?) in case you do not want to keep it. You can get the details at www.ozenterprises.com Check out their 3year trade in, full credit program!!!The best part is that Omer is available to talk to and he answered ALL my emails (and God knows I like to write emails). Not only that, but he stands behind his business and I was surprised to feel involved in business ethics after talking to him and receiving the 1301 delivered to my door for free. He insisted I should buy from Codell, in case I rent an amp from them. After deep thought I gave up the renting, so that I could buy from Omer without remorse. If you read Paulo Coelho's "Alchemist", Omer makes me think of the person who does the right work in the right place and takes care of things with pleasure and dedication. I for one am not used to this attitude in the retail environment, are you? Maybe this is the Zen of selling hifi? I do not really know him, but he is fun to be in touch with. 2. I had not realised from the pics I could unearth on the net that the 1301 was so small! Not until I received the package. My parents, audiophiles but skeptical by nature when confronted with small amps called it something I cannot repeat here. I prefer the nickname "little giant". I fell in love with the amp after a short while, so even though it has weaknesses, I feel like protecting it and helping it to overcome them... No, actually I got angry with it and returned it to Omer, because it did not have the necessary power to play reasonably loud on my speakers, or my parents'(triangle Antal xs). At low to moderate levels it was as wonderful as you can read in the other rave reviews! Unfortunately it made a mess of the acoustic basss on some otherwise exquisit recordings (eg. Grappelli in Tokyo, Djelem djelem). I was upset to see that I had to give it up and aim for the more powerful and more expensive 1701. But the soundstage was ah, just fantastic. ANd details were frighteningly present. And the bass was also excellent on most recordings,present,deep, tight and right on pitch. I just returned it to Omer a couple of hours ago and it is unbearable to listen to my solid state Cambridge again. Whatever it does, it is awful compared to the Jolida. I can hear my two loudspeakers coughing out solid state sounds lacking finesse, whereas the 1301 was doing something you can read about in the following section of my lyrical and nostalgic review, appropriately entitled "strengths".

Strengths:
The sound kept me engaged all the time. Could not leave it on while working on the computer, as it was too intriguing, especially because it made the end of the room disappear and replaced it with the studio or the hall where the music was recorded. I played horrible stuff just to see how it would sound. The amount of detail it can make audible is amazing, even at low levels. Plus it restores imaging even on old video tapes. I must add that I used room treatment to improve imaging and soundstaging (corner busting with cheap yellow foam). The center of the stage became spot on. The sound is altogether holographic, but no negative connotations here, I felt sucked into the performances, which is rare with hifi!!! I find. The middle range sounds just great too, which is a commonplace but what can I say, you really should listen for yourself anyway, now that my enthousiasm has hopefully made yours ring louder. I could understand why someone had written in another review that violin was made of wood all of a sudden. (or at least I think I can understand).

Weaknesses:
Not many given the price and notice that the first one has to do with my speakers while the last one is a strength in disguise. in my case:30 watts, leading to loose bass and very early clipping; loud hum from the transformer unless solidly isolated. I slouched in my armchair mornings and evenings that I had planned to spend exercising, so be careful and enjoy responsibly.

Similar Products Used:
no hybrid. no tube amps Sansui. Cyrrus 1. Cambridge a500 (anyone still wants one?) JVC receiver (anyone wants THAT?) have a pleasant audition. have a nice friendly chat with Omer and write to m

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Response Audio

Summary:
Excellent budget integrated amp. Using it in secondary stereo sytem in bedroom. 30 watts is plenty for this application. Would not hesitate one bit using in main system for sound quality but main system is set up as HT with Yamaha 2092 as processor and to drive center and effects, while using Anthem tube preamp to Audio Source Amp 3 for main speakers. The JD301 is a no frills product. Very quiet operation although I do get a little thump when I turn it off, nothing to hurt the speakers though. As a previous reviewer stated, the speaker balance control needed to be adjusted more to the right speaker rather than in center position. Using a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player as source component. This is an excellent way to get into the tube sphere of audio. I can not give it a 5 for overall rating because I have never auditioned a mega buck amp. I can say that very much of what is heard is how well the source material is recorded. I have 1990 CD's from lesser labels that our perform 2002 CD's from major labels. My preference is music is primarily classical and some jazz, although I will put on some pop and rock my teenagers have.

Strengths:
Small size, very natural sounding, can not detect any sonic flaws,

Weaknesses:
The speaker balance control not set properly made lead one to think about other quality issues, but I have found none.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha RX2092 Receiver, Audio Source power Amp 3 with Anthem tube preamp.

Price Paid:  $290.00 from The New Tube Company

Summary:
How can you build a budget integrated amp that is a super-achiever in terms of sound quality? Jolida has found the formula. They know pre-amplification affects sound quality more and power amplification determines if the speaker is properly driven. They choose 12AX7 as pre-amp tubes, which are very popular because of low price and good sound. Power amplification is done by LM1875 OP amps specially designed for audio applications by National Semiconductor. Don’t be misled by the notion that IC is not good for hi-fi, because there are super-fi amps (47 Labs) using this exact IC. ICs perform well because they are designed by real circuit experts, and are cheap due to mass production with advanced technologies. Furthermore, circuit design becomes straightforward because standard diagrams are available from the manufacturer. Ever wonder why a computer with countless transistors is much cheaper than a hi-end amp with so few? Hi-end is not cheap mainly because of in-house design and small-scale production. Jolida figured out how to make two cost-effective, well-proven components work in synergy (no exotic design) and manufacture them in China. How can you get a value/price ratio higher than that? This Jolida and my Athena S2 provide practically the same resolution as my $230 AKG K501 headphone. This is truly amazing because people familiar with good headphones know they generally have to spend a whole lot more on amp and speakers to match that resolution. In my case it is just $400 more. 12AX7 tubes give this amp the smoothness not found in the twice-more-expensive Rotel (highly acclaimed) at my speaker dealer. You don’t have to know anything about tubes to operate this Joilda (I didn’t) because changing pre-amp tubes is exactly like changing light bulbs. 12AX7 tubes are cheaper (~$10) on per hour basis (>10,000) than light bulbs. They can be easily bought on-line and allow the freedom of tailoring the sound to your own ears. Like everyone else, I recommend replacing stock tubes. I got specially selected Chinese 12AX7 from The New Tube as well as the Yugo, and the former works better. If you think tubes are outdated for audio, just think of why all guitar amps still use tubes. People looking for inexpensive amps, please look no further! Jolida is a down-to-earth company that deserves your trust. Equipment: Sony DVP-NS900V SACD/DVD Player Athena S2/P2 Spearkers

Strengths:
Smoothness due to 12AX7 tubes 12AX7 has long life, low price, and is easy to buy and replace Quality sound for ridiculously low price Small size (11*6*3 inches)

Weaknesses:
Had to use onboard balance control to make two channels equally loud.

Price Paid:  $219.00 from Audio Design, Winnon

Summary:
I purchased the Jolida JD301 from the guys at Audio Designs in Winnona MN. I was in town paying a visit to one of my customers, saw the shop and just had to stop. After listening for a time I was somewhat impressed and felt that it would be a good solution to a bedroom system I was in the process of putting together. Well, after re-tubing with Telefunken's I Must say that this little integrated just might be the most fun I had with audio in some time. While it lacks the slam of a high powered amp, It more that makes up for it in just being musical. Not just the ability to carry a tune but musical an an audiophile sense. I am not going to puke out any audiophile retoric here, pace and rhythm, bla bla bla, speed and accuracy, bla bla bla, analytical or warm and the like. I am just going to say this, Right is right and the Jolida JD 301 is very right. System: Jolida JD301 Pioneer Elite PD54 cd player Musical Fidelity X-10d PSE Studio Three tuner Tributaries Kimber KEF Coda 7 Paradigm Atom V3

Strengths:
Fun

Weaknesses:
None for the money

Similar Products Used:
Jolida SJ 302A Sonic Frontiers NAD

Summary:
I DARE YOU to find an amp in this price range that sounds better. You simply cannot do better than this. Bu wait, it does get better: spen an extra $30 bucks to upgrade the stock tubes, and you're in musical heaven!
VALUE RATING OFF THE SCALE

Strengths:
sound, price, sound! warm and rich.

Weaknesses:
small chasis looks odd in most equipment racks

Similar Products Used:
you-name-it from NAD, AMC, Cambridge, Rotel, and all the other mass market stuff.