Joule-Electra Destiny mono blocks, Opinions?

""I been told that bass was substabtially and dramatically improved (deeper, faster, cleaner etc) mostly due to (from their web site):

....The "super chargers" in power supplies are huge Mundorf M-TubeCap capacitors which combine a high degree of dielectric strength and low residual inductivity. These capacitors can supply, very quickly, extreme peak currents and can be heard and felt...."

Hello Dev,
It is description of last audition or test of Joule-Electra new preamp - Marieanne Electra LA-300ME.

I believe this is the best in the world preamp and I have ordered one - still did noy get it

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Rafael

Dev,
Here are a couple of my observations.

Preamp: I owned the LA150-mk2. I've owned and found the CJ 16 LS-2, CAT Ultimate 2, the First Sound Statement and the Thor Cadence to all have more detail, more robust build quality and have faster and cleaner transients and be more transparent. The Joule preamp did some nice things with warm timber and big soundstage. It was very nice for female vocals. But, I preferred the foregoing preamps for all being more linear and lifelike. I also found the chassis and machining of the foregoing preamps to include such things as CNC milled hardware and cleanly laid out circuitry. I found the Joule to use lesser quality parts.

In my opinion, Joule makes some nice sounding gear. I've heard it with verity speakers and really really enjoyed the sound. But, to say its build quality is in the likes of Dehavilland, CAT, Wavac, First Sound, Thor, Audio Note, etc. is not consistent with my experience. Mundorfs don't cost that much money.

IMHO. YMMV. Jeff

Hello Ji2468,

I disagree with you a lot.

For example, among many excellent preamps you listed, you have LS2 - which I auditioned over weekend (years ago) and found to be at least thin i.e. 2D images within 3D space etc and also you have CAT - one of the best preamps in the world and I owned CAT for many years - so we both expressed our personal opinion obtained with our associated equipment - and nothing more

Next, reliability: do you have any statictics to back up you claim? Something hapenned with your gear? And if so then what does it mean?

OTL amplifiers, obviously are very costly to ship and to repair. They must be absotely relaiable or company would go down. Both Athmasphere and Joule-Electra are here, enjoying full respect from owners of their products and audiophile alike.

"Mundorfs don't cost that much money." Really? Are you sure?
Mundorf has a variety of capacitors ranging form a very cheap (always euthonic!) to truly excellent and very expensive like "Gold/Silver/Oi"l ones which Jud Barber uses in his new flagship preamplifier, LA-300ME. Don't forget that when Jud started this project Euro/USD ratio was very, very high and yet he was willing to invest.

Regards
Rafael

Hi there, some interesting replies to this thread but still mainly unanswered questions, hopefully Jud Barber will chime in and clarify some of the questions put forth.

What would you expect Jud to say? Might be best to give him a call or send him an email. I've had good luck reaching him that way. He hardly ever participates on these forums.