Awwww..... I think my Jolida CDP broke :( (Edit: It's working again - hopefully permanently) :)

[meagain]

[:'(] This is 'almost' actually amuzing.... So check it out - I get my VRDs back (which have been working great - except I bought new tubes and one is crappy), but didn't really get a solid chance to put everything together for a good listen. Finally, last week, I sat down for a REAL listen to everything (pretty excited to have music in the house again) and after about an hour in, I hear this slight crackle from both speakers only when music is playing. It got MUCH worse. Put in new tubes in my Jolida JD-100 cdp cuz I felt it was the culprit. Didn't help. Turned it off and went out of town. Just got back yesterday so today I gave another listen. Crackle crackle. I swapped, tested, etc. and it's definitely (I think?) my Jolida JD-100. Dang.

I took the unit out & popped the top for an inspection. I see a broken solder at one of the pairs of output jacks. The jacks I don't use. I basically gently jiggled some parts around, plugged it in and it worked great. I figured if I'm lucky, something was loose and if I'm really careful with putting it back - might be good to go. Put everything back and boom - terrible noise. It started with little pops here & there that I could barely hear, then got quickly worse to the point where I couldn't hear music. Only the sound akin to a crappy transistor radio, fishing for a channel. Electronic mish/mash. This unit has the Underwood Level 1 mod. I wanted to understand more about this mod because I noticed one pair of the 2 output jacks was different (the one with the broken lead)... I was told that pair is part of their mod. Fine - I wasn't using that pair anyway. Then I pulled the unit again, popped the top, played a CD - less bad noise. Jiggled a few things - works fine.
Then called Jolida to get a handle on what I should expect the cost to repair would be and to find out a bit how this thing works.

Basically, there's 2 tubes and 4 big caps. Jolida said those are the separate channels. Since this problem occurs equally in both speakers, he said it's pretty unusual. Said to check the wires near the transformer and to ensure they are well away from it. He also said it might be a power supply? He did bring up grey market versions, tweeked versions, etc. and I'm even concerned they won't want to touch this thing even if I could stomach the $95/hour plus parts & s/h. (yipes).

I was wondering if any of the more techy types might have an idea what I can look at and/or test for? I see 2 'block' type parts in it which I believe are the transformers. One small one on the side and one large one in the center. I've never touched any of these wires and can't fathom why, after 1.5 years or so, the wires would cause a problem now. Plus they are cabletied a bit. But clearly close or touching the transformer. I just don't even see how I could move the darned things. I've no clue what the power supply looks like. I ask for suggestions because it clearly wants to work sometimes. Right now it sounds pristine. Any ideas? This is my only real music source other than my DVD player. TIA

[jacksonbart]

[:'(] This is 'almost' actually amuzing.... So check it out - I get my VRDs back (which have been working great - except I bought new tubes and one is crappy), but didn't really get a solid chance to put everything together for a good listen. Finally, last week, I sat down for a REAL listen to everything (pretty excited to have music in the house again) and after about an hour in, I hear this slight crackle from both speakers only when music is playing. It got MUCH worse. Put in new tubes in my Jolida JD-100 cdp cuz I felt it was the culprit. Didn't help. Turned it off and went out of town. Just got back yesterday so today I gave another listen. Crackle crackle. I swapped, tested, etc. and it's definitely (I think?) my Jolida JD-100. Dang.

I took the unit out & popped the top for an inspection. I see a broken solder at one of the pairs of output jacks. The jacks I don't use. I basically gently jiggled some parts around, plugged it in and it worked great. I figured if I'm lucky, something was loose and if I'm really careful with putting it back - might be good to go. Put everything back and boom - terrible noise. It started with little pops here & there that I could barely hear, then got quickly worse to the point where I couldn't hear music. Only the sound akin to a crappy transistor radio, fishing for a chennel. Electronic mish/mash. This unit has the Underwood Level 1 mod. I wanted to understand more about this mod because I noticed one pair of the 2 output jacks was different (the one with the broken lead)... I was told that pair is part of their mod. Fine - I wasn't using that pair anyway. Then I pulled the unit again, popped the top, played a CD - less bad noise. Jiggled a few things - works fine.

Then called Jolida to get a handle on what I should expect the cost to repair would be and to find out a bit how this thing works.

Basically, there's 2 tubes and 4 big caps. Jolida said those are the separate channels. Since this problem occurs equally in both speakers, he said it's pretty unusual. Said to check the wires near the transformer and to ensure they are well away from it. He also said it might be a power supply? He did bring up grey market versions, tweeked versions, etc. and I'm even concerned they won't want to touch this thing even if I could stomach the $95/hour plus parts & s/h. (yipes).

I was wondering if any of the more techy types might have an idea what I can look at and/or test for? I see 2 'block' type parts in it which I believe are the transformers. One small one on the side and one large one in the center. I've never touched any of these wires and can't fathom why, after 1.5 years or so, the wires would cause a problem now. Plus they are cabletied a bit. But clearly close or touching the transformer. I just don't even see how I could move the darned things. I've no clue what the power supply looks like. I ask for suggestions because it clearly wants to work sometimes. Right now it sounds pristine. Any ideas? This is my only real music source other than my DVD player. TIA

I have an idea, go buy a nice Crown and be done with this Sh$t.

[meagain]

I know - but Crown doesn't make CD players (I assume).

[jacksonbart]

well hell its even easier buy a Denon 3910c or graduate to the 21st century and buy an Olive music center http://www.olive.us/p_bin/ and listen via FLAC or wave. There are other options as well. Listening to music should not be that hard.

[DrWho]

wow

[Duke Spinner]

Dam tube thingy's .......[] [] []

[Duke Spinner]

Aaaaahhh .. your's ... is modded ...

only one place to send it now ......Bummer, Lis ...[]

[Duke Spinner]

Aaaaahhh .. your's ... is modded ...

only one place to send it now ......Bummer, Lis ...[]

[meagain]

Jacksonbart - Rest assured that when the digital stuff gets to where we want it - that's where I'm headed. As it is, I can't get my husband off his iTunes on this POS HP PC we have for the TV/audio. Oh god! Why can't THAT PC break so I can get a Mac in there at least? Till we figure out the DAC & music server stuff and can offer better quality at prices I can stomach - the Jolida CDP sure provides a bunch of 'somethin' somethin'. Course, now it's broke so......

Even funnier is just a couple hours ago, my Furman Voltage Regulator/conditioner arrived. LOL I was all prepared for a good audio situation today. I'm sitting here stareing at all the gear and saying "Are you sh*tting me?"

[meagain]

Duke - Yea I know. Might have to send it to Underwood. I've not given up yet though! I want to figure it out myself and make it work. Since it works sometimes, I have hope for this.

My remote broke and I fixed that. After I sent those ball-bearing buttons flying all over the room with cats chasing after them.

[Guest " "]

with out getting into too much techno speak

if your jolida has coax and optical outputs in addition to the standard RCA outputs you could run the coax or optical output to one of your other devices that could decode the signal such as a dac or HT reciever, or even your HTPC.  If this works, the problem can be isolated to the tube buffer board.

[jacksonbart]

Jacksonbart - Rest assured that when the digital stuff gets to where we want it - that's where I'm headed.

Fair enough statement, but have you heard digital/a copy of a CD played back as a FLAC or WAVE? I mean with the wave there is no difference. The vinyl guys can attempt to claim something with analog and all, not that I agree, but I have yet to a hear a CD person tell me that a wave played via the same DAC is any different. I can't tell the difference from a WAVE to an FLAC, but then again I don't attribute all these wonderfull adjectives to topology of an AMP.

The OLIVE is a nice choice simply because its simple, sounds like you could use a dose of that. That said if you into SACD or HDCD, well that is were a unit like the 3910c, but there are equivelents for less for sure. Anyway best of luck, never forget its all about the music and we all have that in common.

Cheers

[meagain]

Speakerfritz - if you ever want to sell those 60th's in the future - can I call Dibs now?
Jacksonbart - I'll forward that item to my husband.

It's working now. Actually, I'm experiencing great sound. Puzzling.

I have a question for anyone - You know those can-like covers some tubes have? They came with the unit but last time I swapped tubes I left them off. If I recall, the seller wasn't crazy about them being on. I'm not exactly sure what the point of them is but I think it's some form of heat dissipation? ??? Would anyone know if it's a bad idea to run these 2 tubes with the covers off? The tubes don't seem to get hot, but could it be not having these shields on creates some type of interference to the caps, electricals, etc?

[DrWho]

Macs are great and all, but there is no more software and hardware available for PC's for doing HTPC setups. Not saying they don't exist, just that you're limiting your options. Right now I run all of my audio/video through the computer and would put it up against any fancy player you wanna throw at me. The only thing that matters with digital is finding a good DAC. I can see the audiofools screaming about that comment, but I'll just be up front and tell em all to piss off. [H] And heck, if you like tubes there are tube DACs on the market (which will be just like your Jolida).

As far as wav and flac....they are bit for bit identical to a cd during playback. Again, the audiofools can kindly go away since I won't waste my time arguing about it.

(sorry for the negativity...just wanted to be up front about some of the myths)

[Spongeworthy]

Brasky to the rescue! "His poop is considered currency in Argentina." LOL

I'm going to check out that Olive for sure.

Here are my personal favorites:

"If you drop a phonograph needle on Brasky's nipple, it plays the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds.'"

"They use Brasky's foreskin as a tarp when it rains at Yankee stadium."

[Duke Spinner]

the metal covers are for shielding ......

[Guest " "]

"I have a question for anyone - You know those can-like covers some tubes have?   They came with the unit but last time I swapped tubes I left them off.  If I recall, the seller wasn't crazy about them being on.  I'm not exactly sure what the point of them is but I think it's some form of heat dissipation?  ???   Would anyone know if it's a bad idea to run these 2 tubes with the covers off?   The tubes don't seem to get hot, but could it be not having these shields on creates some type of interference to the caps, electricals, etc? "

if you have 12AX7 tubes in your CDP...you will need those covers...they help reduce noise

if you have 12AU7 tubes...you can get by with out them due to the lower MU rating.

there are tubes in between 12ax7...12at7...12av7....12au7 etc...each has a different MU rating   100...70...41...20   result will vary

and then there is the 6*** family.....same applies

I would recommend you put them back in....problem is if you move this unit again...it might stop working.

 

[meagain]

SpeakerFritz - Yipes. They are 12ax7. I'll get them on right now. They don't really go on easy or they seem to not want to lock right. Will go inspect this better but last time I looked, I didn't really see a bump on the base to lock them. Something like that and I feared putting them on wrong or too low on the tube, etc.

So far 2.5-ish hours working fine. I carefully used a can of spray air everywhere I could and methodically went over each plug gadget, etc. inside to make sure they were tight. So far so good. This is the longest it's worked since this all started last week.

[cjgeraci]

Speakerfritz - if you ever want to sell those 60th's in the future - can I call Dibs now?

Jacksonbart - I'll forward that item to my husband.

It's working now. Actually, I'm experiencing great sound. Puzzling.

I have a question for anyone - You know those can-like covers some tubes have? They came with the unit but last time I swapped tubes I left them off. If I recall, the seller wasn't crazy about them being on. I'm not exactly sure what the point of them is but I think it's some form of heat dissipation? ??? Would anyone know if it's a bad idea to run these 2 tubes with the covers off? The tubes don't seem to get hot, but could it be not having these shields on creates some type of interference to the caps, electricals, etc?

Glad to hear that the unit is back to sounding good. My Jolida is also a level one mod like yours, and with all due respect to Denon players (or maybe not), that would be a step backwards for you. I will do what it takes to restore my Jolida back to glory should anything ever happen unexpectly. Of course, others' ears may hear differently.

Carl.

[meagain]

Carl - If you ever do a tube switch and have a camera handy, I'd love to see a guts pic. I'm having a super-interesting day for sure. From horrid (seriously, the problem was not small) to great. Hope the CDP continues working. It's certainly been having a nice 5-ish hour run. What must've happened was - when I sent my VRDs to Craig, he wanted to test all my tubes so I popped the lid and grabbed them. I'm freekishly careful with all the gear and am hard-pressed to glean what I might have done, but the problem didn't exist before that tube removal and I can only guess something got jiggled.

I have a Denon 2900 DVD/CD. But am not familiar with the anything else from their line except my old tiny TT. Jolida sounds insanely good.