Forums - Print Page

Forums
https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl
Audio Forums >> Frequently Asked Questions >> Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1638026276

Message started by prtuc2 on 11/27/21 at 15:17:56

Title: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by prtuc2 on 11/27/21 at 15:17:56

Hi everyone, I just placed an order for the Zen Tor ii MK5. But, I am not sure which option is the better way to go sonically speaking. I put in for the XLR optional, but from what I am reading the Anniversary mods seems like the better choice. From what I read, the Anniversary is a cap upgrade and the XLR optional required a different output transformer. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Ideally, I would get both but I got limited funding. Thanks for any input guys and gals.

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by prtuc2 on 11/27/21 at 15:25:33

Just for the information what I am driving:

Fritz Rev 5 Bookshelf speaker with sensitivity: 85.5dB
Currently running in the living room estimating 16 X 20 X 9 foot ceiling, I plan to move my setup in my room eventually but for the time being it is sitting in the living room.
Listening level: under 80dB
DAC: Rockna Wavedream SE edition and Schiit Yggdrasil analog 2 unison.

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by GroovySauce on 11/27/21 at 15:37:40

Welcome to the forums and congratulations on the order!

The XLR is for balanced input. If you want to use XLR cables you will need this.

Copper Bypass Mods will give you more sonic bliss.

In my experience, XLR / balanced connections have their place and can be a god send, however single ended RCA usually is sonically superior.

I've heard really good things about the Rockna DACs! What is your source? What amp are you currently using?

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by CAJames on 11/27/21 at 16:19:01

Welcome indeed!

Re: XLR. As GroovySauce says, this is for using XLR cables for input. It is expensive because it uses a transformer to difference the + and - phases of the balanced signal and make it single ended before it is amplified. A lot of people on the forum really like it, but it only matters if you have a "true" balanced signal, and my understanding is that Schiit DACs don't really have that. I believe Schiit DACs really only had a single ended output that is available on RCA and XLR. So the XLR inputs don't buy you very much.

Which is a roundabout way of saying I think with your current setup you are much better off spending money on the bypass caps aka Anniversary mods rather than the XLR inputs.

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by JBzen on 11/27/21 at 16:21:07

Yes, welcome to the forum!

If you are keeping your equipment in the same area of the room keeping interconnects short then go with the mods. If the equipment will have long runs go with XLR to eliminate noise that will be introduced with long RCA/unbalanced interconnects.

John

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by prtuc2 on 11/27/21 at 16:40:46

Thanks you everyone for the quick reply and Happy Thanksgiving sorry a little late for that. I got the same thought for the XLR option, since most of my gear is only single-ended.

Currently using my 11 year old Yamaha RX-797 integrated amplifier, is not a bad amplifier. Right now, my speaker setup is horrible just flush against the wall not placement as I got no room to move it. Perhaps when I move into a new house I can start doing speaker placement, then room sound treatment if fund permits.

The Rockna is fabulous I have it pair on my headphone setup because speaker not ideally setup. Source: rip my cd into FLAC files playing from foobar2000-->Rockna --> DNA Stratus headphone amp -->Sennheiser HD650/800 for headphone setup, foobar2000 --> Schiit Yggdrasil --> Fritz Rev 5 bookshelf speaker

Title: Re: Hi everyone new to forum, what option for new amp?
Post by Archie on 11/27/21 at 17:45:29

When Steve had my ZMA in for upgrades I asked him if I should have the XLR jacks installed. He told me that the ZBIT was a better way to go. FWIW.

I'd say, get the bypass upgrades now and the ZBIT later, if you think you need it.