First of all a few comments about the amplifiers in general:
All Decware amplifiers are
the same quality, both in build and in sonics. The different
models represent different power levels and different signatures so
this guide will explain each so you can select the most appropriate one.
Upgrades - we already build these amps with the best sounding parts we
could find. Every part including each resistor and capacitor has
been painstakingly chosen to effect the exact signature and
transparency that we're after. Our transformers are
proprietary, and all internal parts are audiophile grade or
higher.
These amps are built by seasoned professionals who love their job and
solder with a skill that takes the benefits of hi-end cable and wire to
a level far exceeding mass produced amplifiers.
Our amplifiers do not break. They do not require biasing or
adjustments - ever. They come with a lifetime warranty.
Selecting the right power level &
speaker efficiency:
Our
amplifiers come in 3 power levels. 2 watts, 4-6 watts & 25
watts. We don't make anything bigger than 25 watts because bigger
amps require more parts and more parts mean less transparency.
We made our 2 watt amps able to drive almost a dead short.
That means they will drive almost any loudspeaker without problems and
with solid bass response. Because of this design point, it is
possible to use our 2 watt amplifiers for late night listening on
almost any hi-fi speaker with a most rewarding sound stage.
To get a satisfying volume level
from our 2 watt amps during
the
day,
or
in
large
rooms
where
you sit far away from the speakers,
you will need to find speakers that are 94dB or higher.
NOTE: Since I've heard speakers rated at 95dB that didn't get as loud
as a pair rated at 89dB it goes without saying the efficiency rating of
many loudspeakers is to be taken with a grain of salt. Room
acoustics, crossover complexity, speaker impedance also all factor in
to make a speaker louder or quieter than it's rated efficiency.
Not sure if your speakers will work?
Many people assume their speakers will not work based on the published
efficiency rating or even the performance of another low power
amplifier by a different manufacturer. Our advise is don't write
your speakers off until you first hear what they can and or can't do
with one of these amps. Even if the speaker is not an ideal
match, we're confident that you'll still be able to hear what makes
Decware amps such a joy to listen to... and based on that
experience, if you want more volume, dynamics and detail, you will have
the right motivation to find more appropriate speakers.
OK,
which
amp
should
you
pick?
As previously mentioned the fidelity of all these amps is approximately
the same... really really good. That leaves the decision mostly
about power.
The 2 watt amps are a nice place to start if you don't want to spend
too much money and either don't listen loud, or have speakers that are
around 94dB efficient. Our 2 watt amp can be bridged mono for 6
watts so it is always possible to add more power down the road by
simply getting a second amp.
The 25 watt amp is enough to drive most loudspeakers without restricted
listening levels. It gives you the most flexibility in speaker
selection and odds are very very high that it will work with the
speakers you already have. Many customers have gone from 200 watt
amplifiers to our 25 watt amp and gave up nothing.
The only difficult choice is in the 4 ~ 6 watts, ie., the Zen Triode
Integrated and the Mini Torii.
Between the two, the Integrated has a bit more power and represents a
classic Single-Ended Triode design. It also can be configured
with 4 pairs of inputs so you can run up to 4 sources directly into the
amp without using a preamp.
The mini torii being slightly less power, but equally ballsy, brings a
high degree of flexibility to the table in how it sounds because it
will work with 5 or more different types of output tube, each one
sounding completely different. It also has a by-passable treble
control that lets you adjust the top end of any pair of speakers,
reducing setup issues and the need for room excessive room
treatment. An ideal amp for Lowther, Fostex, and other super high
efficiency speakers. This is also a physically small amp with low
heat output.
So there you have it, just starting out and on a budget or
already have high efficiency speakers, get the 2 watt. Want a
bit more power for larger spaces, get the Mini Torii or the Zen Triode
Integrated. Have regular speakers OR efficient speakers and just
want a greater sense of effortlessness in the music without volume
limitations, get the 25 watt.
HEADPHONE AMPS
We make a preamp that is also an OTL headphone amp, and a damn good one
at that. It will drive headphones between 32 ohms and 600 ohms.
For the popular planar headphones also know as ear speakers, we make
two products that are ideally suited for such low impedance and low
efficiency phones. The Zen Taboo and the Mini Torii. Both
are amplifiers that can be used with loudspeakers between 4 and 16 ohms
or planar headphones between 4 and 60 ohms. THe difference
between the two, is that the TABOO has a 3~ 4 input sensitivity meaning
it likes a good preamp to drive it. The Mini Torii has an input
sensitivity around 1 volt making use of a preamp completely unnecessary.
And don't overlook our battery powered headphone amp, the Zen
Head. It's a little force to reckon with and drives conventional
audiophile headphones between 10 and 600 ohms with a sound that makes
it hard to believe it's portable.
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