Forums - New Super Zen vs. Zen Select

Lon

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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. D*ck

Posts: 5264

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #45 - 11/29/12 at 16:49:48

I'm using RCA in both my CSP2+ and ZP3. I've tried quite a few. I find that Raytheon, Tungsol and GE are really good. Sylvania's I've tried are a bit too dry for my system. Of all the ones that I've tried this year (about nine tubes) these two RCAs have the magic for me. One of them (in the ZP3) the seller says came from '43 and it did come in a really old box and seems the old construction. The other I've had for years and years and is also of the old construction. That one has been my go to 5Y3GT ever since I've been using that tube type.

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Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III
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jameskk

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Posts: 117

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #46 - 11/30/12 at 22:03:24

Thanks lon I'm using the same. I did find out that the 5y3 may be the first of fullwave rectifiers from RCA, then replaced by the 5u4, or what Im trying right now 5r4, picked up one of these to try,also, GE.black plate. like Steve said ,your se84c+ might sound better than the super, and it does for now . yet this is a 2/ 2010 model white . more burning in to do to the superzen . I think of this amp,(se84c+) like the piece of wood that was hit by lightning and a great baseball bat was made from it . this amp was in my house fire , only to be cleaned up and let sit only to sound awesome ...........HAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! A testimony of a fire/waterproof amp!!!!!!!!!

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5264	Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select Reply #47 - 11/30/12 at 22:11:07 I remember that your amp survived the fire. Amazing! I haven't tried any 5AR4 rectifiers since I had my Select. May try one in the CSP2+ and ZP3 one day but I'm so happy with the rectifiers I have in there I'm inclined to just keep them going.
Back to top	« Last Edit: 11/30/12 at 22:40:54 by Lon » Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

jameskk Seasoned Member Posts: 117	Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select Reply #48 - 12/01/12 at 10:58:08 If you look in the black and red RCA recieving tube manual you'll see a 5r4 , 5ar4, 5u4...... all different tubes, I was just as suprised and puzzled . check it out
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jameskk

Seasoned Member

Posts: 117

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #49 - 12/02/12 at 14:52:10

I'm sorry we are getting off the subject at hand . As I listen to the 1980 rendition of the goldberg variations (Glen Gould ) I see how good this superzen can be . theres that question on my mind of the tubes with large labels sounding superior to the small labeled ones . the 6p15ev tubes im talking about . I have the large labeled ones in my se84c+. I will try them in the superzen to comfirm this . anybody else feel these large labeled 6p15ev's are better,or is this a rumor. I feel they do . the last time I said anything of this there was no comment like they are the holy grail of output tubes for this amp.............

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Rivieraranch

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Posts: 1124

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #50 - 12/03/12 at 00:29:18

Some of the SV83's have 6P15P-EV printed on the other side of the tube. I think they are essentially the same tube. You can find some interesting 6P15P-EV variants, such as the gold grid versions seen on ebay. I have both SV83 and 6P15P-EV tubes. I have not done a comparison. Maybe I will when my SUPER ZEN comes in next week.

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« Last Edit: 12/03/12 at 00:29:37 by Rivieraranch »

DECWARE CSP2+, TABOO; MINI TORII SE #33; SE84CKC; MG944 speakers; TRAPEZIUM DESKTOP SPEAKERS; TECHNICS SL1200MK5 turntable; Ah! Njoe Tjoeb CD player; MARANTZ 2226B, 2216B receivers; SENNHEISER HD-580 headphones

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jameskk

Seasoned Member

Posts: 117

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #51 - 12/03/12 at 12:31:11

AH Rivieraranch could'nt resist huh!!!!!!!LOL Like I said not really showing me anything super yet , however thats what I thought with the zcd for a long time .. then almost overnight , it changed to OMG!!!!! think the super is going to be more subtle. Yes I'm talking about that round label thats on the 6p15eb/ev, I bought 2 dozen on Ebay with the vendor showing the large label ,well I got 1 of the 24 with a large label . Neddless to say they were told about it !!!!!!!!Good price though !!!!!!!

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« Last Edit: 12/03/12 at 13:15:44 by jameskk »

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jameskk

Seasoned Member

Posts: 117

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #52 - 12/13/12 at 14:02:12

I want to say further now with bias switch on the superzen towards the tubes. the stock tubes still installed after using different rectifier tubes . the voices or vocals are revealing every cyllabel , with ease . the cymbals are becoming a round piece of brass ,rather than just a random crash of brass. the upright bass has body and height ,and depth . multiple voices are understandable and have air and body. I'm getting a sense of the a large presentation ala the torii from this amp also. taking awhile . about fourty days into breakin. :) WOW

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5264	Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select Reply #53 - 12/13/12 at 15:00:36 It always surprises me how these amps blossom after a certain amount of use. . . open up like a flower. These amps just keep on giving!
Back to top	Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

jameskk Seasoned Member Posts: 117	Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select Reply #54 - 12/24/12 at 22:14:04 And Christmas keeps on coming . Merry Christmas to All!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jameskk

Seasoned Member

Posts: 117

Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select
Reply #55 - 01/04/13 at 13:28:47

Just for the Holiday I went back to my white #018 select for the week of Christmas into new years , Happy New Year. Last night I switched back to the Superzen And again in my 9x13 roomwith the zcd200i and common sense audio 2.8's with 10"cast frame audio nirvana's. The dynamic was such that I thought I switched over to a much more powerful amp. Just amazing with both amps volume at around 9 O'clock. normal listening level here . The only thing I did do was run a dedicated circuit to my breaker box . Highly recommended.........So The superzen has come to be truly super compared to past zens, which I have 4 of in various vintages.

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« Last Edit: 01/04/13 at 13:29:14 by jameskk »

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jameskk Seasoned Member Posts: 117	Re: New Super Zen vs. Zen Select Reply #56 - 01/07/13 at 11:53:33 Did everybody agree that the superzen runs cooler , and can we expect the older moded superzens to run cooler also , or is it the characteristic of the new transformer thats in the superzen??????
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