Customers, Reviewers and
Forums. Text on this page is generally unformatted or format
removed as many of the sources vary a great deal in text styles...
No attempt to spell correct... These are what they are copied verbatim.
We are grateful for the kind words found on the Internet.
The growing success of our products is in no small way related to how
people feel about us.
Here is some fun, I use Google for many things like searches.
A
good search engine is the backbone of the internet. Google is that.
So when looking for reviews of our products I put that in the search cue:
Review
of
Jena Labs I was overwhelmed with what that yielded... many of
them we did not even know about.
We are measured in worth by the people who buy our products. We
rarely advertise in Magazines or Journals, in the future we may do that
more.
As a small company we have been amazed at just how far and wide the
response to what we produce has been. Our products have sold around the
world, mostly by word of mouth, and the representation of a few dealers
who see a product worth carrying. Many other products carry far more
profit to a dealer but none as much value in performance in the areas in
which we manufacture. That value is to the customers and hence to the
dealers who provided a product that really performs. Thats the profit
that comes from another future sale to a very satisfied customer.
something to think about.
We do not buy our reviews... many company's do. Any review of our product
is by merit alone.
We can't buy the hearts and minds of our customers... it is they who have
offered these words which follow.
They lead this page because it is a satisfied customer, more than a
Magazine review, which measures our value to those who believe in our
products.
There is no particular order to these individual reviews and they are
covering the assortment of products we make in whichever way that they do.
No spell checking, just the raw comments.
We are happy that people do like our products and take any comments to
heart. And it does have an influence on how and what we produce.
For obvious reasons we do not identify our customers identity's... Unless
we have permission... but the words are real and those who wrote them can
testify to themselves the truth found here.
Almost all of these came from e-mails post sale and trial by fire, so to
speak or have pointed out to us on various sites.
Our latest Show was a shared room at the
New York Audio show in 2016 with Charney Audio and HiFi Logic.
With our interconnects, Speaker cables and 5 Model Ones.3 AC power
conditioners.
.
.
Our latest Reviews have been on
our interconnects and power conditioners.
Jan. 13th, 2019
customer review JENA Labs Fugue (with ultra RCA modified SRCA connector):
I compared the Transparent Audio "Super" RCA interconnect (latest G5
technology) against the Jena-Labs Fugue (with ultra RCA modified SRCA
connector), played on the ERC-2 CD player and a SET amp with Klipsch La
Scala speakers.
I played "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck, and it became quickly apparent the
Jena-Labs IC was just plain better in every way, and even though the
price point for each is similar ($800 for the Transparent and $875 for
the Jena-Labs), there was just no comparison.
My notes from the test on the ways the Jena-Labs cables excelled:
Cymbals: clearer
Bass: crisp, not boomy
Trumpet: The Transparent seemed filtered unnaturally, the Jena-labs
were much clearer, authentic (no filter).
Soundstage: the width and depth were dramatically wider and more
dimensional with the Jena Labs, simply put: WAY more 3d sound.
Other notes:
The Transparent sounded almost flat, with a muted sound, and when I
played the Jena-Labs IC that muted sound went away and the sound just
became "way better", more nuanced and a lot richer and more alive. With
the Transparent, I had the urge to turn up the volume as I felt like I
could not really hear very well. That sensation went away with the JL.
Normally, I really have to concentrate to hear differences between
cables and IC's, but this A/B test was the easiest I've ever heard as
the differences were dramatic immediately, and the Jena-Labs were
superior in every way.
Garth
-----------
March 8th, 2015
I spent the last 5 years building out my high end audio system. It is
pretty stable now and I thought I had nailed the cabling as well. I went
from Cardas Golden Reference and Harmonic Technology to Audience top of
the line cabling. Audience was beating anything at or below its price
range and most cables that cost more, some time significantly more. I
standardized on it - interconnects, phono cable, speaker cables, power
cords, power conditioner. All top of the line versions. Super good stuff -
read the reviews ...can't go wrong with their product. Then...I ran across
JENA Labs. One modest Jena Labs Pathfinder interconnect. Wow - the
soundstage was the most coherent I have heard it. No note lost; every part
of the soundscape present and accounted for. Organic and natural with ZERO
GLARE AND ZERO ELECTRONIC CHALKINESS OR SHEEN. Harmonics true to form.
So I have slowly been building up my system on Jena Lab cables, including
interconnects, speaker cables, phono cables from tonearm, headphone
cabling etc.
And...I am buying the Sequoia Power Conditioner. I have been picking up
the Jena Labs Model Two power cord/conditioner. Let me say this Model Two
is a taste of Jena Labs upper end impact at a really modest price. It is
insanely good and incredibly reasonable in price.
I just switched out my reference 20amp power cord to my ARC Ref 2SE phono
preamp. Amazing difference. The previous power cord was no slouch -
beating cords 2-3x in price. The JENA Labs Model Two however took
everything to a new level. The soundstage was huge - width and height. The
piano and vocals and strings and high hat cymbals were oh so natural and
right with perfect pitch, timing and decay. I can hear differences in
power cords but usually they are modest differences and typically relate
to noise floor being lowered at expense of dynamics and life and presence.
Now I can hear other even more significant differences with Model Two --
the seamless and coherent and proportional sound stage, the rich natural
non electronic sounding harmonics and tone. The same dramatic differences
I hear with the interconnects and speaker cables are same with the Model
Two to the same if not bigger degree. The first time I have witnessed that
with power cords to this degree of noticeable impact.
Coherence and perfect phase/timing, absence of digital or electronic
glare, natural timbre and tone with organic ease to the sound. That is the
consistent pleasing musical effect of Jena Labs product. I am hooked.
Not the cheapest cables but worth every penny and then some especially the
Model Two. I hope they don't raise the prices when they figure out they
are not charging enough. Or if they do raise the price they need to wait
until I have bought 4-5 more.
My system:
Audio System
Sources:
- Spiral Groove SG 1.1 table with Centroid Arm and Clearaudio Goldfinger
Statement cartridge with Audio Note SUT
- AMG V12 table with Benz LP-S cartridge
- Clearaudio Innovation Wood table and battery supply with Graham Phantom
Supreme + MC Anna cartridge and Thomas Schick 12" + Miyajima Zero mono
cartridge
- Modwright Sony 5400es tube CD player
- PS audio perfect wave dac mkii (2nd system)
Preamps:
- Air Tight ATE-2001 preamp
- Air Tight ATC-2 preamp (2nd system)
- Audio Research Reference 2SE phono preamp
- Herron VTPH-2 phono preamp
Amplification:
- Constellation Centaur stereo amp
- Air Tight ATM-2 tube amp (2nd system)
- Conrad Johnson Premier 350 amp (backup)
- various headphone amps (ALO studio six, Pathos Aurium, Bryston BHA1,
Beyerdynamic A1, Sugden Headmaster, Chord Hugo, etc)
Speakers:
- Magico S5
- KEF LS50 (2nd system)
- various headphones (Audeze X & XC, Beyerdynamic T1, Sennheiser
HD650)
Darrin P.
A June 2012 review same great Ultra Wire
Hey Mike
I got the wire today and all I can say is WOW! This stuff is really nice
and worth every penny. I used it on a set of Audeze headphones. I
removed the metal connectors and run the cables through the wooden
housing connecting the cable directly to the hot and cold leads the
difference is amazing and using the Jena wire is truly the frosting on
the cake. I have tried to tell some over the headfi forum how much a
difference it make when you hard wire these headphones I guess most are
not up for the warranty being voided. Any way this is some very nice
wire and I thank you for it.
Dave Larsen
Adrian Mi
Hi Michael
this wire is absolutely incredible, it is the best wire for this kind of
audio use I ever got my hands on.
I purchased this wire, in order to re-cable my Edition 9 headphone, which
I mainly use for travelling.
After I have re-wired it and started the listening I could immediately
hear the quality of the ultra wire.
The music was much more open and balanced than the stock cable. Much more
control in
the bass and a much better balance between the mids and highs. The
difference to the stock-wire is quite
amazing.....it simply eliminated the weeknesses (a little soft mids) of
the Edition 9.
So after this positive experience I did also re-cable my Edition 8
headphone, which is my actual main headphone
at home. This was not planned, but it had to be done after this positive
experience. I had already
re-cabled my Edition 8 before, not at last since I have a symmetric
headamp. In this process I have tried no less than 5 different
cables, some of which I had in my box of ods and sods. Among those cables
have been cables from: Cardas, Zu-Audio,
Van den Hul and Kimber. The cable for which I settled then was the Kimber
8TC (yes I manged to cramp this one into the headphone),
which was by far the best of the ones I tested. The Kimber cable did just
sound much more alive, than the others, while
not sounding harsh. So now my Edition 8 is also re-cabled with the
ultra-wire and it is a considerable upgrade, even to the Kimber, which
is not a bad cable itself. Same effect here, more open (airy), more
balance, more control and much more neutrality without sounding
boring.....just great.
So in my book the ultra-wire is the most tonal balanced wire and it is
such without sounding boring, since it is fast to. It somehow combines the
best
of both worlds, the copper and the silver world, without having the
disadvantages of the silver.
Since I have recabled now 2 headphones, which was not planned in the
beginning, I have used up all material and need to re-order more, since I
want to have some of this
marvellous stuff in my box at home for spare.
B.H. - Germany
Hello.
I got the cables today, just great and lenght now is perfect!!!!
Thank you so much, you guys are the best.
I will contact you regarding speaker cables in the next 2 months.
Best regards.
F.S. NYC, NY
Hello Michael,
Received a package yesterday, thank you! I have already recabled my
ATH-ESW10 and Ultrasone 900 Pro (full recabling, including separate
cable entry). Well, what I can say. I was thinking of selling ESW10 -
not anymore! It is a keeper now, the same as Ultrasone - it just
opened like a window to the music. Thank you very much for your help,
and for a great product!
Most sincerely
D. L.
St. Petersburg, Russia
Hello Michael,
Very nice difference the new "jumpers" made. There is more air around the
instruments, subtle nuances are more pronounced, such as fingers tips
rubbing across guitar strings are more outstanding. The entire
presentation of these Magnepan QR 12's is better. In my opinion, you have
an excellent new product!! Thanks again, and my hat is off to you and
Jena Labs!!
G.N. - IL, USA
Below: Posted on a forum
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=99.0
The usual caveats apply, IMS, IMHO, no connection with anyone in the
audio business except as a satisfied customer.
As I wrote before here:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rcabl&1190044367,
I don't like most speaker cables I've heard. In addition, in the several
cases where I've had speaker cables and interconnects from the same
manufacturer I've found not synergy but too much of a particular sonic
signature.
I'd been using Ridge St. Audio's Alethius Cu for a while (which I still
own and think very positively of) when a change to mono-blocks prompted
a desire for shorter cables. Having been curious about Jena Labs for a
while, I bought a used pair of their Twin 15 Valkrye in four foot
lengths. These are all copper (cryo'd) assembled in a basket weave and
come in two runs for each side (single or bi-wired; mine were the
former).
At the time I was using Kubala-Sosna Emotion and Expression ICs, finding
them the best I'd heard and a better combination with the Alethius than
the KS Expression speaker cables (quite good nonetheless) were.
Inserting the Jena Labs cables resulted in a sound that was
significantly more open, resolving of low level detail and neutral (both
in frequency and tonal balances). The tonal accuracy (the value of most
importance to me) is the best I've ever heard. Instruments and voices
simply sound more realistic than with any other cables I've tried and
are extremely three dimensional. Vocals, in particular, seem to just
float in front of one. The other qualities that distinguish these cables
are a refinement, smoothness and transparency that surpass any other SC
I've had in my system. Imaging is excellent. Soundstaging is good but I
can't say it's any better than the other quality cables I've had here.
It's to be noted, however, that when I received the cables they had
rhodium plated spade connectors. Most of the positive qualities
described above were present but I hear a forwardness and a "glaze" over
the sound with any rhodium connectors. Therefore I asked Jennifer Crock
to replace the spades with gold plated ones which she graciously did
(using Cardas). The result is these cables have become my reference and
I can't really identify any weaknesses in them. Jena Labs now offers
their wires with gold plated connectors as well as rhodium plated ones.
Being so pleased with the speaker cables, I ordered a new pair of Jena's
Symphony ICs (with gold plated RCAs). Everything I wrote above about the
SCs applies to the ICs. The major difference between the Symphony ICs
and the Kubala-Sosna Emotions (wonderful as they are) is that the
latter's treble, while not rolled off to my ears as some suggest, is a
bit recessed. The Symphonys' frequency response sounds more balanced and
they also, possibly consequently, sound more open. I sold the Emotions
and kept the less expensive Symphonys.
This is the first time I've been happy with ICs and SCs from the same
manufacturer. And I still can't identify any detrimental or exaggerated
sonic signature to the cables.
It must be said that Jennifer Crock is a pleasure to communicate and
deal with, and shares her knowledge and information freely and at
length.
My musical tastes encompass classical, folk, world, rock and jazz and I
did extensive listening to the Jena Labs products with all of these
genres over several months, with all of the equipment listed, prior to
writing this review. I'm now solely using the Cronus Integrated (with
Black Treasure 6CA7 and NOS tubes) which the four foot Twin 15 SCs were
not really long enough for, so, unfortunately, I had to recently sell
them. I've just purchased an eight foot set of Jena Labs Twin 11s (not
received yet) to replace them.
Equipment used:
Modwright Platinum Sony 9100ES; Marantz SA-15S2; MHDT Havana; Modwright
36.5; Dodd Mono 50s, Rogue Cronus; Aural Acoustics Model B; Black Sand
Violet ZI and ZII, and Kaplan PCs.
Similar products (SCs) heard in my system:
Nordost Valhalla; Synergistic Tesla; Ridge St. Audio Alethius! (in
silver and copper versions); Audience AU24; Kubala-Sosna Expression; and
various by Pranawire, Purist, Kimber, Tara Labs, Straightwire,
Stereovox, Nirvana, Morrow, Chimera Labs, Nagys.
Internet Magazine or E-zine.
.
.
.
.
.
.
This section is a sampling of the Magazine reviews we have received that
were published outside of our company.
Magazine reviews are important to everyone. That is how many people make a
judgment on if or if not they have an interest in a product and many
times, it is how they even find out that a product even exists.
As stated before, We do not buy our reviews... We think that is
important. Many Magazines will only review a product if the company that
produced a product, advertises in the publication... That is how the
world works... So far we have tried to separate the relationship in the
pursuit of some great truth.
That has been difficult. But here it is.
Review Directory for Magazines and other information type websites:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue34/awards_dr.htm
Latest Review
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue32/jena_emm.htm
found 06 27 08:
Enjoy the Music review of VSAC 2008
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/vsac_2008/
The Good Doctor Experiences an Epic, Epistemological Epiphany - A Break on
Through to the Other Side
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue30/sardonicus.htm
Very recent Review on the Jazz and Java Interconnects with the Bumble Bee
(9-16 Power Cord) http://www.dagogo.com/JenaJazzJava.html
from:
http://www.dagogo.com
http://www.dagogo.com/ISSUE/Mar2007.html
"Dussy" Jumpers
http://www.dagogo.com/DussunV8i-jumpers.html
Reprint from Positive Feedback Magazine "The Tie That Binds"
http://www.jenalabs.com/reviews/pf-RG1.html
Off site review Dr. Sardonicus on the "Pathfinder Speaker Cables From Jena
Labs"
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue23/sardon_jena.htm
Impressions: CES 2006 & The PFO Audio Oasis Awards - by David W.
Robinson.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue23/ces06dr.htm
From Audiogon a review of our Model One Power cord Conditioner.
http://www.jenalabs.com/reviews/audiogon-r1.html
Forums.
Forums are bit tricky if one is looking for absolute truth... Yes that can
be found, sometimes. And always with the Caveat that the reader should be
very weary of competitors jumping in with a derailment agenda, in order to
sell their own products.
Not a judgment here, in many ways it is to be expected. but it is also
true that numbers of people who like something by direct experience can
out weigh those with either an agenda... a different sales agenda or no
direct experience but a wealth of opinion. So be it.
We do not attend directly or indirectly any forum to promote ourselves.
It is a matter of integrity as policy. Oh yes we love to have our
customers get involved... That is the venue of customers talking with
each other. If you have ever wondered why we don't promote ourselves
directly as a manufacture on any of the forums... There is not enough
time in the universe, to attend to the rising noise floor of scripted
replies that just want to absorb time and effort of a direct manufacture
in order to generate conflict for its own sake.
Forums are the venue of proper place for discourse between customers...
not manufactures.
That is not to say that we do not read them :)
But we do believe that truth will rise up in time. it just does.
Even our publishing this on our website is going to inflame someones ire
and will bring down a wrath of anger somewhere out in forum land... there
is no answer good enough for some people... So we just continue to produce
real goods for the real world and let the slings and arrows fall were they
may... or not.
Forums are the venue of proper place for discourse between customers...
not manufactures.
So with out fear of the truth as we have nothing to hide, here are some
links to the forum "reviews" we have found... you will also find replies
of whatever good or ill will one can imagine.
I will say this.. Those who like our products and have direct experience
with them outnumber those who have direct experience with them and do not
like our products. We have no complaints with results like that.
Those who do not like our products and have no direct experience with them
can say what they wish and we believe that everyone can interpret that for
what it is..
All we can hope for is honest opinions...
Cables:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1073738412&openfrom&1&4
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1189445570&read&keyw&zzjena
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1145045573&read&keyw&zzjena
Power conditioners:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1117026365&read&keyw&zzjena+power+conditioners
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1246859059&openflup&2&4#2
USB Cables:
Jena Labs StreamDancer USB cable.
http://www.tonepublications.com/blog/
... That was just a few but you can see a trend.
Again in case you did not try this...
I use Google for many things, like searches.
So when looking for reviews of our products I put that in the search cue:
Review
of
Jena Labs
We are grateful for the kind words found
on the Internet.
The growing success of our products is in
no small way related to how people feel about us.
®
LLC ©
