Does this amp have a problem or is it OK to buy?


I'm considering a Jolida 302B. Having seen reports of humming trannies, I asked the seller about it. His response is below. I don't know if this is a problem or normal. Even if slightly wrong, I'd rather not buy. What do you think?
"With the speakers connected to the 302B, I can hear a very faint hum from the speakers, but you have to put your ear right against the speaker grill to hear the hum. Turning the volume knob on the 302B has no effect on the amount of hum - the sound level remains constant regardless of the volume setting. Again, I must stress that the volume of hum is so slight, I doubt if anyone in a silent room will notice it, even when standing close to it. You really have to put your ear against the speaker to hear the very faint hum. I believe this kind of hum is generated by all amplifiers - try listening to your current amp. When listening to music, I doubt if one can hear the effects of it even in quiet passages.

Now, with a CD player hooked up to the Jolida, the hum level increases as you increase the volume on 302B. When the volume dial is turned down to minimum, the level of hum is very faint (same level as if cd player was not connected). When the volume is turned to MAXIMUM, the hum becomes noticeable as you approach the speaker (about 3 feet away). In addition, when the CD player is on, and the input selector on the 302B is set to other than CD (such as AUX), turning the volume knob has no bearing on the hum level - it stays constant at the barely audible level. I believe what this indicates is that by itself, the 302B is very quiet (just a barely audible hum), and when you hook up a CD player or phono stage, the inherent noise (hum) from those external sources are magnified as you increase the volume. "

Thanks....
river251
Well I guess if the OP would find himself putting his ear up close to the speaker grill obsessively then he should pass on this amp.....

I must say I have never listened to a Jolida integrated amp and know beans about them.

I will say reading the email of the seller I believe he was being honest as possible.
I would also bet the seller does not have shorting plugs plugged into the unused inputs on the amp. That alone can add noise....

What did this amp sell for new? Under a $1000 bucks?

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/jolida_jd302b.htm
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All, can't thank you enough. The seller has most graciously let me back out. Amazingly honorable person.

Shipping to the nearest tech would be prohibitive, living with it would not work for this overly particular buyer, and spending the time to learn and fix it myself isn't an option. I need to get my hifi set, so I can return to studying jazz guitar, or I'll never be able to play a tune.

Thanks again. This place is amazing.
I have no personal experience with Jolida, but their reputation for reliability has been less than stellar.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS412US415&q=jolida+problems
Hum is bad. Stay away.

Best case, it's possible a ground loop issue or something along that line in the current setup that might vanish in yours, but unless that could be determined for certain up front, I would look elsewhere.

Worst case is damaged or defective boards or other components internally in need of repair.

Yes, hum is bad!
There is a fair price for anything less than perfect, either due to an original design flaw, or a problem with the specimen itself. Some 302s sell for up to 700+ some for the high 500s.

At around $600 (going ending price on 'bay) you cant even get a set of trannies and a box of that quality.