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JLTi SACD Player

   MODEL DISCONTINUED  

  GOT ONE? CONTACT FOR BEST PRICE  

230-240V Model

Contact Joe: joeras@vacuumstate.com

See User Review Below.

"I have been listening to wonderful music from this amazing player for almost a week now, it is breathtaking.... Can't believe I have lived without this source for so long." Peter Bjørndal, Denmark

( More User Reviews )

When David met Goliath, it wasn't reputation or size that mattered. This new player has the potential to turn expectations up-side-down. Sony based, this JLTi SACD Player does CD and Super Audio CD, as well as 24/96 DVD DAD disks, but not DVD-A.

We have already been able to do listening comparisons at some High-End dealers, with players ranging from USD $7,000 to USD $14,000. We cannot yet quote the dealers' comments which were all favourable, but one responded "really unbelievable" and "stunningly good."

>>>> DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2006 <<<<

With your regular CDs, you will find that you have a music library ready to be listened to all over again. SACDs will enthral you as their real potential is released.

Features:

  1. The Reference Clock

  2. Custom Output Stage

  3. Back-EMF Noise Reduction


Reference Clock

The “Reference Clock” is not just another clock. A new and key design by our team from Vacuum State (www.vacuumstate.com) and used by permission. Not just of the highest quality but also incorporates a unique power supply, with extraordinary low frequency bandwidth and has rock like stability. Our finding that Low Frequency jitter is sonically more serious is not in itself unique, but that jitter down to sub-One Hertz is critical and usually noise in the power supply at ultra-low frequencies is far more serious than previously thought. Only by actively seeking and finding a solution (because the problem is largely unmeasurable) will it then become apparent by listening. LF noise performance in the Reference Clock easily surpasses even batteries.

Custom Output Stage

Eliminating the entire IC based analog output stage and replacing it with our Custom Output Stage, using minimum number of components and filtering. There is no artificial boost of the signal in the post-DAC circuit, so a preamp or integrated with preamp is preferable. Unlikely to be suitable for so-called passive preamps. The components are chosen with extreme care and incorporate a tuned (by ear and not by numbers) filter with precise impedance and is designed to work into 10K or more.

For those who wish to use a Passive Preamp or need something that has higher output than the Sony version, the JLTi/Samsung HD-950 will be more than just suitable, so there are two versions of these giant killers, please read more Newsletter Spring 2006.

Back-EMF Noise Reduction

Major reduction of back-EMF noise in digital circuits. Grossly overlooked and underestimated problem, often not fully understood until the results are heard. Even the most expensive players on the market are inadequate, so much so that any player can be improved by just tackling this problem alone. Using our methods the digital circuits are damped by shunting the noise into the player's ground plane and out of harms way. The sonic gains and stunning increase in focus and fluidness are immediately obvious.


The JLTi SACD Multi-Player should be compared to the best players available and not really in consideration to its price. By all means compare it with any other players up to 10 times or more.

Let your ear be your final arbiter. Happy listening.


Hi Joe,

All is well and I have received my new player.

My opinions are in line with the WA guy - I am absolutely delighted with my unit. True, SACD are mind-bogglingly good but you were spot-on, what it does for even plain old garden-variety CDs is amazing - I bought a new disc player and got a whole new music library (all my current CDs) thrown in for free. I think that's what truly makes it a fantastic bargain - the fact that it doesn't render redundant one's current music collection and, in fact, improves it beyond all recognition!

The "air" and presence it adds, and it's bass "grip", are simply fantastic. The top end is sweet, lilting and beautiful and to my ears there is a total removal of "grain" and other nasty digital artefacts - all the good things about high-end analogue without the shortcomings (including cost!).

In short, I never realised just how good my Shahinian Obelisks are because the front-end is now so good! They have never produced so much bass - both in quantity AND quality. I brought my graphic designer home today and I played a number of tracks from different genres; one of which was Annie Lennox's "Why" from her "Diva" CD; with which he was very familiar. I was standing behind him and noticed that he couldn't stop shaking his head. At the end of the track he said he wouldn't have believed she could sound so good if he hadn't heard it for himself! He actually left quite sad because he wants one and can't afford it!

Anyway, I've probably rambled on enough and I guess you have gathered that I'm pretty chuffed.

Thanks again, Joe.

Warwick Piper, Adelaide S.A.

[He has since ordered another unit.]

(This mini-review also contains info on the JLTi Mk2 amplifier).

I stumbled across the JLTi range by chance, bored on Christmas holidays I wanted to improve my Hi-Fi. Did a Google search to upgrade CD players and came up with customanalouge.com [Vacuum State's Australian connection].

From that day everything has changed in my Hi-Fi.

My system was:

  • Parasound Amp 2125

  • Dynavector L200 Preamp

  • Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3, X-PSU V3, X10 V3

  • Sony DVP-999ES CD/DVDplayer

  • NHT SB10 subwoofer

  • Quad 11L speakers

Value around $10,000

After speaking to Joe, I ordered a JLTi enhanced multi-player. In my mind thinking how can the far less expensive JLTi multi player compete with Musical Fidelity that has great reviews all around the world? The X-DAC V3 alone nearly costs more than the JLTi multi player.

My first listening session with the JLTi was Fleetwood Mac greatest hits. It only took 30 seconds of seven wonders playing, that Musical Fidelity simply could not compete with this player. Improvement in soundstage separation of instruments is well beyond Musical Fidelity. And it uses less power for the environmentally friendly audiophiles. Less chance of thieves taking a "cheap" DVD player.

Then a few months went past I came up with the idea of a better amp. So on my shopping list was the JLTI Mk2 Tube Hybrid integrated at A$2999. I thought if they do such a wonderful job with a CD player why not try the integrated amp. I noticed that the JLTi Mk2 is only rated at 35 watts a channel. That was a bit of a worry for me as sometimes, like all audio buffs, I like to crank it up and show mates some power. My Parasound is 125 watts.

Once again the Fleetwood Mac CD went in and seven wonders came on with the volume dial at a quarter. Amazement just hit my ears, sounded cleaner more refined, smoother, warmer than the Parasound by a long margin. My Quads 11L are 86db, but no problems getting out of them a crystal clean sound. High levels were possible [despite the lower rated power], measured by a decibel meter in my listening position 3m away from the speakers.

Even at full volume level there is no distortion at all. The bass that this amp produces in my bookshelf makes me wonder if I need a sub (I will still keep it for home theatre). All sounds are produced at low listening levels, no need to turn it up like other amps. Liquid warm sound is the best way I can describe what it does on my system. Can listen to it for hours on end, without causing fatigue. Now my system had a major upgrade for less money I just sold what I had, to cover JLTi and money left over for more music.

JLTi is not a integrated amplifier, it is a musical INSTRUMENT. All I do is provide it with musicians via their CD player.

  • JLTi MULTI-PLAYER

  • JLTi HYBRID MK2 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

  • QUAD 11L Speakers

  • NHT SB Subwoofer (Home Theater use)

Value $6500.

That is a saving of $3500 which could have been spent on better speakers.

Don't  just believe me? JUST LISTEN TO IT!

MARIO, PERTH WA

Dear Allen,

My name is Daniel Wakahisa and I am one of the few owners of a JLTi SACD Player here in England. In fact, I might even be the only one [at the time of writing]  as far as I know.

I am writing to you to congratulate Vacuum State Electronics for its achievement and to share my experience as an audio enthusiast and owner of a JLTi SACD Player.

I first found out about VSE after purchasing a used SONY SCD-555ES last year. I was very impressed by its built quality but sonically it was a rather disappointing experience. As a CD player its performance was inferior to my 10 years old AVI S2000MC and although SACDs sounded rather good, at the time I had only one SACD disc and most music I listen to isn't and probably never will be available on SACD.

Therefore I was very pleased to find out about the SACD upgrades from VSE. After reading all the reviews online I had a strong feeling that it was just what I was looking for. Only one thing separated me from the VSE Level 5 upgrade: £700! Being only 29 years old, £700 would had taken me some time to save. Yet considering the benefits it didn't really seem that much, so I started saving.

As time went by my frustration with the sound of the SCD-555ES increased and the time necessary to raise £700 seemed an eternity. I needed to find a shortcut before my enthusiasm for my CD collection died completely. Needless to say, I was thrilled to find out about the little JLTi SACD Player on your website.

It was the answer to my prayers at the right price, and in a way it almost seemed too good to be true.

Knowing that in life one must risk at least a little in order to achieve results I decided to contact Colin [
Chevin Audio] here in the UK and ordered the first UK JLTi player. It took Colin a few weeks to have it ready, which gave me enough time to sell the SCD-555ES for almost the same cost of a brand new JLTi SACD Player! So far so good!

When the JLTi finally arrived I was rather worried. The box was so light I thought it was empty! Out of the box things didn't seem to be getting better. It's certainly not much to look at and by comparison the Sony SCD-555ES makes it look like a children's toy. Indeed, I was very worried! Instructions were clear and well presented. So all I had to do was plug the player and sit down with my fingers crossed!

Since I had never auditioned the JLTi SACD Player before I had no idea what to expect. My purchase had been entirely based on online reviews and conversations with Colin. However, unlike other upgrades when I wasn't sure if different meant better, this time
it took me a matter of seconds to realize I was sitting in front of a masterpiece. It's as good as you describe and the metaphor When David Met Goliath is no exaggeration at all, but a matter of fact.

Now it s been almost one month since it arrived and all I have are praises for the little JLTi. As a result of its performance I now find myself listening to a lot more cds than vinyl! No, I don t think it sounds better than a high-end turntable, but then what does? I've had the chance to listen to some very expensive CD Players (such as Audio Aero Capitole, Linn CD12) and although I don't feel prepared to compare the JLTi against what I heard in the past, I can confidently affirm that it would make perfect sense to compare the JLTi against the very best machines out there.

That's how good it is, and I am glad to know it.

Yours truly,

Daniel Wakahisa
Fashion Designer
 


The Reference Clock

The Reference is a break-through Clock technology. While low frequency jitter (jitter is frequency spectrum selective) is known to be critical and the kind of jitter to have severest and worst affect on digital replay, something has clearly not been fully understood:

It can NOW be demonstrated that even SUB-sonic jitter kills dynamics, tonality and sheer presence of the music in a fundamental way that is hard to put into words. Those who have heard it, even hardcore retailers who hear all sort of ambit claims (yawn) are excited when they hear this.

The Reference Clock is a Vacuum State development, the only Clock that controls low frequency noise that induces jitter, even at SUB ONE HERTZ. Correct, even below one cycle per second. The results is reducing noise that can hardly be measured (indeed Reference low frequency noise is very difficult to measure). Even the best batteries, carefully decoupled, do not even approach the Reference Clock. Indeed batteries have a rising noise spectrum at low frequencies. Noise equals jitter and the lower the frequency of the noise, the more audible the jitter.

Here is a universal player that can now compete against any CD or SACD player available at any price. Yes, even with exalted player costing ten times as much, this player will reveal a pedigree that will stun in any company.

Great bargains in audio like this are very rare indeed and shows that SOTA performance need not make you bankrupt.

For the more technically minded: JLTi's version of the new Reference Clock has a time constant of 66 seconds, that is a cycling rate of one per 66 seconds (1/0.015 = 66). This Low Pass filter with a corner off 0.015 Hertz swallows up noise like a little black hole. The result is an ultra stable clock. Warning: The clock is extremely slow, so with JLTi Player, the clock is permanent left 'on' as soon as the AC power cord is plugged 'in'. Then leave for 30 seconds for the clock to come up to speed before turning the player itself 'on' via front panel. Once it has been plugged into AC power, the player behaves normally in every way. Only repeat the delay if you disconnect and reconnect the AC plug.

Just Listen To it    

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Last modified: Sunday June 07, 2015

Just had a terrible thought. If "intelligent design" is unscientific, then who will design our audio equipment?