tubes for Jadis JP-200

Does it use EF86 tubes or 12AX7s?

I have owned a JP-200 since 1993. During that time I have had it modified, and then restored to factory specs. I have used Telefunken, Ei, RCA, GE, Tesla, and Electro-Harmonic gold-pin 12ax7 tubes and have always returned to the Telefunkens. I have achieved a brighter sound but never any sparkle unless the Telefunkens are in the system. The Ei tubes were my second choice.

During the modified period, there was greater top-end sparkle; however, the unit also lost all of the musical characteristics for which one selects a Jadis product! To be clear, I do not recommend this option.

An idea, audition Mapleshade planar power cords (the active version with battery box) on the JP-200 or, on your power amps. This will change the balance somewhat, but not the character of the Jadis -they do open up the top end in a rather natural way.

By the way, what is the production year of the unit? I ask because this advice may not be as applicable to more recent production units --later than 2001.

Mine uses EF86 tubes. Like Ejmac70, over the 20 plus years I've had Jadis preamps I have preferred the sound of Telefunkens in these units, both EF86 tubes in the JP200 and the 12AX7s in my previous JP80MC. I tried Mullard 12AX7s for a while in the old preamp and felt they were brighter but not as well-balanced tonally; if you use this type tube you might try them to get that added "sparkle", though I too feel it's more brightness than sparkle. Other good EF86 tubes I have used in my current unit are NOS tubes from GEC and Amperex; these have sounded excellent and I consider them on a par with the Telefunkens in my unit. I have in reserve, but have not yet used, some Electro Harmonix EF86 tubes intended primarily for guitar amplifier applications--some day I'll try them, I imagine they might give a brighter overall presentation.

As an aside, I also agree with Ejmac70 about being careful about modifying Jadis equipment. Other than Andy Bouwman's "Romantic Era" mods he made to my JP80, I have not heard any mods to these units that don't lose the Jadis "sound" that you pay the big bucks for.

The manufacture date is 1999. The manual says it uses EF-86 and EL86 tubes in the power supply and ECC88-MC, ECC83-Phono and ECC83- linestage.