Fireblade,

To me there is no comparison between the Tranquility/Mini (with the cables I have and the way I have them set up) and the Rega. The Apollo sounded good, but I never really understood the rave reviews about it. It is possible that it is just the relativity of comparators.

To me the Tranquility/Mini is very very good in terms of real sound....with great nuance from the subtle micro detail and micro dynamics necessary for that sense of real.

As to the Ztage with them....my experience is pretty limited. The Rega to me was better sounding, a bit more delicately fleshed out across the range and more spacious than my modded Oppo. And teh ZDAC a notable step better at real presentation than the Rega. The Zstage helped them all by my ear enhancing all the good stuff that was there, and adding more realness, spaciousness and depth to the sound, but worked with their individual sounds, so I liked the Rega more than the Oppo with the Zstage, and the ZDAC better than the Rega.

And the benefits of gain riding and flexibility with useful bias and easy tube rolling is awesome with anything you put in front.

Rivieraranch,

I tired a number of 12AT7s and as usual, with this transparent stuff, they all sound different. My favs, preferring smooth and lucid transparency over big time warmth, are a 50s Seimens with a square getter, and some early 60's Brinmars I bought as a batch cheap.

I will be interested in to your impressions after having used several 12AU7s.

So I should have my ZSTAGE pretty soon... it took less than 4 months from ordering to fulfillment, rather impressive!

I've ordered a Dayton Audio dta-100a Class T amplifier because it was mentioned in a different ZSTAGE thread... has anyone here heard this particular combo?

No, I meant it... 3 1/2+ months waiting time IS impressive in some screwy way! If they wanted to, I am sure they could find ways to speed up the production. However, I doubt that each individual product would get as much personal attention and quality control during assembly (the claim is that they are built by highly skilled/paid artisans who love their job)

My 'STAGE shares center stage with my SE84C+ in my office setup. They both sit atop my Marantz 5 disc player. The STAGE allows me to ride the gain with the amp to get just the right sound.

I have had mine for a few months now. I bought it used. I recall there were two of them that went up for sale within a very short time window. There are opportunities out there, if you don't want to wait.

Great news! I look forward to your impressions!

And thanks for the reminder of that feeling of a precious, and anticipated arrival. Hope it fulfills your wishes fully!

What service intervention do you mean?
My CSP2+'s headphone channels are also reversed. I just swapped the leads rather than sending back.
I'm sure you will be surely impressed when you see the inside of your Decware products.