Just ordered the Jungson 88D Luxury Edition.


Based on some of your commends and a sparse BFS review, I'm taking the plunge. I really hope it will sound good in my system. The guy I bought it from says it's ultra smooth, lush, and just seductive. He also carries the DK VS1 integrated and prefers the Jungson sound over the DK. The Jungson LE is supposed to have better build quality and sells for $1300 less! Any comments on the Jungson is welcome.
dracule1
This really is a great sounding amp, and a tremendous value. Bound For Sound reviewed the amp several months ago and recommended it highly. I passed because of warranty issues, but the sound is spectacular. I believe it's a real stretch to say it is as good as the DK, but it's very nice.
I'd be glad to hear what you have to say too. They are sold about an hours drive south of where I live.
84audio,

Have you heard the 88D and DK personally in your own system? Otherwise, I don't think you could say which is better. The guy I'm buying from has heard both in the same system and recommends the Jungson. I have no reason to believe he's being dishonest. I have heard the DK with NOS Mullard tubes driving the VS VR4jr at the 2005 NY HE Show and was extremely impressed with the sound. Many seem to think the stock tubes are unimpressive. I for one do not want to spend another $200 for NOS tubes on top of $3000 for the DK when there is a comparable integrated for nearly half the price. May be I'll get burned but that's a risk I'm willing to take.
dracul1, If you order the Jungson you won't get burned, it's outstanding! Yes, I have listened to both the Jungson and DK extensively, for many hours in the same system. I have a friend who has both and he and I both easily prefer the DK. Dealers sell the products they have in order to make a living so they have a vested interest. Personally, I don't care what you buy as I'm not making money off of anything you purchase. Again, I think they are both very good amps, but in my opinion the DK is better. My intent is not to rain on your parade---If you're happy I'm happy for you, and my guess is that you will love the Jungson. The 88D is a great choice and a killer value, but imho the DK is in another league.
84audio, sorry I was not trying to come down on you. If you have heard both in the same system, I believe in your opinion. The dealer I bought it from sells both the DK and Jungson. He would have made more money if he sold me the DK, but he really preferred the Jungson. He said he has had customers sell their DK for Jungson and vice versa. So in the end, it's really a matter of preference.

Like I said, I have heard the DK with the NOS Mullard and really enjoyed the sound. Dynamics, staging, and imaging were incredible. But I did hear what I can only describe as "tube resonance" or kind of a scratchy sound in the upper midrange or grainy quality that begin to tire me after awhile. I've heard this from some other lower end tube equipment also. For some reason, I'm very sensitive to this. The higher end tube equipment like the AR, Atmosphere, McIntosh, and the like do not have this quality - they're velvity smooth. It's hard to describe, but I can't live with it in the long run.

The best sounding amps I ever heard were both SS, a modified Threshold SA-3 class A amp and the big YBA mono blocks. Both were grain free and just transparent as hell. May be your right, I may end up preferring the Jungson if it is smooth and luscious as some describe it to be.

Thanks for your input 84audio.