Joule Electra LA 150 MK2 upgrade

Adampeter,

While I too am sitting on the fence on this upgrade, it's really a no brainer for me. If you already own the LA 150 MkII, $1,750 is nothing compared to putting out 14K for the LA 300 (actually the fully balanced LA 450ME would be the one to splurge for, but damn I bet the price for LA 450ME really splits the Wall Street-ers from the Main Street-ers). I really love the sound of the LA-150 Mkll, but to be quite honest, what I really really love about this preamp is the remote. If I were seriously thinking of moving on up to the LA 300, for 14K I would be definitely
looking and listening to several other preamps. The new Berning zotl comes to mind.

Hello Dpe,
Today, all J-E line stages have remote.
$14k for LA-300ME? I doubt, call them and ask for demo or slightly used. Harry pearson should return his from his review etc
LA-150Mk2 now is much different then that of early models. As I understand, the boards are different - one red another black or whatever, again call them...and ask for demo !

All The Best
Rafael

Hi Rafael,

Yes you're correct Signature Sound sells them for $11,800.

I'm aware that all the Joule preamps have remotes. That's what I love about them, compared to other wonderful preamps I would also consider to be in Joule's (150MkII) league like CAT, TRON or Shindo.

I know what the LA-150MkII sounds like, I own one. The original question was: what's the difference in sound between the 150MkII and the upgrade 150MkII SE?

Sincerely,
Dave

I prefer the SE to the prevous MKII, it is better to my ears, but I could easily live with the MKII (non-SE). I'm not sure how much better the 300 might be, but I can tell you this, if you are not happy with the 150SE, you will at some point not be happy with the 300. The 150SE is aboout as good a linestage as anyone would need, once they've decided that it really about the music and the holy grail equipment syndrome really does get silly at some point, and I think I passed that point quite a while ago. For the cost of the 150MKII>>SE I think it is well worth doing, but do live with it for a long while and stop thinking of the next piece of equipment, you will already own one of the finest preamplifiers available. My 2cents and MHO.

Pubul57
Have you rolled any tubes through the 6JD8 or 12AX7 sockets in the Mkll or the SE?