This is a follow up to the review below.

Build quality and poor function have sunk this ship.

In my review of the JD603A I raved about the sound quality and hammered the build quality. The hammer came down even harder shortly after that review was posted.

The deck stopped scanning discs consistently and developed some annoying distortion in both channels that was especially bad through the headphone jacks. These problems made me realize that Jolida hadn't made much progress at all in addressing the quality concerns with this unit and I called United Home Products for return instructions.

UHP was very accommodating and took it back, no questions asked. They did point out that I was the only one of over 35 buyers that was having a problem, but I didn't want a repair or exchange and they have agreed to refund my purchase price.

I found a used CAL Aria Mk. III and I'm back in sonic heaven, but I can't help feeling dissapointed. Jolida wouldn't have to do much to improve the build and function of these decks and they would have a true giant killer. As it is now, I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase one of these. Jolida still has some work to do.

Similar Products Used:

Now using a CAL Aria Mk. III

SOUND SOUND SOUND!!! RETAIL PRICE IS A BARGAIN FOR THIS SOUND!

None for this price-ZERO!

Just think of this player as a little finicky and you'll be fine. So it skips every once in awhile on some discs...for the price-who cares? With some 35.00 NOS tubes from Galen Carol Audio, the Jolida smokes all the players listed above that have spent extended time in my system. I would have paid full retail for this player if I wouldn't have found a great deal on one now that I've heard it. If you can find one pre-owned-BUY IT NOW!

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet 2000, Classe CDP.5, YBA Special, Rotel RCD 991, AH Tjoeb 99

Incredible soundstage, smooth smooth sound.

Tray and drive a little on the flimsy side, Looks and colour.

So far mine hasn't missed a beat. Has worked flawlessly (knock on wood) The sound is incredible. Beautiful, smooth, almost anolog sounding with incredible detail. Changed the stock Chinese tubes to NOS Sovtek 12AX7 LPS. Gives it a more focused soundstage greater punch in the bottom end. It's to bad that the 603 has so many negitive reviews. I think Jolida got stuck with a bad batch of drives/sensors and most of them are ending up here. I here Jolida is coming out with a new model soon. Lets hope all production quality concerns have been addressed. Any way, I'm very happy with mine. So Far!

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Marantz 6000 OSE, NAD etc.

Sounds awesome

Built like a cheap piece of junk,cheap tubes

I've never heard a smoother more enjoyable cd player.
But I've had it back to Jolida 3 times allready for a
screwed up transport that skips. If you've ever looked
inside one you can tell why, this thing should sell for
$150 instead of $550. Why make an excellent sounding
tube machine and use the cheapest transport you can.
Jolida should spend an extra $50 and use a quality
mechanism. I now have to go pack up mine to send back
to Jolida for the fourth and last time, I'm demanding
a brand new unit or a complete refund.

Beautiful soundstage, pinpoint imaging, seductive midrange and a new look as compared to their previous players.

Standard tubes provide a bit of a "tubby" bass.

The 603 is a well defined player that presents a beautiful overall presentation. First thing to do is replace the stock tubes with a high quality tube of your choice. We have auditioned the new Sovtek 12AX7LPS, Sovtek AX7WA and the Phillips AX7WA in this player. The WA's provide a bit more musical warmth while the new LPSs seem to add a bit more to the soundstage, basically you can fine tune to taste with your choice of tubes. The hottest thing about this CD player is the seductive midrange. Female vocasl are realistically reproduced without the "edge" sometimes associated with solid state players.
When compared to the SS players mentioned above, the Jolida seemed too provide the warmest sound with any fatigue, however, the Parasound was more articulate but not quite as warm (Parasound would be my first choice for a SS player but cost twice as much as the Jolida).
Obviously this player will not meet everyone's taste and personal preference but if you are into a more musical presentation rather than the dry and sometimes over analytical sound of much more expensive players, than this is the player to audition. It is romantic yet detailed and will hold it's own with any other player out there within a reasonable price point.
I will not say this is the best player on the market, nor will I say there are any better, but depending on what you are looking for as far as musicality, this may be the perfect player. Give it a listen, there are not many other tube players in this price point. Jolida has really listened to their customers when voicing the 603 and it may be just what your looking for.
I did not want this review to come across as being biased as I am a dealer for Jolida. I just wanted to get the ball rolling on this new product and give others an idea of what they can expect from this exceptional player.

Similar Products Used:

Jolida 601 and 602, Parasound, JVC 1050, Adcom GCD-700, various Onkyo players.

Warm sound of vinyl, musicality, blows away anything in this price range...

Skipping on first player but Jolida replaced it and all is perfect!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank Bill Baker of Response Audio in Endicott, NY. This is my first high end system and Bill basically put the whole thing together for me. I purchased everything you see below but the speakers from Bill. However, using Bill's expert advice, I listened to the Dynaudio Audience 72 loudspeakers from a local dealer and bought them right on the spot since they had the "warmth" & bass "slam" Bill said they would. This entire system gets better and better the more I listen to it. And it really wows my non-audiophile friends who can't believe it cost "only" $3000! Before Bill, I didn't know the difference between an audiophile interconnect cable and a 99 cent patch cord. Take my advice and call Bill Baker at 888-785-9773 if you are just catching the hi-fi bug like I am. You'll be glad you did. Check out my killer starter system:

Jolida 1501RC Integrated Hybrid Amp ($650)
Jolida JD603 Tube CD Player ($550)
Clarity Emberglow Interconnects ($85)
Clarity Speaker Wire ($160)
Dynaudio Audience 72 Speakers ($1,439)

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Onkyo Integra

Smooth vocal, great bass, analog quality timbre (well almost)

Read below

This is and update on my previous review, look for David from Woodland Hills, CA, Date 6/10/2000.

As you can see from my previous review, the two problems I complained about was skipping and transport was taking too long to read all tracks of some CD. Well later on the skipping becomes more often than rare, and the last month was almost on every CD. After almost one year of my purchase I gave up I called JoLida customer service...

On the other end of the line was a gentleman name Larry, I explained to him the problems I encounter with the player and that I wish it to be fixed. Larry was a real pleasant to talk to, he apologize for my problem and told me that JoLida had a batch of bad sensors that cause that, he told me that
it is beyond repair and offer me a replacement.

I shipped my unit and after about three weeks I received a brand new unit as Larry promised. I went and remove the cover to replace the original Chinese tubes with my Telefunken 12AX7 as I did to my first player, and to my surprise the original tubes are now Sovtec 12AX7 which looks similar to Telefunken ribbed plate, wow FREE UPGRADE!!!.

As for the problem is long gone, no skipping, skidding or whatever; it now took a split second for the transport to display the CD's track contents.

As the result I'm upgrading my review to a solid 5 (I will give it 6 if I could). if you are a new buyer make sure the display is blue and not red (like my first one) if so you have a great unit with great part and tubes that will make you smile every time you play it.

Bravo to JoLida for their excellent customer service. AAA+++

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AH! Tjoeb 99 - 4000

NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS IT IS QUALITY BUILT

ORGINAL TUBES

WHEN I PURCHASED THESE UNITS I NOT ONLY BOUGHT ONE I BOUGHT 2 ,ONE FROM RESPONSE AUDIO IN NEW YORK AND THE OTHER FROM A MAILORDER DEALER,ANY WAY THESE UNITS BOTH PERFORM FLAWLESSLY,AND NEITHER WERE DEAD OUT OF THE BOX,(I WONDER IF THE OTHER REVIEWER HAS A AXE TO GRIND?)ANYWAY I LOVE THIS UNIT.IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN MY REGA PLANET WHICH I AUCTION OFF ON EBAY ,I DO NOT THINK I COULD FIND A BETTER SOUNDING CD PLAYER NEAR THE PRICE,WHAT COMES OUT OF THE UNIT IS WHAT ISPUT IN IF YOU HAVE A BAD CD IT WILL SOUND BAD IF YOU HAVE A GREAT CD IT WILL SOUND GREAT,AND AS FOR THE TUBES THE SOVTEK TUBES ARE PERFECT FOR THIS UNIT BILL BAKER AT RESONSE AUDIO IN ENDICOTT NY SUGGEST TRYING THESE AND BITY DO THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE,IT IS REALLY A ANALOG SOUND,A MORE NATURAL SOUND.LIKE I SAID I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS CD PLAYER IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP JUST LISTEN AND JUGGE IT FOR IT SOUND,OH AND THE LOOKS ARE SHARP ALSO FOR THIS PRICE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BEAT IT PERIOD!!!!!
WAY TO GO JOLIDA.

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REGA PLANET,ROTEL TRANSPORT,TANDBERG 4000 SERIES,AH TOEB

Sounds like a $1,500.00 plus player

None at this price range

Another great audio bargian and best kept secret from a company not that well known for their great contribution to budget high end audio. (They should be) This player knocks the socks off $1,000.00 plus units I've auditioned and owned. I will admit, I have replaced the stock tubes which I did not care for at all, with NOS Tungsgram's. This elevates this player to another level entirely, in my humble opinion, equal to players costing $1,500.00 and better. I did have random tracking problems with my unit, but Jolida replaced it with a brand new unit, which has worked flawlessly. No way you can get away from solid state grain in this price range, unless of course, you own one of these bargians. A truly musical player, with liquid midrange and total lack of solid state or digital grain. Combined with my Jolida 202A Tube integrated amp, my search for musically satifying electronics has finally ended, and I'm back where I should be, enjoying my music collection.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood, Sony, SonyES, JVC, NAD

Remarkable tone

None for $550

I traded in my Rega Planet for this player. It is one smooth sounding piece of equipment. It has a very full presentation with great bass and wonderful, natural, non-penetrating, non-harsh highs. This may cure what ails the audiophile who gets ear bleed from listening to the standard high-end system.

This unit probably equals or beats the Ah!Tjoeb as a breakthrough product at its price point. Based on what I have heard the last two weeks I dont anticipate any sort of tube upgrade. The stock configuration is great. Some people may not be giving it enough burn-in time to hear its true colors. Right out of the box it has some courseness to its tone. After 25-30 hours it is extreemly clear and after 50+ hours you get a mellowness I have never heard in audio equipment.

I am lucky to have a Jolida dealer in town. If you want more information on the 603 contact Bill at Uptown Audio (540)343-1250 or: get.coda@rev.net

My set-up consists of the 603, a Jolida 801A integrated, and Tannoy Saturn S6 speakers. I get a great high-end sound from this arrangement. People would reach a point or diminishing returns rapidly by spending a lot more money. If you are in the market for an electronics upgrade check this piece out.

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Acurus ACD11, Rega Planet