These highly modified Jolida JD801 amplifiers must be heard to fully understand their true potential. Customers and industry professionals have commented that they have never heard a better sounding integrated tube unit priced under $5k. These amplifiers are another Response Audio classic in the making and quickly becoming our most sought after product.

With 70 glorious watts of 6550/KT88 tube power, your speakers and ears will thank you.

Below is a list of the upgrades performed on these units before releasing them to you for your sonic nirvana. 

Platinum Series JD801A

• SoniCap Platinum Teflon capacitors installed in the signal path - 4 pieces

• SoniCap ground capacitors used in signal stage.- 2 pieces

• "Little Devil" 1 watt, 1% Carbon resistors utilized in the grid stopper location. These combine the transparency of a good metal film with the warmth of a good vintage carbon composition resistor without the noise and drift.

• Mills 5 watt non-inductive resistors replacing the Tube emitter cushion resistors. 

• Bybee Quantum Purifiers in B+ Voltage between mains transformer and rectifying bridge - OPTIONAL. See pricing below

• Power supply filter capacitors upgraded to higher capacitance/low ESR pieces (x4 pieces)

• Sonicap high voltage capacitors used as bypass units in the power supply

• Dale/Vishay 1 watt 1% non-magnetic resistors used throughout the signal path. We have chosen to replace all original 1/2 watt pieces with the 1 watt pieces for a quieter operation.

• Dale/Vishay 3 watt 1%, non-magnetic resistors utilized in the bias stage for lower noise

• Fairchild "Ultra Fast - Soft Recovery" 8A diodes are utilized in the rectifying stage of the power supply. 

• Alps Blue volume control maintained for a smooth presentation

• All internal input wiring replaced with  22 awg custom copper wiring. 

• Subwoofer output optional @ NC (will sacrifice one input) - NOW STANDARD ON NEW JD801 Amplifiers

• Tape output optional @ NC (will sacrifice one input) - NOW STANDARD ON NEW JD801 Amplifiers

• WBT Silver solder used throughout

• Biased then bench tested for 2 hours

• Minimum 12 hour burn in

• Labor - 6 hours

• Warranty - 1 year parts and labor  

Modification Price: $740

Bybee Purifiers in B+ voltage - $200
Bybee purifiers in signal path - $200
Both Bybee applications - $375

What Some Of Our Customers Are Saying:

.........After playing this new unit with all my original gear I was stunned. The mids  (especially voice ) grabbed me in the gut. Sometimes, when I play Miles Davis( the bitches brew ) I'm stunned with how awe inspiring the instruments are. If you are thinking about tubes I'd start talking to Bill and let him lead u out of the wilderness.
< READ FULL TEXT >

Bob Smith of SP Technology Loudspeakers wrote this, after listening to our Reference Jolida 801 with V-Caps at a recent Chicago Audio Society demo:
..........."Also, we absolutely must thank Bill Baker of Response Audio for building the incredible sounding Jolida 801's that were used. I guess its about time I shut up about tube amps 'cause I didn't know what I was talking about in the past. Those babies were incredible! They didn't have the mushy low end or edgy highs I've heard from tube amps in the past. Although I will make one point in my own defense. I've always said that there was no reason that tubes COULDN'T sound as good as S-S, just that few manufacturers ever make them. Well...Bill's one that DOES! That thing was one of the best amps I've ever heard - PERIOD."  < READ FULL TEXT >

........To borrow a phrase to describe not only the speakers but the system "They have an expansive, very natural, harmonious sound, and at the same time, they present great musical detail (but without being etched or aggressive)". That describes the system............ < READ FULL TEXT >

 

Shown below is my personal Reference 801 amp with Translucent Emerald Green face and tranny cover top plates. Custom laser engraving has not yet been done on this piece. Other features in this amp include remote volume control and a main-in feature to be used with an outboard preamp. Now running Valve Art KT88 tubes with over 1200 hours of use.

The overall presentation will give you a sense of realism never experienced in the past.

Use of only the best available components is standard practice in the Reference RA-801A. To guarantee unsurpassed performance,  we use Reference Grade Teflon capacitors, top quality resistors for individual locations, Dale/Vishay 1 watt, 1% Metal Film resistors throughout the signal path, high purity 24 awg Silver wire for signal inputs,  Fairchild "Ultra Fast-Soft Recovery" diodes, upgraded power supply filter capacitors, and much more!!. Please remember each amplifier is custom built and they take time to manufacture, but I assure you they are well worth the wait. Built to provide a lifetime of musical bliss, the Platinum R801A  is probably the best sounding integrated amp on the market today. At any price.