Re-tubing Jolida 502b

vc69
vc69 Posts: 2,500
edited June 2013 in Electronics
Hello everyone!
I have a friend that recently purchased a Jolida 502b and the previous owner advised that is overdue for new tubes.

I feel certain that a few of you folks have owned one of these. Any suggestions of tube combinations?
-Kevin
HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
2 Channel:
Oppo BDP-83 SE
Squeezebox Touch
Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
VTL 2.5
McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
B&W 801's
Transparent IC's
Post edited by vc69 on
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Comments

  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    I've enjoyed Gold Lion tubes in all the equipment I've owned.
    Jake
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited June 2013
    What kind of sound do you like? That might depend on what kind of tube you should try.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2013
    I am inquiring on behalf of a friend. He is a jazz listener (mostly), but I can't really speak to his preferences. He is a
    tube newb and I am far from an expert. I imagine we will be doing some rolling of the pre-amp tubes but I know nothing about the power tubes (KT-88's?) or which brands would be recommended.
    TIA for the help!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited June 2013
    when i had my 502b the tubes i used were, eh kt88, tung sol reissue 803s gold pin for 12ax7.s, and either a ge 6201 or mullard cv4024 for the 12at7 tube.
    you can also use 12au7's all the way across.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2013
    Interesting, Marvda. What advantage would there be to using 12au7's in all of the four preamp sockets?
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited June 2013
    more choices for different sound plus i had a ton them on hand.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    It would also matter what speakers he is pairing the amp with also. The Gold Lions, for example, will be very detailed but less warm, which could be a bad match for some speakers.
    Jake
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,567
    edited June 2013
    I have a friend that recently purchased a Jolida 502b and the previous owner advised that is overdue for new tubes.

    The previous owner probably meant the power tubes as their lifespan is considerably shorter than the signal tubes. What tube brands are in it now? Does your friend like the sound as is?
    I imagine we will be doing some rolling of the pre-amp tubes but I know nothing about the power tubes (KT-88's?)

    For the KT88's, Shuguang Treasures.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2013
    Thanks, Jesse.
    I have yet to lay eyes on the thing, but it probably has the original tubes. I'll see if he knows offhand. He does like the sound so far, but he really just hooked up last night. Replacing the power tubes and a bias is the first thing he asked about doing.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2013
    zingo wrote: »
    It would also matter what speakers he is pairing the amp with also. The Gold Lions, for example, will be very detailed but less warm, which could be a bad match for some speakers.

    He is driving Paradigm Titans
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,567
    edited June 2013
    If they are the stock tubes, just about anything will sound better. That said, get him to buy the Treasures.....well worth the price.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2013
    Right on. Thanks, Jesse. You haven't steered me wrong yet!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited June 2013
    Another vote for the Treasures!
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,899
    edited June 2013
    If he doesn't want to spend a ton have him try the EH or regular Shuguang KT88's first. You can get matched quads very reasonably on Ebay for both. I've tried EH, Shuguang, Shuguang Treasures and JJ. I've gone through 3 quads of the EH, and tried the others once each. The Treasures didn't last long enough for me to shell out that kind of cash again, but I got them from an Ebay seller so maybe they weren't grade A's....I don't know. This time I decided to try the regular Shuguang and they look 100% identical in every way to me except for the colored glass (I had previously broken a Treasure so I was able to examine it very closely). I've got the Shuguangs fully burned in now and like them a lot.
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited June 2013
    Where/who did get regular Shuggies from?
    Thanks
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,899
    edited June 2013
    george daniel wrote: »
    Where/who did get regular Shuggies from?
    Thanks

    I got mine from this Ebay seller but at the time he was selling matched pairs for $55. You could probably email him and ask for matched pairs/quads though.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/KT88-98-VACUUM-TUBE-/150580581310?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item230f4d53be
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited June 2013
    do you think the level of performance of the 502b justifies the expense of the treasures?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 55LS70
    55LS70 Posts: 184
    edited June 2013
    Another vote for the treasures. I'm running a pair of 12AU7's in my preamp and they sound fantastic.
    Decware CSP3 Preamp, RCA 6DJ8, 2 X Rocket 6N1P-EV's, Cary SLA70B Signature V2 Amplifier: 2 X Mullard GZ32's, 2 X RCA/GE 5691's, 4 X Tung-Sol 6550's

    Cambridge Audio 640C V2 CD Player & Dacmagic DAC

    Rega Planar 3: Deep Groove Subplatter, P3 Motor
    upgrade, Dynavector 10x5, JA Michell counterwieght, Cardas tonearm wiring and Mapleshade stand

    Parks Audio Budgie Hybrid Phonostage with BEL 6922 tubes, Polk Audio LS70's

    H.H. Scott 330D AM/FM Tuner with H.H. Scott 335 Multiplex adaptor.
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,899
    edited June 2013
    dragon1952 wrote: »
    If he doesn't want to spend a ton have him try the EH or regular Shuguang KT88's first. You can get matched quads very reasonably on Ebay for both. I've tried EH, Shuguang, Shuguang Treasures and JJ. I've gone through 3 quads of the EH, and tried the others once each. The Treasures didn't last long enough for me to shell out that kind of cash again, but I got them from an Ebay seller so maybe they weren't grade A's....I don't know. This time I decided to try the regular Shuguang and they look 100% identical in every way to me except for the colored glass (I had previously broken a Treasure so I was able to examine it very closely). I've got the Shuguangs fully burned in now and like them a lot.


    I should have made it more clear that I was strictly talking about power tubes. I have been running the Treasure 12AU7 x 4 and the 12AX7 x 1 and am perfectly happy with those. The power tubes sounded awesome, just didn't last as long as I would have liked.
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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