New face for JoLida

bikerboy
bikerboy Posts: 1,211
edited February 2008 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Hi,
I finally got the JoLida 502 working. After a tube problem being resolved, I tried to install Auricaps and unknowningly unbridged a circuit trace. So then the left channel didnt work. After many attempts to figure out what I did wrong I gave up. I found a local repair guy, T. Warren to fix it. He said even with the schematic he had to scratch his head a few times before he was able to fix my f!up. After I got it back I ran it for a few days then I installed the Stealth diodes in the power supply and the new Cardas rca sockets. I also moved the power switch to the left side. I used hickory wood for the front. I am trying to do some of what Bill Baker at Response Audio has done with the 502 JoLida. I had removed the volume, balance, and input selector controls the first week I owned the amp. Finally after months of **** around with this amp I am able to hear how great it sounds. The caps have for the most part settled down and it sounds sweet! It is playing Miles Davis-Kind of Blue in the mancave in the basement and I am upstairs. It still sounds great even when I am one floor away. I still want to replace resisters but no hurry on that. Just listening to Capt Beefheart and smiling.
Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
Post edited by bikerboy on

Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited February 2008
    Very nice!!

    I assume you're using the Jolida as a power amp, correct?
    Are you gonna add a sub out?
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited February 2008
    Nice job, looks much better than the stock version.
    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

  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
    This is a stupid question, but I'll ask anyways.. Being most of you know I am not familiar with tube amps, by having everything exposed, isnt there a great risk of electrical shock? Tubes exposed, transformers exposed, seems like an accident waiting to happen. Or is all the dangerous wiring hidden and safe?
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited February 2008
    The only risk is that you can burn yourself or damage a tube if yu're not careful, but there are no exposed wires.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
    Ricardo wrote: »
    The only risk is that you can burn yourself or damage a tube if yu're not careful, but there are no exposed wires.

    Thanks Ric, I didnt know. Some tube amps look more "open" then others. The metal case that the tube sits in, thats exposed, is safe as well?

    Dont anyone freak out here, but I am looking into a small tube amp for my PC with my Monitor 4's.:eek: yes, I know..2 channel...:D Just didnt know if it was kid friendly, if they should happen to touch it? You know kids....
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
    Tubes run around 150 degrees Celcius. That is the temperature of the glass itself. Definitely not chld friendly. You can feel the infrared heat they give off, just like a fireplace.
  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited February 2008
    Plus, if you happen to break a tube, I have no idea of what kind of voltage can be in there...but I'd never try it.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
    But as open as it is, nothing can shock you right? If it burns their butts, they will learn, just dont want them to get shocked.

    It will be in a safe place, and breaking tubes would hopefully not happen.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited February 2008
    Don't keep tube gear around kids.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2008
    Very nice!

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited February 2008
    jakelm wrote: »
    But as open as it is, nothing can shock you right? If it burns their butts, they will learn, just dont want them to get shocked.

    It will be in a safe place, and breaking tubes would hopefully not happen.

    No shocks unless it has an exposed board like the Dynaco 70's.
    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

  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited February 2008
    You should always keep kids away from open tubes. The tubes are just hot enough to scorch the skin. However, if you touch one you are very likely to jump risking breakage of a tube and shock, not to mention ramming a broken tube into yourself. Also, kids would want to pull the tubes out and swap them around for you (just as I would).
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
    The burn risk is worse than the shock. Hot water at 75 C can burn you before you feel it. A tube is guaranteed to burn you to the 2nd or 3rd degree before you react. Might as well touch a stove element.

    Tubes run with 2 different voltages. The plate voltage is often hundreds of volts and the filament voltage is around 6 volts. The hundreds of volts really isn't that bad because it is direct current.
  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited February 2008
    Nice work. I hope to get a tube integrated at some point for just something different every once in a while.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited February 2008
    Thanks for the comments and concern for our wellbeing around tubes. Tubes are not bad, kids are! The loaded tube is not dangerous! The loaded operator is! I have had another listen. The caps are shifting again. Now more bite up top and boomin bass! The auricaps are only one week old. Flameon. The song "Do It Again" from Crystal Method's latest release-We are the Night is amazing. Saw them live. Great show. Just one of the reference tunes.
    MLS- the JoLida is now just an amp. The integrated part is gone. I use the TAD-150 signature as a wireless remote tube pre amp. So more tubes is good if you ask me.
    Wave my bone up at the sun.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited February 2008
    Awesome, I love it!
    Looks like a vintage amp, never would guess it was a Jolida at first glance. Great idea simplifying the signal path of those extras; no doubt that's a good approach.

    I love that look with tubes and transformers exposed. I hate how most tube amp makers cover up the transformers...the covers usually range from ok at best (my VACs) to ridiculously ugly at worst.
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,511
    edited February 2008
    Nice job bikerboy! The TAD-150 is a great pre amp.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2008
    Very nice work,,sweet.:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,907
    edited February 2008
    Very nice...I like the wood.

    No jokes please :D
    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