Jolida JD-9A Phono Preamp

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Comments

  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited December 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    Start with a stock JD-9 - seems to me the recommendations here are 'glowing' (bad tube pun intended).

    Then go down the rabbit hole yourself with mods....its about the journey - cuz there is no 'destination' in this hobby! :cheesygrin:

    Oh, I know the jouney all too well :biggrin: That's where I have trouble, I'm no hand with a soldering gun/pin. I would have to buy a stock unit and then have someone mod it for me, or buy a modded unit from a vender at a price point that I would be able to also buy maybe a "better", I know, "questionable", phono preamp in the used market.

    The modded JD-9 must be a very good pre, as they very seldom come up for sale on the used market.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited December 2012
    A JD9 upgrade thread at diyaudio so you can see what some folks have done.

    http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analog-line-level/177243-jolida-jd9-upgrade-mods-clarification.html
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited December 2012
    I changed the tubes to RCA 12AX7 Blackplates, the opamps from the standard OPA 2604s to OPA 627s, and Dynamated the cabinent. All of these made a very noticable improvement. I may do future upgrades, but for now I'm very happy with how it sounds with these mods.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited December 2012
    Hey, Dawgfish. It was my understanding that there were no mods done to it when I heard the unit you have. I used one of my power cords and Jerry told me that the tubes weren't stock but I'd have to ask him what was in there again. He's told me two or three times over the years but I keep forgetting [getting old]. Can you remember if any of what you just described was done when it was in my rig?

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited December 2012
    Tom,

    I did the opamp and Dynamat mods after you heard it. I'm pretty sure the RCA Blackplates were in there when you heard it as Jerry was the one that put them there. I had a set of longplate Telefunkens in there, but Jerry swapped them out with the RCAs. I'm glad he did, they are a much better match for the Jolida and the rest of my system. The Telefunkens were just too dry and linear for my tastes, compared to the nice warmth of the RCAs.

    Steve
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