MathewM

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $525.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
The 302b is probably Jolida's most popular tube amp and for good reason. At 50 watts of sweet El34 juice it's by far the best dollar for power in the tube amp market. I've listened to other EL34 tube amps on my speakers (VMPS 626R) and the Jolida is the second best. It's a fairly neutral amp by nature but with a tube roll you can go either warm (SED) or cool (Electro Harmonix). So part of the beauty of the 302 besides it's value is that it can match a large variety of speakers. El34's are not known for their bass and the 302 is lacking here. I do find that good bass is also recording dependent. Older CD's can sound small and dynamically lacking compared to most stuff mastered in the past ten years. The nice thing about the Jolida when coupled by a good transport (or better yet the lack of a transport such as a Squeezebox which streams the music via wi-fi from your home computer) is that just about everything is listenable. Tubes tend to distort at loud volumes but the difference is that it's good distortion--even with the raunchiest of rock recordings I experience very little listener fatigue.

Most people buying the Jolida 302b will be first time tube amp buyers. With that said it's an excellent introduction especially if you buy used. Like I said earlier, it's the 2nd best tube amp I've heard on my speakers. The best being a $2K pair of VTL monoblocks. Same EL34 tube component but with 125 watts--big difference in macro dynamics and bass. Also VTL tends to have a warmer tone and there's more 'inner' detail. The better more expensive tube amps like the VTL give you a more enriching sonic experience overall.

Tubes are addictive once you start listening to music through them. I know the Jolida has it's difficiencies but I'm always drawn back to it. It's musical (yes that means you tap your toes and play air guitar) and has enough of that beguiling tube character that lulls you to listen to hours of music every night.

Strengths:
50 watts of sweet el34 power for less than $600 on the used market. Tonally neutral but with a tube roll you flavor it to fit your speakers needs.

Weaknesses:
Slightly bloated bass (but not slow in the least), somewhat lacking detail with warmer tubes like the SED, complex music tends to get a bit 'confused' at louder volumes.

Similar Products Used:
VTL tube monoblocks, Radii tube monoblocks, Panasonic digital receiver, various tube pre-amps with Norh Le Amps (solid state 100 watts)

ridecycling

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
I wanted to post my opinion as this is one of the sites that allowed me to gather the information needed in finding this amp - what can I say that has not been said here - its a great little amp - the sound will draw you in like pollen to a bee - it plays really warm and the midrange is spot on, a bit lacking in bass, but by no means a reason not to consider the 302b - I think it is a EL34 characteristic –

I play it with a pair of Triangle Comete ES's and a REGA Planet - I think they match up nicely and play really well together - the speakers shine with vocals and midrange - detail is really nice yet never ever ever hard to listen to - I work from home and I have to say this amp is on all day long - I never really turn it off. I did find that bi-wiring the Comete's really cleaned up the bass, however they were not entirely broken in yet, so that may be an unfair statement, but they sound better bi-wired for sure.

I don't think you can go wrong with this amp plus at night with the lights off the orbs glow like small buildings standing with lights left on in the suites - I have the more recent version 302b with the top mounted biasing, it works perfect and really easy to use. On recommendation by the folks at Jolida I replaced the OEM 2AX7 with some 2AX7EH's - it was not dramatic but it opened up the sound a bit more - also added a upgraded power cord which added yet more breath, again not dramatic just a tad more detail, but no degradation in sound at all just a bit cleaner and more open.

One day I may do a Mod with Underwood Wally - I am sure that will kick it up a few notches but for now as is out of the box, this amp has plenty of nice sound all it's own - you will be nothing but happy! If you are considering the 302b all I can say is just do it – no regrets!!

Strengths:
Warm smooth midrange, great dynamics and clarity, a very musical amp with power that is much more than it's stated 50 wpc.

Weaknesses:
Tubes are Hot - issue in the summer time (handwarmer in the winter though)

Similar Products Used:
Nakamichi TA Reciever

Price Paid:  $600.00 from individual

Summary:
I just needed to throw my thoughts into the hat as this is one of the sites that brought me to this awesome little amp - it is as said by countless others on here as good as they say - if you are looking for an absolutely wonderful sounding amplifier that for its design and build quality basically flawless, you will be amazed at the ability of the sound reproduction this little jewel can reproduce matched well with the right speakers and source equipement you will find virtually nothing that can beat what this amp does and was designed to do - you could spend much more and get way less than a 302b now even better with the top board bias lights built in making biasing a piece of cake - this EL34 beauty is really a treasure not to mention it looks wonderful at night with its four glowing orbs. Long live valves! Matches up really well with the Triangle Comete ES bookshelf speakers - they are fast as hell. This amp blows anything away in it's price or power range!

Strengths:
A dynamicly clear midrange amplifier, first rate build quality, smooth clear and rich feeling sounds.

Similar Products Used:
Nakimichi TA2

Bonger

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
I had to merge my hifi & HT system together, so I sold my Jolida, moved my hifi Totem speakers to be the front HT system driven by a newly purchased 2 channel Bryston.

Onced I hooked up the Bryston to drive the Totems, I realized how good and how much I missed the tube sound of my Jolida.

Regardless of what type of music I played the Jolida had me tapping my toes dance/rock or relaxing & soothing me with jazz & classical.

I would describe the sound as trebles as silky, midrange was sooo rich & "meaty" when you hear vocals and string instruments. Yes, the bass couldn't compare to my Bryston, but it's not bad at all.

The sound of the Jolida is an iron hand wearing a velvet glove...you feel the music without ever being tired of "in your face" treble, music is just smooth & sweet sounding.

Yes, SS amps are more accurate on paper and tubes in general color sound. But I say close your eyes and listen and you will find the Jollida resembles real music. So I get the Jolida if you wanna listen with your heart and not your mind.

If the Jolida wsan't so bulky and I was able to only use power amp section of Jolida I would have probably kept it for the front of my HT system.

Strengths:
Tonality, silky treble, rich midrange, highly upgradeable

Weaknesses:
too heavy?, bulky?, some people report reliability problems (I've never had any), no remote, lacks modern day features of today amps.

boniccie

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Audiophile private

Summary:
I just received my amp and i am amazed by it's gorgeous sound. I used cayin TA-30 in the past and it is a great amp but the Jolida surpassed the cayin and most of the tube intg amps in the $2000 range in every aspect. All i can say is WOW i will be enjoying this amp for a really long time. Highly recommended...

Strengths:
Fantastic Soundstage, mid-range and high frequency

Weaknesses:
None at this price

Similar Products Used:
Cayin,mingda & Antiquesound lab