Jolida SJ-302A Integrated Amplifiers Reviews

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought this unit in early '07 on Audiogon for about $450. It came with the stock Chinese tubes which I replaced with some JJ E34Ls which sounded far better but had problems from the start. After six months I had enough of blowing fuses and replaced them with EH 6CA7s. After nine more months one of the EHs red plated and they were subsequently replaced by the new Tung Sol EL34Bs. I got a year out of those when I started getting distortion out of the right channel (The stock preamp tubes were replaced by NOS Mullards from the get go and have had no problems with them at all). I think I may go the NOS route with the power tubes (If I decide not to try a set of SEDs) Either a set of Mullard XF2s or Amperex Bugle boys. But for right now my Jolida sadly sits unused (It also needs a new preamp tube socket) waiting for the day when she gets fixed and gets a sub woofer out installed (a good cure for the EL34 flubbies).

Price Paid:  $625.00 from c/o Friend

Summary:
In my 10-years in audio, i've been to integrated, then separates, push-pull to SET, then back to push-pull...a friend wanted to let go of this and for his 2A3 SET...well i was just at the proper place at the proper time...it was a fresh NOS unit which he used for barely a few hours, and he bought straight from the USA...luckily, it had Svetlana EL-34s as part of the package plus electroharmonix 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes...i purchased a set of Westinghouse-branded EL-34s (Siemens), RCA blackplate triple mica 12AT7, Telefunken 12AX7...also asked my friendly neighborhood technician to upgrade the capacitors to Auricaps, Black gates, Panasonic and JJ Tesla, plus change all resistors to Allen Bradleys...the result = WOW!!!...my Dali Concept 6 and Monitor Audio RS1 really sings with this amp...this is ppure all-arounder...this is going to stay at my listening room for a long, long time...pinpoint imaging, i cannot find any fault with this amp (for now)...the sound is so well-balanced, the highs, mids and bass complement each other...IMHO, Jolida should have included the Phono input (MM) for this amp...I'm enjoying more my LPs nowadays...and YES, the manual is very easy to understand...this amp can be even used with a separate pre-amp, isn't that amazing!!...with just easy simple steps in adjusting the volume knobs for suit the listener's taste...

COMPONENTS USED:

Jolida SJ-302 Tube Integrated Amp (Souped-Up)
Jolida JD-100 Tube CD Player
Musical Fidelity XLP-V3 Phono Stage
Clearaudio Microbasic Phono Stage
Dali Concept 6 Speakers
Monitor Audio RS1 Speakers
MIT Terminator 5 ICs
Audience Interconnects
XLO Pro150F ICs
Silver-Plated Copper Speaker Cables
Silver Hospital-Grade Power Cords

Strengths:
1) an all-arounder
2) well balanced sound (highs, mids and bass are balanced)
3) great looks, "macho look"
4) very "quiet" amp despite being a tube amp
5) bang for my buck

Weaknesses:
1) would have been better if phono stage included already - but no big deal really

...apart from this, I cannot find any fault (so far)

giorgioh

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from American Sound of Ca

Summary:
I concur with the positive attributes of the 302A reviews, particularly after upgrading the tubes. I had this unit attached to effecient 92db speakers as a response driven primarly by reviews. Lately, I decided to hook-up my 6 foot electrostatic Maggies 1.6 rated at 86db. The Maggies are rated at 4ohm resistance and they were connected accordingly to the Jolida. Wow! this little unit has the power to vibrate those ribbons. Imaging and spaciousness improved. If you are a lover of jazz and classical and have a set of larger low efficient speakers, give them a try. I'm not certain if electrostatic reponds differently than low efficient conventional drivers but I would like to know what results you get. The system will be further upgraded with a Sim Moon Equinox CDP. I'm hoping this new addition will improve forwardness as I currently use a low budget Yamaha 5 disc changer.

Strengths:
Smooth and non-fatiguing.

Weaknesses:
Lacks in forwardness. Mid range phrases tend to take a "back seat". Maybe the new SIM CDP will change this.

Price Paid:  $675.00 from eBay

Summary:
I have been using this amp for under two months and it is AWESOME. It replaced a solid-state setup, but I''ve also used Counterpoint tube gear. I bought this used and was lucky to get lots of different tubes to try. So far, I have only used the Svetlana EL34''s and Telefunken 12AX/AT''s. Haven''t done any tube swapping yet to see how bad the original Chinese tube sound. The mids and highs sound terrific. I listen to lots of Jazz and voacals and my recordings have never sounded better. I see several reviews indicating a flabby lower-end. I''m using a fairly efficient (91dB) pair of B&W''s and my low end with the Jolida sounds infinately better than what I got out of the 200W Adcom GFA555 that the Jolida replaced. Anyhow, I''m not a professional reviewer and don''t used their lingo...simply stated, this amp. makes me want to listen to more music!!

Strengths:
Nice detail. Complete, musical sound. Decent horizontal soundstage. Quiet, black background (although not dead-quiet).

Weaknesses:
At this price point, there is little to complain about.

Similar Products Used:
Adcom, Rotel, Counterpoint. Presently using Nakamichi DVD, Theta TLC anti-jitter, Cal. Audio Labs Sigma DAC, Stealth silver coax. interconnects, MAD silver ribbon RCA''s, Audioquest Bedrock bi-wire, B

Price Paid:  $825.00 from Jolida

Summary:
I bought this piece direct from Jolida 6 months ago. I was irritated that the unit arrived with no bill of sale, a bad power tube, scratched knobs, and a transformer with bent mounting feet which caused it to sit awkwardly. The Jolida rep sent me the proper replacement parts, but actually recomended that I rap on the transformer with a piece of wood and a hammer to get it to sit back down! I opted to remove the transformer and carefully bend the feet back into place. I was very aggravated at first with the issues it was presenting, and if the unit didn''t sound so amazing I would have sent it back. The stock tubes are crap, and I should be ashamed of myself for selling them on ebay instead of throwing them in the trash where they belong. After replacing them with Svetlana Power Tubes and JAN Phillips Pres it was a completely different amp, and gave me butterflies to listen to it through my Dynaco A-25 speakers. I still have not got my bill of sale.

Strengths:
Wonderful sound for less than a grand. Simple interface. Intergrated so it cuts down on cost and space used. Looks the way a tube amp should look.

Weaknesses:
Transformer mounts, knobs, and connectors are of very poor quality. Stock tubes commit unspeakable atrocities to midrange frequencies when the volume is turned up. The bias testing slots are in an awkward position, and so close to the power tubes that if your not on top of your game you''ll come away with, "EL-34" branded on your monkey spanker.