I just wanted to jump on the band wagon and compliment this product. I justgot one four days ago and have been auditioning it ever since. I have a Svetlana
upgrade on the amplifier tubes.

The sound is warm but not tubey; the bass is full and controlled but not extended down to 20Hz. Soundstaging is fairly deep and the dynamics are a
little thin. On complex materials, you might feel that something is missing.
On the way positive side, woodwinds sound like woodwinds, particularly the
clarinets and oboes, which very few amps can do.

I was pleasently shocked by this amp and made only a tiny dent in my pocket book. I feel a public obligation to recommend this amp.

While this product gets generally high marks on this page, I simply want to remind people of the value this amp brings to the table. For $700, you can get a true tubed intergrated amp. Ok . . . its no Cary, but dollar for dollar it CANNOT be beat!!! After just 5-6 hrs of listening to my fav recordings, I will never go back to solid state. I have some B&W 302s, moderately priced speaker cables, and a mass market Nakamichi CD player. If you turn off the lights and play it at a moderate level, the speakers vanish and the performers are in your room. I am a Rega Planet away from the ultimate bedroom/office system.
One last word . . . Paul from Bizzy Bee has taken some heat on here. I bought my amp from him and it was a great experience and a good deal. While his specials may change, for $675 I got the JD202B (latest model) with a tube upgrade from Chinese to Sovtek (Russian) tubes, a free set of replacement pre-amp tubes, and free ground shipping. For just $20 more, I had the amp in 2 days. If you want one of these beauties . . . Give him a call!!!

I recently purchased the SJ202A as an end-of-the-year Demo model from a local audio shop, and although I am still burning it in, the sound is phenomenally better than the previous solid state amp/ preamp separates I had. At 495$ (Demo) the price was worth taking a blind leap into tube amplification. From what I've heard (even right out of the box, I'll never return to solid state. This simple little entry-level integrated amp demonstrates the ultimate promise of its higher-priced counterparts, and delivers amazing sonic clarity and soundstaging in its own right. I can imagine what single-ended monoblocks must sound like. Nevertheless, Jolida has done marvelous job bringing tube quality sound to the budget minded audio enthusiast. While I will probably never be an "audiophile" capable of quoting esoteric sonic parameters, I do recognize wonderful, clean, engaging, captivating, enrapturing sound when I hear it. THIS AMP DELIVERS. Build quality is very solid as well. I plan to upgrade the tubes in the near future based upon virutal unanimous recommendations to do so (However, the stock tubes are pretty damn good). You can't go wrong with this amp, especially at this price. 5 stars for price:performance ratio.

Right out of the box the Jolida makes you want to listen to every CD in your collection again. It draws you into the music. I own a pair of Triangle Antals and the combination of the Jolida on the Antals is a match made in Heaven. The 202 does better with smallish speakers. With a sensitivity of 91 the Antals turn the reletivly small 40 watts into room filling pure sound. Soundstage was also incredable on the Jolida compared to Solid State. Bass on drums also had the intentionally bump and chrispness that my old Parasound 1000 just didn't have. If you like your bass full this amp would let you down. It doesn't have any equilizer nobs but I hate those anyway. Bass around 30-40 hertz was great never weak. Build quality was also very nice on the Jolida. Tube upgrade is very helpful. Overall for sound quality, build, and value the Jolida ranks 5.

Sound

I am afraid that I am one of those who will probably never go back to solid state. This amp is great. I think the price is an obvious VALUE! I have already begun learning about tube swapping. My little AR-18's can play low mids.
Other equipment:
Cardas interconnects
Kimber 8tc
Marantz Cd48 to Entech 205.2 DAC

I've had this amplifier for just about a year now and have been very pleased. I bought it as a demo unit and after trading in my NAD 304 the total cost around $300. I think it will be very difficult for me to go back to solid state without paying a lot more money. I'm giving it five stars because it is too good for the price.

Associated equipment:

NAD 510 cd player
Soliloquy 5.2 speakers
Kimber PBJ interconnects

Lets your music sound like music.

None that I am qualified to analyze.

In Eden, Adam and Eve listened to tube amps . . .

I suppose if I waited a few months before reviewing this product, it would give my comments more credibility, but I'm so enthralled with the sound of the JD 202 that I am just going to spill my guts about it. When I decided to upgrade from my older Yamaha receiver thing, I tried a Parasound amp with a few different pre-amps (included one tube pre-amp). In all cases, the set-up made my music loud and clear, but not the least bit pleasant. I could no longer sit still and listen to my music, which is an awful way to waste one's life away. With the Jolida, I feel little desire to do much besides listen to my music. My system would not impress an audiophile--I have a ten year old Yamaha CD player (but with a good interconnect :). The Krix Equinox speakers I got just before the amp are profoundly great, but small, and due to my living arrangement, are sitting too high up. Also, the listening area is huge, too big for the power of the 202. And I have to sit too far from the speakers. All of that said, this not astronomically priced integrated tube amp is a taste of the musical divine. And this is with the factory tubes still in place. It has the added advantage of looking like a weapon of mass destruction from a James Bond movie.

Smooth mids and highs, excellent clarity and transparency

Somewhat weak bottom end compared to solid state

I took a chance and purchased this amp, hoping that it would be better than solid state. Two songs into the first cd I called my pharmacist and cancelled my viagra prescription. All I can say is that for the first time in my life I am enjoying music. If you are thinking about buying a tube amp but are afraid, I say fear not! It's painless, especially at $600.00.

Similar Products Used:

Acurus DIA 100MK2

jolida sj 202a

Well...I just bought my first ever high-end amplifier and it is of tube-design!This babe is rated at 40W/ch and it is of ultra linear A/B design. It comprised of 4 output tubes and 4 driver tubes, essentially the same configuration as SJ302a except that the latter is of 50W/ch.

It runs well easily after 3 minutes...and is as comfortable with classical as with pop. Of course tubes can't play rock well. The important thing is this babe has great dynamics and musicality!

She works best in moderately medium sized rooms...considering the 40W/ch rating.