Jolida 302B

[92135011]

Harlo everyone,
You guys think this integrated is a good buy? or is there something else that is worth more for its money. I think this amp is listed as about 900 retail.

[RGA]

Actually yes. If you want a SAFER purchase you may want to try the Antique Sound Labs AQ1003DT. It also uses the popular EL 34 but has a built in bias meter, Subwoofer output a Remote control is built better and has a 5 year warranty instead of the 1 year that Jolida offers. It has a 4ohm tap as well.

It is more expensive than the Jolida but I think you might be happier. The Sub out is pretty importantin my view and remote is frankly nice. http://www.divertech.com/aq1003dt.html

I also believe you can get this in several colour options Last years model doesn't have the remote or sub out so you may get them discounted.

The older model is $849.00 available from Adire Audio http://www.adireaudio.com/home_audio...s/AQ1003DT.htm

[happy ears]

Well I will second what RGA says above. Although I have not heard either product and Jolida's tend to like nice I also read that they require upgrades to sound there best. For the extra money the features that Antique Sound Labs with the extra warranty would seam to be worth it. Listening for yourself is always the best.

[92135011]

whats the difference between the new and old versions of the ASL besides what you mentioned? sound?
where would i be able to try this in Vancouver, BC?

[RGA]

I live in Nanaimo. If you can swing a trip to Victoria Soundhounds on Pandora carries both Jolida and ASL.. You can send an e-mail to Tash at Soundhounds and he can tell you who is carrying ASL. ASL is bigger than Jolida as a company so they should be carried by someone in Vancouver. I''m pretty sure there is a dealer in Surrey or Langley that carries ASL.

As for the differences I can't say. The old one was very good. Have not heard the new one.

If you go to Audio Asylum in the tube forum you can ask the owner of the company Joseph Lau what improvements have been made. Be sure to put Joseph Lau in the title of your thread because ASL gets a lot of chatter and he probably won't see it.

It's actually another small advantage to be able to talk to the owner of the company either...espeically if you've never biased an amp or you want to try out different tubes.

I highly recommend Soundhounds BTW because while the store is basicaly a house they carry a very wide selection. The store is crammed with stuff but if you want to compare two brands against each other it's better than Hi-fi Center or Commercial Electronics. They don't carry everything from every brand so you should e-mail to make sure they have what you want.

The last time I was there they had the ASL MG 15DT not the AQ1003 because they had the 302B. They also had the AQ2004DT preamp and Wave 8 monoblocks that run all together $700.00Cdn or so. I prefer the integrated myself but it depends on speakers.

Partial list of the brands Soundhounds carries
http://www.soundhounds.com/

[92135011]

Hmm...
I wish SoundHounds was closer.
I dont have a car, and even if I did, it would cost a lotta money to go to the island.
I could bus there....except, I think just getting to the ferry terminal might take 2 hours
add another 2 hour boat ride with another 1.5 hour bus ride and we looking at a round trip of 11 hours!!!

That means I would have to wake up at 6am to catch the 9am ferry. Get to victoria at 1-2pm. Find Soundhounds. Spend 2 hours trying their numerous stuff. 4pm now. Get back to the terminal. Catch the 6pm ferry and get home by 10pm.

man...sounds like a lotta work. I do wanna try them side by side...but for a full day's travel + 20 bux ferry money is sorta a bummer.

[magictooth]

Actually yes. If you want a SAFER purchase you may want to try the Antique Sound Labs AQ1003DT. It also uses the popular EL 34 but has a built in bias meter, Subwoofer output a Remote control is built better and has a 5 year warranty instead of the 1 year that Jolida offers. It has a 4ohm tap as well.

It is more expensive than the Jolida but I think you might be happier. The Sub out is pretty importantin my view and remote is frankly nice. http://www.divertech.com/aq1003dt.html

I also believe you can get this in several colour options Last years model doesn't have the remote or sub out so you may get them discounted.

The older model is $849.00 available from Adire Audio http://www.adireaudio.com/home_audio...s/AQ1003DT.htm

RGA,

How is it possible for you to recommend an integrated or other amplification source without knowing what type of speakers he's using? I've found that one type of amplifier works well with a certain type of speaker and another kind that same amplifier sounds only so-so.

With my Tannoy speakers, Jolida 302B sounds OK, but match them with the Audiomat integrated that I recently installed and WOW - we have music now.

For the Jolida 302B, I think that they have a mod that might make it sound better. I've never heard the Antique Sound Labs one.

[RGA]

RGA,

How is it possible for you to recommend an integrated or other amplification source without knowing what type of speakers he's using? I've found that one type of amplifier works well with a certain type of speaker and another kind that same amplifier sounds only so-so.

With my Tannoy speakers, Jolida 302B sounds OK, but match them with the Audiomat integrated that I recently installed and WOW - we have music now.

For the Jolida 302B, I think that they have a mod that might make it sound better. I've never heard the Antique Sound Labs one.

Generally if people are looking at tube amps they're very well aware of the matching issues. Both these tube amps are at least 30 Watts. The Jolida is a bit softer than the 1003DT in the bass giving it more of a classic tube sound. 30 Watts should be enough to drive 95% of the speakers currenly sold so that is not really an issue.