The Jolida SJ 202A tube integrated amplifier: Seductive sound and a bit more power
Written: Sep 07 '02 (Updated Oct 28 '02)
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Pros: seductive midrange; excellent imaging; never harsh
Cons: bass not as tight as with good solid state amplifier; no phono preamp
The Bottom Line: The Jolida SJ202A is an excellent integrated tube amplifier, providing a seductive midrange and excellent imaging for only $750.
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| Horswispr's Full Review: Jolida SJ 202A Integrated Amplifier |
The Jolida SJ 202A stereo amplifier is a small, tubed integrated amplifier for use in home stereo systems. It is slightly more powerful than the immensely popular Jolida 102B, and uses different output tubes. Whereas the 102B uses four EL84s, the 202A uses four EL34s. The 34s are said to sacrifice perhaps a bit of bass tightness for higher power overall.
The Jolida SJ 202A is claimed to deliver 40 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 30hz to well above 20khz. At 1khz, the amplifier can deliver up to 60 watts per channel. Distortion is claimed to be below 1% at 30 watts from 40hz to 14khz.
Distortion figures are difficult to interpret in tube amplifiers. Critical readers will notice that the distortion figures for the SJ 202A aren't very impressive, particularly at the frequency extremes, but such figures are typical of tube amplifiers. And in spite of higher distortion figures, tube amplifiers generally sound more musical than solid state amplifiers.
The retail price of the SJ 202A is $750, $170 more than the 102B.
I listened to both the SJ 202A and its little brother, the 102B, for several hours on a wide variety of music, ranging from folk to jazz to classical. I listened both in the store and in my home. The speakers at the store ranged in price for about $600 to about $3000. At home I used my Cambridge Towers and an older M&K subwoofer (not powered by the Jolida).
To be honest, on most music, I could not tell the difference between the Jolida 202A and the Jolida 102B. Both provided really good imaging, with instruments convincingly presented across the soundstage. Compared to my B&K ST202, a high quality solid state amplifier, images also seemed more three-dimensional through the Jolida amplifiers, with a greater sense of space around each individual instrument.
When there was more than one vocalist singing, the Jolida amplifiers were particularly impressive. With my B&K ST202, the vocalists are not always separated adequately, and the sound of one vocalist sometimes seems to interfere with the other. With the Jolida 202A and 102B, each vocalist can be heard distinctly, and each is localized well in space. The Cowboy Junkies' "Trinity Sessions" demonstrated this difference in spades.
The soundstage of both Jolida amplifiers was also huge, with instruments seeming to come from behind the speakers. But individual instruments did not sound unnaturally large; instrumentalists and vocalists, sounded realistic in their proportions.
Instrumental timbres were also strikingly natural sounding through both Jolidas. I did NOT detect a high frequency roll-off through either the Jolida 202A or 102B (unlike my old tubed conrad johnson MV-50 power amplifier, which did roll off in the highs), but there was a sense of ease around the music through either Jolida that my B&K ST202 could not come close to matching.
Both the Jolida 202A and 102B did an excellent job of reducing that harshness of too-hot or poorly recorded CDs. Emmylou Harris's "Bluebird" and Shawn Colvin's "Steady On" are excellent CDs, but both are recorded a little on the hot side. Both can sound harsh through speakers with an extended high end when driven by solid state amplification. Through the Jolidas, both sounded quite listenable, even with speakers with an extended high end.
Are there any differences between the Jolida 202A and 102B? Well, aesthetically, the 102B is bit smaller, sleeker and cuter. I like the little gold knobs on the 102B, versus the clunkier silver ones on the 202A. And the 202A is missing a balance control.
But sonically, the similarities outweigh the differences. I think the 202A may sound a tiny bit fuller or richer, but perhaps with a tiny bit of loss of resolution and delicacy. The soundsstage may be shifted a tiny bit forward through the 202A, with a slight loss of depth. We're talking subtle differences here.
Some audiophiles claim that the 102B has a bit more of that "tube magic" than the 202A, but I'm not sure I can say that one is "better" than the other. I liked the fullness of the 202A, but I also like the amazing delicacy of the 102B.
There may also be a slight difference in bass character. The 202A may provide slightly deeper sounding bass, while the 102B handles the lead transients on bass notes with a bit more authority (at low to moderate volume). Again, we're talking subtle differences.
If you have a chance to audition both, let me know if you can even hear the differences I describe, and whether you prefer one over the other.
Given its higher power rating, the 202A should be able to play 2 or 3 db louder, and I did find that the 202A did not run out of steam as quickly playing Keith Jarrett Jazz Trio recordings at fairly high volume. The 102B played louder than I expected it to, but it did run out of steam in my apartment on some of the hard piano transients contained in Jarrett's piano recordings. I was using my Cambridge Tower speakers (92 db claimed sensitivity) for those listening sessions.
Are there areas where my old (but good) solid state B&K ST202 outperforms the Jolidas?
On some music, particularly rock, I missed the more aggressive, forward presentation of the B&K ST202, relative to the two Jolidas. And the B&K is able to play significantly louder than the Jolida 102B (and probably the 202A as well), though the sound is harsher and much less seductive through the B&K.
Through the Jolidas, much of the soundstage is BEHIND the speakers, meaning you have to listen into the music; it is not thrust in your face as it is with the solid state amplifier.
Bass response is also deeper and tighter through the B&K ST202 than with the Jolida 202A or 102B. However, the leading edge of bass transients, be they plucked bass strings or the sound of sticks or mallets on drum skins, are more faithfully reproduced through the Jolidas, especially the little 102B.
Let me restate: The BIGGEST difference between the Jolidas and the solid state B&K ST202 is that the Jolidas present music more naturally. Music sounds like music, not a high quality synthetic reproduction of music. There is an ease and a naturalness through the Jolidas that solid state amplifiers simply can not match.
As I mentioned in my review of the Jolida 102B, if you are a CASUAL LISTENER, one who uses music mostly for ambiance in the background, you probably don't need tubes. Tubes run hot (both Jolidas, especially the little 102B, get fairly hot while playing music) and you have to "retube" every few years.
Casual listeners should get an NAD receiver, Paradigm, Energy, Polk or Cambridge speakers, and an NAD CD player, and forget about their equipment.
But if you want the best overall sound available, consider tubes. If you want tubes on a budget, consider both the Jolida 102B and the 202A. If you tend to listen loud, have a large room, or inefficient speakers, the 202A might be a better choice for you than the 102B.
Note: This amplifier has minimal features, with only function and volume controls on the front panel. If you want to listen to phono (which I do), you have to either get a separate phono preamplifier, or use a passive preamplifier in the loop prior to the Jolida. Should I buy this unit, I'll run my AR/Shure combination through my B&K Pro 5 preamplifier in passive mode, and from there into one of the Jolida's inputs.
Here are the 202A's specifications as stated on Jolida's website:
Maximum Power Output: 60 wpc at 8 ohms, 1KHz
Rated Output Power: 40 wpc at 8 ohms, 30Hz to 80KHz
Frequency Response at 1 watt into 8 ohms: 7hz to 140khz /- 3db
Distortion: Less than 1% at 30w, 40hz to 14khz, 8 ohms
Input Impedance: 100kohms
Negative Feedback: Less than 9 dB
Noise and Hum: 80dB below rated output.
Tube Complement: 2 matched pairs (4) of 6CA7/EL34 power output; 2 pcs. 12AX7A pre-amplifier, 2 pcs. 12AT7 power drivers.
Dimensions: 12.5 inches (30 cm) wide x 12 inches (31 cm) deep x 8.25 inches (21 cm) high.
Weight: 28 pounds (13 kg) net, approximately 32 pounds (15 kg) packaged.
Warranty: One year limited parts and labor. Six months or 500 hours whichever comes first on Jolida Tubes.
Overall, the Jolida 202A is an excellent tubed integrated amplifier and something of a bargain at $750. Highly recommended.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 750
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