Hungry AE1 speakers need POWER!

Dear Dr. Jon Wong,

I owned a Jadis DA-30 (Delux) for some years. Some queries could not be solved.

Refer to the user manual, it could be modified into 8 or 16 Ohms. But it claimed that it supprot 1-6 Ohms. I could not get help from others to solve that problem.

And now I am using AE1 of Acoustic Energy (8 Ohms, 88 dB) with original Speaker stand. I found Jaids DA-30 could not provide suitable power and punch which I expected. Some informal information claimed that it was defaulted as 6 Ohms, and I could change it as 8 Ohms value by myself. I didn't do it for I still get some queries on it.

1. Could I get better performance after I change it into 8 Ohms?

2. How can I get a more clear sound and better definition from my Jadis ?

3. Is it possible to change the tube of pre-amp to get better performance ?

4. Other Suggestion ?

Thank you very much.

Alex Leung

Hello Alex,

The output transformer of tube traditional power amplifier usually has several tappings : 16, 8, 6 or perhaps 4 ohms. This is for impedance matching. Usually, when the output is set at 8 ohms, it is OK for speakers from 6 - 10 ohms. When you set to 6 ohms, and your speakers is 8 ohms, I suppose there is not much difference really. Do not expect much by changing the settings.

The Jadis DA30 driving the AE1 will not give you the punch and bass you want. Even if you upgrade the 6550 to KT90 on the DA30, the bass register in the lower region is not DA30’s strength. It is good for vocal and jazz like Stephane Grapalli. The worse thing is, AE1 is power HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY. Perhaps you need Cello Performance to properly drive it.

If you had bought the DA30 first, then if I were you, I would have bought a 92dB loudspeaker. If I have bought the AE1 first, I would match it with a really muscular amplifier, perhaps Cello or Krell.

Looks like you have to keep something you like and get rid of one. I know some western reviwers suggested AE1 with Jadis DA30, but they themselves don’t even take money out from their own pocket and buy it! My suggestion is why not you sell off the AE1 and look for modern beautiful sounding speakers like the German Elec or HGP? I am sure the name is not raved in magazines, but they are truly excellent speakers. For real impressive bass and fast punches, add a Hsu Research subwoofer. These will be a tremendeous upgrade for you, and not too much money involved. No point messing around with a mismatched combination.

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