Specs & Pricing

Joule Electra VZN-80 MK V
Emerald OTL Stereo Amplifier
for the letters “MV” along with the date of
manufacture on the back panel of the amp.
While I wouldn’t exactly call the VZN-80
a plug ’n’ play component, none of the user
settings were difficult to make, save for the bit
of angst I developed over the feedback control.
Adjusting the bias for both the input and
output tubes was as easy as pushing a button,
and ramping up the voltage on the Variac to
the appropriate level was straightforward, as
well. There was a minor issue with buzzing
that I was never able to resolve, but it wasn’t
loud enough to interfere with my listening.
The sonics of the Joule VZN-80 did give
me a bit of a struggle, however. I don’t mean
to suggest that the amp sounds bad and I’m
trying to figure out a way to dance around it.
In fact, looking back at my notes, I saw that my
very first comment was to wonder how anyone
could possibly be objective about a component
that sounded so incredibly gorgeous. I was
listening to one of my favorite vocal harmony
tracks on Nickel Creek’s Nickel Creek [Sugar
Hill] and, as cliché as it sounds, I’m sure my
jaw was scraping the floor. I doubt my initial
listening impressions could have been more
favorable.
After further auditioning with a variety of
music and a side-by-side with another OTL,
the struggle ensued, as everything I heard
through the Joule was sounding perhaps too
gorgeous—to the point of being overdone.
The lushness was ofttimes too lush, masking
detail, and the rich tonal colors were almost too
rich to sound real at times. Adding feedback
(via the feedback control) thinned out images
and brought back missing air and detail but at
the same time washed out the vibrant tonal
color. So at the suggestion of Jud Barber, I
thought it best to leave the feedback control at
the factory setting (9 o’clock), which I am told
is 4dB of feedback.
The comparison I performed was against
the Atma-Sphere M60 monoblocks. While the
two amps are quite different—and neither one
perfect—it was still a weekend of OTL bliss
for me. For speakers I used the very capable
and tube-friendly Coincident Super Eclipse
(along with the highly detailed and open
Coincident TRS Extreme speaker cable), while
the Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp and Meridian
G08 CD player held down front-end duties.
The M60 was decidedly more neutral, open,
and airy without a drop of lushness in sight.
Listening to Dave Grusin’s “Baby Elephant
Walk” on Two for the Road [GRP], you could drive
a truck through its wrap-around soundstage
and superb separation of instruments. While
I’d still give the Joule relatively high marks for
three-dimensionality, I’m afraid I can’t say the
same for its separation, especially not on this
particular piece of music. The muted horn had
superior tonal color with the Joule, but much
better detail and leading-edge definition with the
M60. And while both amps were surprisingly
gutsy when driven hard, the Atma-Sphere (with
25% less rated power) showed signs of strain at
high playback levels. A fairer comparison, both
price- and power-wise, would have been with
the Atma-Sphere MA-1, which, unfortunately,
I no longer have on hand.
If you want to
do away with the
output transformer,
you have to carefully
match the amp with
sensitive speakers
The Joule never cracked under pressure, at
least not in my smaller listening room, and
had substantially more dynamic slam than
I anticipated. Bass notes had considerable
weight and roundness, but lacked specificity
and detail. On Misty River’s “Black Pony,”
from Live at the Backgate Stage [Misty River],
images were clumped too closely together
in the center of the soundstage, making it a
bit difficult to sense the space between the
performers and instruments. The bass fiddle
could be heard somewhere in the mix, but
image placement wasn’t specific enough,
nor was there sufficient detail, to give the
impression of the strings being attached to
the body of the instrument. The vocals were
velvety smooth and lovely, however, with
remarkable density and body. The music was
also quite spirited and lively.
Specs & Pricing
JOULE ELECTRA
103 Lark Lane
North Augusta, South Carolina 29860
(803) 279-6959
info@joule-electra.com
joule-electra.com
Power output: 80Wpc into 8 ohms, 50W into 4
ohms
Tube complement: Output, eight 6C33-CB; input
four 6350, two 12AX7, four 6DJ8
Dimensions: 19" x 9" x 15"
Weight: 60 lbs.
Price: $12,000–$16,000 (w/ optional Musicwood
case and automotive paint finish)
Although the Symposium Svelte Shelf
worked sufficiently well to keep the VZN-80
off the carpeting, I was disappointed that I
never had the opportunity to try the Critical
Mass platform that is specifically made for
this amp. (It even has the same matching
Wineberry automotive paint finish.) I have it on
very good authority that this platform makes a
fairly dramatic top-to-bottom improvement in
the performance of the Joule amps and may
have substantially changed the outcome of
this review.
I actually had the Critical Mass platform
in my possession for a brief period of time
before starting this review, but had to send
it back. Just for grins, I thought it might
be interesting to give it a trial run under my
McCormack DNA-500 amp. Instead of the
factory Delrin interface blocks, I opted to use
some aluminum blocks I had on hand, with
surprisingly good results. When I related this
to the manufacturer, he immediately asked for
the return of the platform, saying it must have
sustained shipping damage. (Huh) I never
saw it again. Apologies were fruitless, and I’ve
yet to figure out what I did wrong. I relate this
story as an example of the weirdness in this
hobby and also to encourage readers to try
the VZN-80 with the Critical Mass platform.
If my source is correct, it will be well worth
the effort.
Even with the VZN-80’s few shortcomings,
there’s no arguing that this is one colorful, lively,
and gorgeous-sounding amp with the rare
allure only an OTL design can bring to your
system. I’m also willing to concede that my
perception of the Joule as being “overdone”
could simply be a matter of taste—or lack
thereof. If you’re a fan of lushness and bloom
from the Old School of tube design, the VZN-
80 will eat you alive. And all I can say to that is,
what a way to go! TAS
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
Meridian 808, G08, and Marantz PMD-320 CD
players; Van Alstine Ultra DAC; Meridian G02
control unit, Sonic Euphoria passive, and Van
Alstine Ultra preamp; Meridian G57, Atma-Sphere
Novacron OTL, and McCormack DNA-500 amps;
Coincident Super Eclipse, Von Schweikert VR4jr,
B&W 800D, and B&W 704 speakers; Coincident
TRS, Paul Speltz anti-cable, Harmonic Tech speaker
cable, Harmonic Tech, Audio Magic interconnects;
Cardas RCA to XLR adapters; Elrod, JPS power
cords; Bright Star Audio, Symposium Svelte
shelves; Chang Lightspeed Encounter, PS Audio
Ultimate outlet; Echo Busters, ASC room treatment
80 December 2006 The Absolute Sound