Short Review of Pro-ject RM5 SE and PS Audio GCPH vs. Jolida JD-(A
SolidSqual
Posts: 5,218
Pro-Ject RM5 SE Review - This table is under my skin! I love it!
And, this player sounds so good, I couldn't help but buy all this vinyl!
(Each phono preamp was broken in for 200 hours)
The JD9A sounded somewhat grainy at times compared to the GCPH. That is until I removed the metal cylinders around the tubes (presumably used to transport the tubes safely through the mail.) Compared to the GCPH, the JD9A maintains a balanced soundstage. The vocals through the JD9A are not overwhelmed by the instruments or vice versa. By contrast, the GCPH accents vocals. The instruments reside in the background while pushing the vocals unnaturally forward. Although this effect was awesome when the aural focus was an electric guitar ripping through Enter Sandman, the voices of KebMo and Diana Krall were a bit distracting from the great musicians surround them. With the JD9A you can hear the space between the notes with a better degree of decay. The JD9A allows the music to settle in the room naturally with a very organic presentation that feels as if the musicians set right up in my listening space. The GCPH was by far quieter, which really allowed the music to be presented without any irritation or fatigue. Unfortunately, what often seems to be the case with PS Audio gear, the sound was so neutral (bordering on dark) that it became average and uninvolving. The GCPH sounded like a $10K stereo, but the JD9A was live music in a small bar with drinks on the house!
Setting up the GCPH was by far easier than the JD9A. The tuning knobs of the GCPH are clearly labeled and quickly turned in place. The JD9A requires the user to read a diagram in the manual! To setup the JD9A you must flip several dipswitches for each channel. These switches set the ohms, capacitance, and gain to match your cartridge. This was a pain in the **** at first, but once all the switches were put in their place, I screwed the protective plate back on and forgot about the hassle.
Both units have great build quality but the GCPH takes it to the next level. The JD9A top-plate screws are cheap and easily stripped. The GCPH feels more substantial.
The JD9A bass was by far superior to the GCPH. The GCPH simplified notes in the lower registers that reminded me of the bass from a cheap CD player. While listening to the GCPH, I was really missing necessary bass notes that are truly required to appreciate songs like Enter Sandman by Metallica or any of the jazzy tunes from Diana Krall Live in Paris.
The JD9A is king in my book! Tubes rule!
And, this player sounds so good, I couldn't help but buy all this vinyl!
(Each phono preamp was broken in for 200 hours)
The JD9A sounded somewhat grainy at times compared to the GCPH. That is until I removed the metal cylinders around the tubes (presumably used to transport the tubes safely through the mail.) Compared to the GCPH, the JD9A maintains a balanced soundstage. The vocals through the JD9A are not overwhelmed by the instruments or vice versa. By contrast, the GCPH accents vocals. The instruments reside in the background while pushing the vocals unnaturally forward. Although this effect was awesome when the aural focus was an electric guitar ripping through Enter Sandman, the voices of KebMo and Diana Krall were a bit distracting from the great musicians surround them. With the JD9A you can hear the space between the notes with a better degree of decay. The JD9A allows the music to settle in the room naturally with a very organic presentation that feels as if the musicians set right up in my listening space. The GCPH was by far quieter, which really allowed the music to be presented without any irritation or fatigue. Unfortunately, what often seems to be the case with PS Audio gear, the sound was so neutral (bordering on dark) that it became average and uninvolving. The GCPH sounded like a $10K stereo, but the JD9A was live music in a small bar with drinks on the house!
Setting up the GCPH was by far easier than the JD9A. The tuning knobs of the GCPH are clearly labeled and quickly turned in place. The JD9A requires the user to read a diagram in the manual! To setup the JD9A you must flip several dipswitches for each channel. These switches set the ohms, capacitance, and gain to match your cartridge. This was a pain in the **** at first, but once all the switches were put in their place, I screwed the protective plate back on and forgot about the hassle.
Both units have great build quality but the GCPH takes it to the next level. The JD9A top-plate screws are cheap and easily stripped. The GCPH feels more substantial.
The JD9A bass was by far superior to the GCPH. The GCPH simplified notes in the lower registers that reminded me of the bass from a cheap CD player. While listening to the GCPH, I was really missing necessary bass notes that are truly required to appreciate songs like Enter Sandman by Metallica or any of the jazzy tunes from Diana Krall Live in Paris.
The JD9A is king in my book! Tubes rule!
Post edited by SolidSqual on
Comments
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Thanks for the great write up. The GCPH was my first phono pre.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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Glad to hear, I was considering one of these.
In case you haven't seen it: http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=62730.0
Nice ink!"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Glad to hear, I was considering one of these.
In case you haven't seen it: http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=62730.0
Nice ink!
Oh man! Thanks for this! Maybe I will get my DIY on. I am changing the tubes to Mullards later this week and will dynamat the case. -
You need that Santana on 180 gain!!
http://www.mofi.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=23&idproduct=131Klipsch 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. -
I've had bad luck with the 180 grain stuff and don't really think the improvement is completely worth the cost except on my most favorite albums. I got that Santana for $4.50!
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I have had good and bad with the 180 but mobile fidelity is a bit different with the mastering.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.
