Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review, Tube gear, High-End Audio Jolida FX-10, $649.00 as reviewed

The following article I wrote for an audio store I helped build in upstate NY, back in 2011. But I want to reprint it here because the review about one of our current products is just as valid today. That product, is the amazing Jolida FX10 Integrated Tube Amplifier (Retail's for only $599.00).

Here’s the manufacturer’s description:
Smooth, rich and holographic sound from a 7 inch cube with a removable safety glass cover. A small but feature laden integrated vacuum tube amplifier, the unit has automatic biasing, can easily push 89 dB speakers, remote control, inputs of two RCA sets and one mini-jack, and 4 and 8 ohm speaker posts. Yes, it does come with the blue tube lights. Comes in black and silver colors.
Jolida has been in the business of making some of the best – “bang for the buck” tube products since the mid 1990’s. And I’ve had the pleasure of being an authorized dealer for most of that duration. So to get down to the nuts and bolts of what you can expect on sound quality, the below article puts things in perspective pretty well, and is as valid today as it was then. You see, circuit configurations and electronic principles don’t change that dramatically, so the below described items are still high quality designs, currently available by these manufacturers.
Article from 2011; Now, in the current (July issue) of Stereophile Stephen Mejias writes what he thinks about two, (or actually three when counting his Klipsch Syn-B20), more components we feature here at the Sweet Spot, the Jolida FX10 and NAD C316BEE. The first thing I would like to point out, is how he compares the two integrated’s to each other making good points about the differences in sound. If you read his entire review, it becomes obvious that though he finds the Jolida “huggable and adorable” he feels the sound of the NAD is more detailed, accurate, and therefore better. This is where I have to disagree. Additionally, it should be noted these amplifiers take care of business very differently, as one is “tube”, and the other “transistor”, so the fact of the matter is, that they are absolutely going to sound “very differently”. Just as the sound of vinyl is “very different” from CD, and though CD is known to have more accurate attributes, rarely will you find anyone claiming it is “better” when comparing the two!
Stephen begins with his description of the Jolida, pointing out several things I’ve found to be true of many tube amplifiers. For example, he’s quick to realize that though the Jolida is rated at only 10 watts per channel, it seems like much more power. Then, when mated to a horn loaded speaker (typically very efficient) like his Klipsch, “in his words” it flat out ROCKS! He also marvels at how well the Jolida defines the various musicians in space, within a very large, yet well focused sound stage. He further notices how well brass instruments bloom effortlessly and cymbals sizzle gently into darkness. He notices that the Jolida out performs not only the NAD in these characteristics, but two other similarly priced competitors, a Cambridge Audio 340A & Exposure 2010. He concludes that the overall sonic characteristics make the Jolida’s presentation very life like, which he compares quite favorably to his experience of a live performance the night before.
Unfortunately, he goes on to point out several attributes common to solid state amplifiers, and how the NAD does these better than the Jolida. He even compares this particular NAD C316BEE to the coveted classic NAD 3020, commenting on how this amplifier may be everything it was, albeit, without quite as much power, and of course, without the cult AMP-GOD status the classic 3020 has earned over time.
I do agree however with his overall assessment of both amplifiers. However, what I disagree with is his claim that the NAD is “better”. He does mention that an idea popped into his head when consider what speaker would make the perfect match for the Jolida, and that is the Klipsch. I too had originally mated the Jolida to the PSB ALPHA B1’s as it made for the “King of bang for the buck systems”($729.00). But remembered the old audiophile fact that “horns excel with tubes” so quickly switch to Klipsch speakers. This took it from a system that sounded really good to “life like” by simply swapping out the PSB’s for Klipsch! In fact, I’ve since mated it to their largest “bookshelf” speaker, the RB8i which has “8 inch woofers.” This further takes you from a nice seat at the back of the hall (Stephen Mejias test Klipsch system) to Front Row Center (ours)! For me, this is a perfect example of Audio Zen! I’ll take front row center live any day of the week!
In summery. Be careful with what reviewers conclude, as what is actually better for them, may not be what’s better for you! If you are say, a classical listener, or perhaps musician, you may decide that hearing a greater amount of low level detail allows you a window into what the musicians are doing, and maybe that’s the sound for you. But if it’s a “you are there” live performance type sound that you’re looking for, than I’d have to go with the Jolida tube amplifier! Personally, the sort of “in the control room-studio sound” of many small solid state type amps has never been quite as attractive to me. But that’s the beauty of choices. Today more than ever before, manufacturers like Jolida, are making some just amazingly "musical" components that are really great in their own right, and seriously affordable! What more can you ask for? Cheers!

Classical music review, CD box set, Audiophile recordings, Mecury Records, Living Presence, Special 3 Microphone Recording Process, You are there effect

Music Review, for www.RichsRecordEmporium.com


CD Box Set, Decca Records Special Collector Edition of the 3 Microphone Audiophile recordings by Mercury Living Presence

 

This CD box set is also available on 180 gram vinyl as a consolidated collection

 

Genre “Classical”

 

Audiophile Rating: Performance Quality 10 / Sound Quality 9 (as good as it gets for CD)

 

 

 

This may be the single greatest purchase an audiophile could possibly make.  Decca Records recordings on CD are always “Audiophile Grade” I have many Decca CD’s in my collection, and the sound quality is second to none, and very few labels, other than say “Reference Recordings” are their equal for classical music.  If you have a fine quality audio system, and appreciate classical music, this may be the single greatest value ever recorded onto CD.  There are 50 music CD’s in this box set, all of which are not only on the Decca label, but on which the “original master tape” was a very special set up in some of the world’s greatest musically acoustic environments, even sometimes out of doors.  The recording process called “Living Presence” was famous in its day as achieving the absolute most natural of recording quality. This dynamically advance recording methodology was attempted to be copied by many other labels, the closets to the results being that of label RCA’s “Living Stereo” recordings – also coveted by audiophiles for their superior sound quality. But this Living Presence was done by a unique process using just three (3) microphones, and the results were unrivaled.  

 

Prior to my purchasing and listening to this box set, I had about 70 CD’s of classical music and about 150 LP’s.  As a fan of St. Louis’s original classical music station “Classic 99” now only available on-line (no longer broadcasting on radio waves), I had always found it frustrating to attempt to buy what I was listening to.  For instance, I would here excerpts from say “The Planet’s” by Leonard Bernstein then shoot down to the record/cd seller and find “The Planets, but by a different composer than what was on the radio, and different conductor.  I’d stand there looking over the record (or CD) with complete befuddlement.  Sometime it would be the same label as the radio announcer said, other times a different one as well.  Classical music in particular gave me the most trouble trying to figure out “what to buy” by “which conductor” with “which symphony” (lots of time the conductor’s travel around), and on which label – after all, some of these labels were not the best sounding (hissy background or poor dynamics).

 

Well if you’ve experienced any of what I’m talking about trying to buy your own recordings of classical music take this one comfort – especially if you have just begun building your collection. THIS BOX SET is an absolute STEEL!!!  You get some of the best versions of the composer’s works, by some of the best conductors of their time, at the best symphony halls and with the best symphonies, recorded by the best equipment and methodology, and on the best classical label.  THAT’S AS GOOD AS IT WILL EVER GET!!!   By the quality of each CD alone, each one should sell for about $24.95 each, for 50 CD’s that would be $1247.50 that you would have to invest on similar quality recordings piecemeal. But this box set retails for $175.00, making these audiophile recordings just $3.50 each.  So if you don’t have a “great classical collection” this is your chance to have an “instant – great classical collection”.  This is the highest value audiophile CD deal that I know of.  And better news yet – we sell it at considerably less than retail!   Cheers

 

--Mark

Music record reviews, Audiophile Recordings, Records and CD's. downloads, MQA, digital

Reviews for "Rich's Record Emporium" www.RichsRecordEmporium.com

Music Reviews (mostly vinyl records, but also CD's, and of course - " audiophile" recordings)

In our music reviews we hope to give you insight into those select few recordings which offer more value than the average in one respect or another.  And to really expose those which have outstanding sound quality.  The term "audiophile" is often a little vague for those not exposed either to a high performance audio system, or to other "audiophile's". All this term really means, is someone who really gets into the quality of the sound, or in the case of a product, a product which excels in sound quality. There are recording labels that specialize in "audiophile" recordings, and these are usually better than the standard edition.  But ironically, some labels, or recording engineers, or studios, or a combination there of have produced "standard" caliber recordings which still manage this sonic distinction. Some refer to vinyl records of this distinction as "hot stampers". Regardless of the various names, we want to bring you a list of recordings which meet these criteria, which are "above the norm" and truly worth owning.

As digital platforms continue to advance, we will follow them with interest. For instance, MQA shows much promise, but to date nothing replaces vinyl for it's exactness in replicating the most natural sound closest to the original setting.

John Fogerty, Wrote a Song For Everyone, Vinyl Record Review, Audiophile Sound Quality, Vanguard Records

Vinyl Record Review

John Fogerty: Wrote A Song For Everyone, 2013 Vanguard Records (double album gatefold set) on heavy (gram weight not specified vinyl).

Audiophile Rating: Music Production Quality 10 / Recording 7

Style: Popular, Rock, Singer, Song Writer



This recording get's a 7 as the overall quality is very good, but not as good as most "audiophile" or other heavy vinly recordings of today. The sound quality beats the pants off most of the used records you'll come across with broad rich detail over the entire frequency range and a quiet velvet like background. The sound stage itself exceeds the width and debth of the speakers but fails to extend to the listening posistion.

If you are a fan of any of the following artists; Zac Brown, Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Bob Seger, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson, Dawes, or My Morning Jacket you’re going to want to pick this one up. Fogerty’s music is as fresh and timeless as the living legend himself, and he plays in with each of these artists on one or more of his own songs. Recorded on the Vanguard label and produced by Julie Fogerty the sound and production quality of this album set sounds even better than the original Fantasy label.

This album has all the ingredients to become a truly a timeless classic. Even when I’ve been stuck in a Jazz or classical mood (usually will ONLY play the genre I’m stuck in when it’s one of these two), I find myself putting this one on again and again – it’s just too good to classify or file away for an occasional play when I’m in a rock, country, or folk mood.

For instance, take some of the same tracks on the original Fantasy recordings,i.e. Who’ll Stop The Rain, Long as I can See the Light I would usually say the original version is better, not so here. My Morning Jacket’s version of Long – Light is stupendous, pedal steel guitarist Carl Broemel makes the music sound both old school classic and fresh and new and Fogerty’s voice has held up surprisingly well for his years of 62 I believe blending as if just one of the group during vocal accompaniments w/those half his age. And on Who’ll stop the rain, you realize Seger’s voice has also held up amazingly well for someone that’s been belting it out with such passion since the early 60’s he & Fogerty sound rich and melodic together on this one with a beautiful piano accompaniment from Silver Bullet pianist Craig Frost (also of early Grand Funk Railroad fame). Again, the music has a timeless appeal that sounds as much like a product of today as it did when it first hit the airways some 40 years ago. And Zac Brown’s rendition of Bad Moon Rising, and Kid Rock’s Born on the Bayou are among my new favorite songs.

All the bands on this album take ownership of Fogerty’s music to a degree not often the case with famous “duets” and or “covers”. I see myself replacing this vinyl on a regular basis – i.e. I must be on my 5th copy of Dark Side of the Moon….”cheers”
--Mark

Blog intro, Rich's Record Emporium, Collinsville, IL, Music, Record and Equipment Reviews

Blog Intro for Rich's Record Emporium in Collinsville Illinois www.RichsRecordEmporium.com

Music Reviews (mostly vinyl records, but also audiophile CD's)
I don’t know about you, but as someone who’s really into music, I like a variety of genres. The only problem with this of course, is zeroing in on the best stuff from each one. One problem is that radio doesn’t really play that variety. Of course, there are exploration sites like Pandora, but you still have to do a lot of research to figure out “who” you may really like, but that still doesn’t tell you anything about the quality of their recordings, or if you can even get them on the best medium of course - “vinyl”.

So this got me to thinking – wouldn’t it be great if those who were really into a particular genre took the time to point out the really outstanding gems?

This is the first goal for our music selection, and the main goal of our music reviews. To provide a selection of outstanding recordings, across all genres. To achieve the main goal of our music reviews we will be striving to provide comprehensive reviews which help you to figure out what within that selection is going to bring you the most satisfaction. So at our store, we will strive to not only provide an outstanding selection of audiophile or fine quality recordings, but to help those who are looking to explore new genres get a taste of what may be the real gems, and point out those which are the better recordings.

So one of the subjects for our blogs will be these music reviews highlighting the “classic must own masterpieces” of different genres, and also pointing out those “lesser known hidden gems” that only those truly intimate with that genre may know about.


Now if you're like me, when you read a music review of an artist or genre you are already familiar with sometimes you know you're going to buy the album just so long as it's not a complete dud on sound quality, so I will be getting to the "audiophile determination" right away so you don't have to sift through all the text just to find out how good it sounds.  We rate recordings on a scale of 1 - 10, 1-3 being the typical condition you hear on a used record in a Goldmond rated condition of good to very good, 4-5 being a used record Goldmond rating of near mint to mint, and 6 - 10 for varying degrees of really excellent recordings. We will also use a similar scale for music content or production quality. We rate only new records that we've opened for demonstration purposes. But we use used record standards as there are none for new records.

Equipment Reviews

The record “Emporium” as the name suggests is more than just records. We will be carrying a great selection of equipment and accessories associated to vinyl, as well as personal audio stuff, such as record cleaning machines, new stylus or cartridges, tonearms, turntables, & vinyl “tweeks.” Also, personal listening gear such as ear buds/phones, DAC’s, amps, and a nice selection of home Hi-Fi stereo equipment and speakers.

For those with older turntables, “See our website/Facebook page’ to get into one of our monthly “turntable” clinics to rejuvenate or tune-up that old vinyl spinner!

So this blog will serve to accomplish many things from record reviews (and CD reviews) for those who wish to own the genuine article, to equipment reviews to keep you up-to-date on all the latest stuff.
"Cheers"