Listening to luxury: The Jadis Orchestra Black amplifier

The Audiophiliac spends quality time with the Jadis Orchestra Black stereo integrated amplifier. www.jadis-elect...
#highendaudio #vubeamplifiers

[@MrStewbee]

I have the Jadis JPL pre-amp since 1993, that's 36 years ...not a problem in the slightest and the tubes last forever, and this with the power always turned on and in the mute on position... I will never get of rid of this piece... Besides being the most beautiful pre on the market it sounds fabulous...Jadis makes some super stuff and so reliable.

[@mkaye818]

Well I auditioned this amp and watched your video after the audition....and I am going to buy one at the end of the month (to go w JMR Cantabile Jubilee speakers - a French combo.) It sounded...beautiful. Music went straight to the heart. Can't wait. Your comments were spot on.

[@stevefick3919]

Beautiful Piece! I went on the "Jadis" website, and found many more beautiful pieces! Never heard of these before. Certainly peaked my interest! Tubes are so cool.

[@nickzapletal9421]

My first high end amp was an inherited Jadis Ja-30...1986 or so....it was not neutral, not powerful, not any audiophile term... EVERYONE always stopped to listen and agreed that it was the most beautiful sounding amp they had ever heard. And i must agree. The only description is that: Beautiful sounding.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

Correct.............and with selected nos tubes it's sounding even more magic........... 5814 A triple mica black plates RCA input .......... ECC82 flat plates TFK............phase splitter........... ECC83 flat plates TFK ............drivers......... 6550A Tungsol nos............power Thank me later.

[@Jack96993]

I have the VAC PA 80 80 set in triode mode and love it! The beast weighs at least 70lbs Driven by 4 Golden Dragon KT88's and comes with 4,6&8 ohm's taps

[@billbones1000]

Beautiful piece of gear! If I ever get rid of my primaluna this will be high on the list of contenders!

[@Some_D0nkus]

Jadis does stunningly beautiful work. I had the wonderful opportunity to work on the JA500 system. That was truly astonishing.

[@billdunn8542]

“Getting lost in it” is audiophile nirvana. Embrace the light.

[@nanao1267]

Nice authentic Ghana Tye and dye shirt.Steve your shirt has a lot of meaningful Ghanaian symbols.I hope you understand them.

[@angusvanhalen2886]

Most of my favorite recordings are about the lives of Eskimo’s. Nice amp

[@nickkyriakidis4350]

I have the older "gold plated" version, for around 23 years. Nowadays with Genalex tubes, Gold Lion (both el34 and ecc83). Currently using it with Martin Logan Ascent i, without any problem and excellent sound (at least for my ears).

[@brianruhl7761]

Of course the hobby is a spring board to contemplate truth and beauty

[@bernard3690]

Thank you for your videos. I purchased a Jadis Orchestra Black based on your recommendation and because I could not afford a VTL IT-85. It certainly is enjoyable. I find it addictive. As I like to say the music is now more musical. More so than the Cambridge Audio SR-20 I've been listening to prior though that gave me pleasure as well. However I am struck at how dark everything is. Not much but a bit bottom heavy. I don't know if this is an artifact of the Jadis or if it is an accurate representation of Classical music as I do not visit live performances or perhaps a consequence of my sixty-seven year old ears or perhaps they need to be run in. I would welcome your comment and advice on this matter. Thank You Kindly

[@redstarwraith]

A nice looking piece of gear. As soon as I saw tubes, I knew you were going to tell us how great it sounded with your Klipsch! On another note, not too many people I know would be caught extolling the virtues of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia one moment, and in the next be going on about The Residents! Sure keeps things interesting.

[@benjammin2020]

me: *sitting here, looking at my RadioShack PA amp, with $100 Chi-fi speakers * Steve: only point to point wiring Me: of course, what else would you do?

[@HareDeLune]

I love this comment.

[@nostro1001]

@Ben.....huh...you're talking exotica....imported all the way from China. Sweet 😎😎😎

[@benjammin2020]

@@nostro1001 Yeah, I actually REALLY like them. I've never really heard a "good" setup/room, but they sound great to me.

[@johanstam4188]

@@benjammin2020 That last bit is what it's all about, just enjoy the sh*it out of your system, no matter what it costs.

[@nostro1001]

@@johanstam4188 Yup.....exactly👌🏽 And keep on enjoying Ben. 😎😎😎

[@jeffstuart6420]

One of your BEST reviews ever! Thanks.

[@astolatpere11]

Nice review. Love to hear your impressions of gear playing music you like.

[@pedrorueda252]

I owned a Dynaco ST-70 in the past. The bass was sluggish and it wasn't particularly fast paced. I also have a Glow Amp 2 that uses EL84 tubes (albeit $900 ). I've also owned a KT-88 amp. Without going into single ended 300b tube territory, the EL 34s and variants, for me, retain the tube midrange magic. I just picked up the Orchestra Black, replaced the driver tubes, and I believe I finally arrived at the holy grail. This amp has great tone, timbre, bass control, and oodles of power in reserve over my 89db Proac Studio 118's. It has a slightly romantic sound, somehow introducing atmosphere without being syrupy. Steve wasn't kidding... as described, something like velvety luxury.

[@2mikelim]

Just sub the stock ecc83 with Brimar 6060 (ecc81) and you'll thank me for it!

[@tg6373]

I just bought this puppy--Love it!

[@wilcalint]

Make no mistake here folks. This ( Jadis ) is a 73+ year old amplifier design. It’s called a “Williamson Amplifier” for the designer D.T.N. Williamson and published in the UK Magazine“Wireless World” in 1947: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamson_amplifier Whatever Patents used to apply are now long since run out. Schematics are widely available. An example is here: www.tubebooks.org/file_downloads/stancor_ul_schematics.pdf These things, as far as a High End tube amp goes, sound great. Typical construction is a single chassis, two channel, 6550 output tube, 60 watts per channel design. My favorite implementation is Saul Marantz’s design of the mid 50’s. He used EL34 tubes. Since there are no patents pending on this design there are a bazillion Chinese implementations of these things. And as in all tube amps, they all sound great, but different. There’s nothing new here. Zero innovation. Prices are all over the place. I suggest buying a Chinese knock off on eBay and have fun. Due to the way this is designed the first, and most of the second, lower octaves are kinda thin. I don’t care what Jadis says about their transformers. Steve did a wonderful series on Nelson Pass and his SS designs a month or so ago. Any of Nelsons designs, regardless of how old, would blow every Williamson Amplifier away big time. One more note. Do you have any idea how long electrical AC transformers have been around? Gimme a break. Nothing new here.

[@rodrigocordova3896]

Bill, thanks for sharing. What do you think about using those antiques designs?? Why the companies stoped using them?

[@wilcalint]

@@rodrigocordova3896 I think it's fun to use these dated designs. Also the performance of these things is well known and documented. Terms like "air" and "space" are often used to describe the sound they produce. Most listeners prefer these things. That "air" and "space" is actually 2nd order harmonics distortion. And people will pay 10's of thousands of $$$$ for it. To each his own.

[@rodrigocordova3896]

Thanks Bill, do you prefer Solíd state? I heard the Jadis with Sonus Faber Lumina at store and was a great sound for me…but i just a New enthusiast.

[@wilcalint]

@@rodrigocordova3896 Big difference between "was a great sound to me" and the sound being accurate. There is personal preference here. I am a fan of Nelson Pass and have, and still do, own a number of his devices over the years.

[@rodrigocordova3896]

@@wilcalint i will look for Pass...Thanks.

[@eightrodway]

Good recommendation. Hard to fault Jadis. Extra points for the Knick soundtrack! Pretty spectacular.

[@Projacked1]

Clint Martinez' 'Solaris' is also must have if you just want to let the sound fill the room with 'beauty' so to speak.

[@TwangThang57]

Record out to headphone amp.

[@stevescudder1507]

I couldn't help remembering when I committed to building my ST-70 back in the 60's. As a poor college student it was all I could afford. Of course the Jadis is more refined, but $4K for a simplistic tube amp? It makes me wonder if I could hear the difference. The old Dynakit is still working beautifully, BTW.

[@1mctous]

You'll want the replace the filter caps and run the tubes through a curve tracer by now, but otherwise your old Stereo 70 should sound as good as new. It also has excellent resale value; fully working ones sell for about $1K used.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

The out could be used for reel to reel recording.

[@StephaneVorstellung]

Or CDR, or to a digital recorder, or even cassette. It amazes me how many people assume a fixed line out is archaic feature.

[@net_news]

@@StephaneVorstellung or even looping the output to other components like line level subs or another amp... it's not the "ideal" solution but "tape outputs" saved my arse several times... they are super useful!!

[@stephensmith3111]

@@StephaneVorstellung Yaayyy, archaic! "The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not touched by frost." --- J. R. R. Tolkien as Bilbo Baggins Being an Old Dude of the Old School, I also like having tone controls. S. G. commented about plugging in an equalizer like the Schiit Loki (he apparently misspoke when he referred to the Mani, which is their phono preamp). However, there does not appear to be a tape monitor/processor loop, just a line out. As such if you plugged the Loki into the line out and then back into one of the aux. inputs, it could create runaway feedback that would be potentially catastrophic if it also goes in parallel to the power tubes. I would need to see the circuit diagram to know for certain. This line out is fine if it feeds a recorder with it's own independent monitoring facility, a headphone amp, or a second power amp.

[@nickkyriakidis4350]

I use it for my headphones amp.

[@MOOeymania]

Please consider reviewing some Primaluna amps or preamps

[@ryan1845]

I just got the Evo 400. I would love him to review that unit :)

[@ryan1845]

@Thomas Zielinski @ 27k Euros, I wonder why, lol :)

[@ryan1845]

I can get new turbos for my Mercedes CLS 63 AMG, with that $$$

[@socksumi]

High fidelity is all about creating illusions. The idea is to create a facsimile of a musical event that can trick you into suspending disbelief that it's not real. I heard only one audio system capable of doing that. It was at the Las Vegas CES 'The High End Show'. A pair of MBL 101E Radialstrahlers being driven by MBL amps and source in a carefully treated room. The sound was so real, so holographic I felt I could reach out and touch the singers and musicians.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

Would love to see you review the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III

[@HughWalker]

Hi Steve, Thanks for making these very informative reviews. They make my day

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Forrest Gump says that tubes and horns go together like peas and carrots.

[@Gabriel-of-YouTube]

Some might argue that's like a box of chocolates...

[@dalefriesen7812]

The old point to point wiring/Residents gambit paid off.

[@estebannemo1957]

Steve: Could you review Decware and Cary tube amps? Thanks.

[@redstarwraith]

Hey Esteban: Steve did a segment of Best Integrated Amps a few years ago and briefly covered the Decware Zen Torii (I believe?). There is also a CNET bit where he picks the best receivers and amplifiers and he covers the Zen Torii MKIV Check it out, if you haven't!

[@estebannemo1957]

redstarwraith OK, thanks, yes I think I saw Steve mention a Decware amp in a "best of", but it wasnt a proper review.

[@redstarwraith]

@@estebannemo1957 yeah. Decware's Steve Deckert doesn't go in for showing his gear at audio shows or any of that. He hosts his own audio show where he shows his gear, but you have to go to Peoria, IL for it. He seems content to let his gear become known solely by word of mouth. The Decware community is a fiercely loyal one. I've been looking at a couple of pieces of their gear for a few years now. Looking and drooling. . .

[@xstensl8823]

i had their Defy 7 pre-amp. bliss

[@nostro1001]

Well....I was gonna say Steve....now you're talking....Jadis. 😎 I used to drool over their amps. But hey....under 4k ($3999🐸), I seriously think this could be a bargain. I'm not sure I ever really got the residents, but I bought their albums. (They had great covers). Never really got Grateful Dead either & didn't buy their albums. 😂 Now I'll say....now you're talking Steve...awesome looking amp and perhaps sounds almost as good as it looks (that's saying something). As you said you used to sell them back in your Singer days & similarly I used to see them quite a bit. I'm not sure what happened to their presence here, but really excellent to see they are still about and producing great gear. Thanks 🎶🎶🎶

[@Drackleyrva]

I love my Dynaudio Special 40s!

[@hakanguneri1463]

My amps ,its elegance view ,superior warm sound and frigale☺️

[@davidthomson8164]

Be great to see a video comparing the audio on streamers/external DACs like the Bluesound Node with AVRs that claim to have high quality audio DACs like the Yamaha RX-V685 and Denon AVRX3600

[@mk5721]

Would you only recommend a solid state amp for the KEFs, or was this just not the right tube amp for them?

[@francoisbouchard6663]

Hi Steve I love your show! Jadis means "formerly" in English and you have to pronounce the S at the end. Jadisss... Thank you 🎶

[@weeooh1]

Well at least he didnt pronounce it Yadee.

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

How about a comparison to the Rouge Cronus Magnum III? $500 cheaper with an MC phono pre? Thanks

[@grodard9]

The "s" in Jadis is pronounced. It means "long ago" or "once".

[@martinvegas1327]

These are made for classical👍

[@yippie6862]

You forgot to mention one important aspect of the Orchestra, it's a pain in the azz to bias. Good luck when it comes time to change the tubes or if you like to try new different tubes. If you don't have a Jadis dealer with a technician nearby that can do it for you then you might want to think twice.

[@locmanw1583]

Tru dat!

[@Ky_du]

Yup learning the hard way now here in Maryland

[@TexasScout]

Beautiful!

[@lloll69]

I just heard it.. With living sound speakers. I thought it sounded quite clean for tube . Analog yet rather accurate. Acoustic should sound good with it.

[@1mctous]

$4K for this level of parts and build quality (in France, no less) seems like decent value. The Rogue Cronus Magnum ($3K, built in the US) and the Conrad-Johnson CAV-45 ($4250, built in the US) would be the apparent competitors.

[@chrisblock6697]

Since it is a french amp, to keep the theme, would have loved to see Steve do this in his blue / white horizontal stripped shirt (with a beret). And say "parfait" when he said "perfecto" (I think that's spanish).

[@harryconover289]

Looks lovely classic simple design that you like it so much is probably because of there output transformer but my favorite is still the Audio Research D76 a much more complex circuit if anything it is too neutral plus with just a y cable they amp can be bridged. To 150 watts this amp you review is 35 watts tops it uses the first generation of power tubes designed so not a beam power type but a power pentode this type used in a ultra linear mode gives very consistent good results but the GE 6550 type used in the D76 a one of the last power tubes released this three generations newer my favorite is the 8417 and that is the last released and was never accepted and has been discontinued

[@512bb]

Thats funny Steve, I always like Jadis so i'm thinking I wonder how it would pair up with a set of Harbeth P3s. I have always found Dynaudio driver's slow & a bit heavy so as speaker's always came across a bit lethargic.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Steve - a program suggestion. Have on Roy Delgado from Klipsch to talk about horns in home Hi-Fi. There's been quite a bit of modernization of late in the Heritage Line in terms of horn design, compression driver materials, and crossover design (steeper slopes). Sneak in a question about the underground movement from some real zealots that are using the Klipsch Jubilee (which combines Roy's famous K-402 tractrix MR-HF horn and PWK's last horn loaded LF design) in their homes.

[@christophernoto]

Steve, being “tube curious” isn’t going to carry me too far past $200 or $300... Maybe you could do a similar review for those of us who are unlikely to spend more than $500, maximum, for a single component? I enjoy most every video you do, but you might as well be reviewing $40,000 components, which are no more inaccessible to me than this beautiful $4,000 piece. 👍👍❤️ All the best!

[@svalbard01]

Check this one out, if you haven't seen it yet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6abh4Ruo7FqsMU

[@ivayloipetkov]

mndaudio.com/ check out these guys. They use the same quality principals in their architecture i.e. point to point soldering and quality inhouse made transofmers. Everything is hand made from the wood elements down to the transformer.

[@carlitomelon4610]

Chris Notto Check out Yaqin. I'm listening to a Silk Audio (4xEL34) right now. Smooth as buttah! Thomas on stereo YT channel compares his Yaqin to Primaluna. Conclusion: New vs Old tube sound;-) Zero Fidelity recently reviewd a $300+/- point to point wired 2x EL34 integrated and loved it. They are out there;-)

[@locmanw1583]

Is the black version better than the gold faceplate regular version? I think the special sound comes from their custom transformer. I heard a Defy-7 many yrs ago and had that rich smooth dynamic sound!

[@mitulvenkataramanasamy5187]

mastersound italy also makes their transformer in house terrific value.

[@mitulvenkataramanasamy5187]

@Huw chardon please watch zero fidelity seans review about master sound.i had purchased harbeth super's and master sound amp after watching it.i relish the decision.

[@ptg01]

Jadis makes world class all tube equipment. A couple of years ago, I wanted to get the Jadis DIAPASON (as I was just getting started with tube amps) and was having a very hard time getting it in the USA. I even reached out to Jadis in France to ask for their assistance.. Nothing they can do as Bluebird (importer/distributor) does not have it in their portfolio.. so I have moved on to an all American (as in hand Made in the USA) SET Class A amplifier maker and glad I did. I would have LOVED to be a proud owner of a Jadis but it was not meant to be. A 40 year audiophile friend of mine that currently has the Jadis PA100 driving a pair of Sonus Faber IL Cremonese ex3me and was sorely disappointed that I was not able to get the Jadis.... Sad how these companies are not able to or willing to work with a prospective lifetime customer that is serious about acquiring their products.

[@rodrigocordova3896]

Create a box in Europe and buy them in Europe, then a company can deliver to you. Ask in DHL...they can pick up from a store you buy and you are listening in a week..

[@ptg01]

@@rodrigocordova3896 Warranty and voltage are issues..

[@mornecoetzee735]

Steve, what do you have against expensive amplifiers?

[@atoz6552]

4k$ is still a lot! Cool impressions Steve

[@stilite1]

Question for you, Steve: I always had the impression that, due to their relatively lower output, "tube" amps pair best with higher-sensitivity speakers (i.e. +90 dB). Yet I noticed the Dynaudio is 84 (!) and you seemed to find they paired well. Is my assumed rule-of-thumb misguided? Thx

[@truebluemiata]

Rightoh boy about tubes and horns and also tubes and vinyl. Where's the phono stage?

[@locoboy1242]

Will this amp play well the Pixies with EL34? People say that they love the romantic sound of EL43 but are they ok with Rock and electronic music? Thanks

[@johnsweda2999]

Shame they put the output tubes too close together, you could put 1mm steel plates between the tubes would help or incase the tubes even better in a metal cans

[@2mikelim]

I'm using a ten yr old Orch Reference and if I subbed two Brimar 6060 (ecc81) for the two stock ecc83, its a totally different amp with transparent holographic 3D imaging! Thanks to the review of the 6060 by Dave Thompson, founder of Raven Audio without which I wouldnt be aware of the merits of this tube. to get its full musical transparency, this amp should be used with efficient electrostatics or the ribbon hybrid Eminent Technology that I'm using.

[@Ky_du]

@2mikelim you can swap 12ax7 for 12at7!?

[@2mikelim]

@@Ky_du yes you can

[@andyandy2684]

I think it's Ja-dees?

[@bernard3690]

I just bought one today and just so you know the price went up five-hundred smackaroonies.

[@handjaja2005]

How’s the bass sounding??

[@chriscollins2548]

where did you get your shirt from Steve - its DOPE!!!

[@briansimmons5363]

I suppose there is nothing on earth that could get you to listen to the new Tool album, Fear Inoculum, A fantastic album. Pneuma and Invincible are must listens. I am probably going to get flamed for saying how good the recording is. Let me say, well recorded for rock music.

[@wewon3]

Cool! Steve did you used to go to the shows when Mr Garcia was still with us?

[@xstensl8823]

how would this compare to a ARC VSi60?

[@yourdiytechlife]

I am tube curious but cant swing that kind of coin at the moment, soooo I will start lower end and work up. I do have one technical question about tube amps. is there a reason that audio manufacturers use the E style transformers rather than toroidal core transformers? Toroidal cores are far more efficient from a purely technical perspective so are there differences in how they sound? or is it more from tradition or a cost perspective?

[@balooo2863]

My assumption would be a tube set up with a toroidal core transformer would generate a crazy amount of heat and you would probably need several TT's in the same unit to function the way a good tube amp should as different tubes have different power requirements; again just an assumption. Great question!

[@tothemax324]

Paul at PS audio did a vid on this awhile back and if I recall its more of a traditional look

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

try tones on tail for weird amazing sounds

[@bigdon3975]

Pleas Steve What AMP for the Maggy´s

[@christinearmington]

It’s up to $4495 now. EL 34s.

[@pauldavies6037]

Good value lots of other tubes amps cost a lot more and are not as well made or been around for 40 years !

[@nostro1001]

@ Paul.....agreed!!! Although, I am now just thinking... I wonder what upgrades this new amp has over some of their older designs (if any). How has it evolved? Maybe it's not really needed to....hard to tell from a brief glimpse here. Cheers!

[@pauldavies6037]

@@nostro1001 design is still fairly basic a lot of these auto biasing designs give a lot of problems

[@nostro1001]

@@pauldavies6037 I think their gear is fairly robust.....but as you say likely fairly basic. At least they've got a solid history and likely ironed out and obvious design flaws from perhaps their early days.

[@3tjrunner3]

Evoke 20 vs Special 40?

[@Lgdf5374]

6l6...6v6....el34....3 amps at Home....😘❤Love Tubes...✌

[@locmanw1583]

Do you like 6L6 the most?

[@Aswaguespack]

Interesting variety in musical selections and such variety of extremes is an excellent way to test audio gear to find strengths and weaknesses that wouldn’t ordinarily be obvious with music of limited extremes. Steve, What is the source of your cool shirts? I think you should at least add the shirt info in the comment section of your videos (or is it “videii” 😂😉😂)

[@artyfhartie2269]

Are the parts made in France too or by Foxconn, Schenzen China?

[@basspig]

Beauty is only skin deep. The audio transformers are mediocre and the tubes are run outside the book parameters. I've had to redesign the bias circuit to make it stable.

[@estebannemo1957]

That's not a bad price.

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

6CA7/EL34........................EL34 is a penthode........6CA7 is a beampower tube...... they don't sound the same.

[@willmac5642]

Guesing it wd take KT77's

[@thomasedward2231]

Man, that’s a sexy looking amp.

[@adambrown8867]

I've never heard Jadis called Ja Dee before. I guess Triangle is called Twah An Gail?

[@hifitommy]

another amp manufacturer that winds their own transformers is Manley Labs. THAT'S American. ...hifitommy

[@scottygdaman]

Just???

[@ianmedium]

$39.95 wow, that is cheap!

[@gregoryeleary8779]

i have been in audio world over 55 years live in NYC i have meet many good people & some not so Sound by S one of the worst audio renue ever no better the a used car salesmen Steve i dont know how you could work for singer

[@meshplates]

Jadis is pronounced "Jadeese." Rhymes with geese.

[@jpdj2715]

I'd say the geese analogy makes the ee too long and the s too much a z. People can set Google translate to French-English and type in jadis (once up a time) to click the speaker icon. And, notice the stress is on the first syllable.

[@meshplates]

@@jpdj2715 could have been more pedantic. However the omission of the s-sound which Americans might assume is an appropriate approximation French pronunciation is in fact a phonetic figment of the American imagination. Restoring the S partly undoes the damage. As a resident of France for a decade and with a doctorate in French I don't have to rely on robotic a pronunciation which is at best itself an approximation.

[@meshplates]

Il était une fois is how a fairy tale is begun in French. Jadis is closer to in former times or in olden days.

[@jpdj2715]

@@meshplates- all true in my book. I took a translator's poetic liberty with "once upon a time" because these amps can sound like fairy tales. The ambiguity to USAnians of the silent-or-not "s" is likely caused by Paris.

[@darrensauceda8152]

First

[@vmvlev]

who cares about the truth when you have enough money to buy a mcintosh stereo ;-) i wouldn't ..lol

[@YKsfo]

Jadis web site is yet another European typically poorly constructed seemingly by 12 years old with limited information , broken links, no prices. I wonder what prevents them from dropping few pennies on web presentation ? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Would I spend that much money on supposedly hi end amp after visiting their website? There’s some weird dichotomy in it.

[@nostro1001]

@ Yuri....not really. Jadis been around a long time now. I suspect if a potential purchaser wanted their gear a website not overly make or break. They aren't mass produced, so it doesn't surprise me their web site not up to par (I've not looked). Cheers!

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

It seems to be something I see on the local hi fi shops for example they just don't seem to keep up with their websites and their links are horrendous. The concern I would have on that amp is who will service it? That and replacement tubes are $$. I am into Bryston now and that warranty is comforting.

[@nostro1001]

@@JohnDoe-np3zk Hey John, smaller 'local' stores can be out of touch online & often its monetary or they don't have the skills or time to bother much. My experience out here is pretty much the opposite, most have really good sites, clearly aimed at online clientele. A few of the larger high end stores sites are junk, not because their gear isn't online, but they are just a mess. Hard to navigate with no menus or search function. Just page after page of gear....can't even filter...ridiculous! As for the repair of a Jadis amp, I'd not be concerned if bought from a dealer. However, I think their designs are fairly robust and you'd really not have to worry. As for the longevity of tubes....sure they've gotta life span and can be very expensive. Was that using 300b's? Nos stock of them can be very pricey, then again new stock is readily available of all commonly used tubes from a number of manufacturers now. I assume that integrated is auto bias...so not much to do other than replace if a tube broke. Of course by nature they are more fragile, but I've never had problems with tubes. No kids, pets etc damaging them 👐🏽 Bryson makes excellent gear and should last years and years. A tube amp gives an element of fragility, but no real reason why that would be so. There's always the cage that sits over the tubes when not in use. And there's a bit more finicky dusting from time to time. Sound aside, I find many tube amps visually appealing. Tube amps and high end turntables, ever since I was in my teens always made me think of great sound. So, I've always placed emphasis on those 2 items. Seems silly thinking about it objectively, but that's largely been the audio romance for me. Sound wise, I certainly don't think one is better than another...nor am I concerned about the 'class' of an amp (many people seem to be). If it sounds good, that's all there is to it for me. Class d, A/b, tube...whatever!! Ciao.

[@YKsfo]

nostro1001 well, I am a potential purchaser but I can’t audition it in some shop next door so I need as much info as possible to make me feel comfortable to make the purchase. Looking at it now I would say no. It makes sense only if you’re living next door to them. And yet it could be the best amp ever made. I would never know.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@nostro1001 I do like tube gear mostly preamps since my speakers would never play with tube amps (well maybe but hmmm). Anyway I still have a Conrad Johnson PV6 which is a little "darker" and more "tubelike" than my other CJ PV10B which is more to my tastes. I have spent the $$ on the NOS mullards from Uncle Kev @ Upscale Audio and those 80s mil spec tubes are pretty dam good I think the 12AX7 was 100 when I bought them and now is 200 bucks a piece. The AT7 have tripled in price since then. I liked the CJPV10B with the Magnepan LRS they sounded great although once again used solid state monoblocks old Muse 150 250 watts into 4 ohms. have a great day!

[@JEG6919]

Tube tech is over 100 yrs old. Pass.

[@mk5721]

Would you only recommend a solid state amp for the KEFs, or was this just not the right tube amp for them?

[@ebaysnipa]

I put a primaluna tube integrated amplifier on a set of Kef LS50s the sound was meh. tough to drive speakers

[@3lueant347]

I own a Rogue Sphinx that drives my LS50s. Beautiful sound.

[@mk5721]

@@3lueant347 Hey Clever, I'm looking at the Rogue as well but McIntosh came out with the MA252 integrated this year for 3500. Have you had any issues with your Rogue? Does it produce solid top and bottom end sound?

[@mk5721]

Would you only recommend a solid state amp for the KEFs, or was this just not the right tube amp for them?