By Michael Miguest There was a time when Music Lovers were afforded one or in my case with the Harman Kardon Citation 1, two phono inputs inside their preamps. Today however, vinyl enthusiasts are forced to purchase a separate phono preamp in order to enjoy their vinyl collection. As the title states, this Blog is about the comparison between two phono preamps that with regard to cost and technology are truly diametrically opposed. The System: The system that was used for the comparison of the Jolida JD9-A and the Constellation Audio Perseus was powered by the Viva Solista Integrated single-ended tube amp whose tube compliment is 2×6C45Pi; 2×6SN7GT; 4×845, Zero negative feedback, pure class A operation, and Real point to point circuitry. The analog front-end duties was performed by the Grand Prix Audio Monaco direct-drive turntable with a Tri-planar tonearm and an Airtight PC-1 Supreme cartridge. The speakers used in this system were the Hamilton Audio Paramount with stands , and all cabling was the top of the line Argento Flow Master Reference. The Album: Solar Energy TAS Recommended! Rated a 'Best Audiophile Label Recording' in the November 2009 issue of The Absolute Sound! Half-Speed Mastered by Stan Ricker! The Ray Brown Trio featuring Gene Harris and Gerryck King in this 1984 recording. The Jolida JD-9A: Jolida is a company relatively well known among audiophiles for producing good sounding, high value tube amplifiers and digital components for use in home audio. According to the company's website, Jolida is a Chinese owned brand initiated in US. In 1992, the company started trading in vacuum tubes from the Shuguang factory in Changsha, which is now the biggest tube producer in the world. In 1993, the owner discovered Chinese companies building transformer which rivaled famous high end audio brands. The seed was planted and Jolida entered the market of affordable audio amplifiers made and designed in China. In 1996 Jolida introduced its first amp, the SJ 202, which sold under $1000 USD. The JD9 is slim, silver faced and sleek. Its look is minimalist with only one power button and one blue light to let you know it's on. Its compact, measuring 17”x13”x2” and weighs 10 pounds but build quality is high. It uses two 12AX7 tubes.There are dim adjustments around back covered by a little door that is easy to access, and two levels of output so you can easily configure it into your system. It can be adjusted for MM or MC cartridges, has gold plated RCA jacks, rated sensitivity at 0.25mV - 95dB and adjustable gain settings to match virtually any cartridge you might want to mount on your arm. It is extremely flexible and well built, particularly given its price of $559 USD. The caveat with regard to this JD-9A is that it has had two modifications, each costing $1000, that were performed by Scott Franklin for a total cost of $2559. In addition, this JD-9A uses NOS 12AX7 Select Telefunken tubes. The Constellation Audio Perseus This phono preamplifier is from the company’s ‘better’ Performance Series, and is based upon the Orion phono preamplifier from Constellation Audio’s best Reference Series. Aside from the Performance Series cabinet, one of the main differences between the Perseus and the Orion is the use of very high performance (but now discontinued) FETs in the top product. In sound quality terms however, the Perseus gets so close to the Orion that there is currently no Orion in the Constellation Audio product line. The Perseus is a solid-state two-box design with the main circuit floating on an elastomer suspension. The smaller of the two boxes houses the power supply, and three small cables connect analogue left and right, and the control circuitry feed. The Perseus cost is $30,000 USD. The $2500 Jolida JD9 VS The $30,000 Constellation Audio Perseus Aesthetically there is no contest here. The Constellation Audio Perseus is audio eye candy to the max. With regard to detail, once again the Perseus delivers more. With regard to the noise floor of the presentation, the Perseus is again the clear winner. I know, at this point you are probably thinking, why in the world would I be comparing a component that costs 12 times more than cost of the other component? If we look at these components from purely a cost perspective, you would most assuredly be correct in concluding this comparison to be no contest. However, at this point, I've only pointed out that the $30,000 Perseus is undeniably the Goliath with regard to beauty and specifications. Clearly, many would quip, isn't that what it's all about? My poignant response is: for many, it is what it's all about. The Music I found the sound of the Perseus so extremely detailed that it sounded sterile, antiseptic and matter of fact. In contradistinction, the Jolida was detailed but with feeling, and with soul. Where the midrange presentation of the Perseus was very laid back and the musicians further away from me, the midrange presentation of the Jolida possessed a much richer tonality with a more vivid bloom that provided a closer seat to the performance. The Jolida demonstrated a greater ability to recreate music that sounded natural, organic and involving. This $2500 Jolida became David defeating this $30,000 Goliath with regard to musicality. The inexorable truth is. the synergy of the tubed Jolida in combination with the tubed Viva, manifested itself into the head bobbing, foot tapping, musical engagement that I did not experience with the solid state Perseus. As I have stated so often, in this hobby and in life in general, cost is not necessarily proportional to Satisfaction. "Enjoy The Music". |
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsMichael Miguest Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|