Welcome. I am sure that the ZEN amp will do a fine job with this setup of yours.

Thanks for the input...

So I guess what I'm hearing here is a thumbs-up for the Zen amp... As they say, there's only one real way to find out if the pairing works... But a full-range driver speaker of that size in a small room just has to be a good match...

I prefer an almost clinical sound... I hope I can get a tube compliment that fulfills that need... (m.)

I've been thinking about this very thing... First off, it's hard to tell if Tang Bang rated my speakers correctly...  With my current 4 WPC SET amp, I typically set the volume at 9:00... 10:00 tops...

But the Zen is rated at 2.3 W into 4 ohms nominal, not 8... So that would put me at about half the rated power output into 8 ohms, right?  It feels like the whole thing might be right at the margin... I do have a small room, and play mostly classical chamber music at moderate levels...  

I could try the Zen, then if it doesn't work out, return it... But I don't like to return things... It seems too much like 'renting' a component, which I hated to experience when I sold audio in the 70's...

I just can't believe that a single 3" full-range driver speaker like the TB D3-1 would not work with the Zen; but then again, you really don't know for sure unless you hook the thing up and try it out... (m.)

Right... Just looked it up... 6.5 WPC... I did roll some EL 34B's into the amp for output, and put in a matched pair of NOS 5693 RCA metal 'red' tubes for drivers...   I don't want to get into an extended discussion about my current amp, but it does do the job...

I just think it lacks finesse... For my money, and if I were Decware, I'd design a 'small box' SET around the EL 34... I see they use them in some of their other amplifiers... It's really a good audio tube...  

They also have a nice CD player based on the Tascam CD 200 format... A faultless player that can be modded easily... As they say, a real sleeper... But I digress...   (m.)

Just a little update here:  I've been reading all the Decware papers on amplifier power, and have read a bunch of other papers trying to correlate the data as it might concern my speakers and the Zen triode...

I e-mailed Tang Band, and they said, that if I wanted to be finicky about it, the D3-1's actually measure out around 90 / 91 db, and nominal impedance is closer to 6 ohms...

I have to tell you, I've never been on the fence over a piece of audio gear as much as I have on the Zen triode...

Given the size and config. of my room / listening position, the fact that I listen at moderate levels all the time, and that my program material is limited to chamber music-- and also that the Zen may very well deliver close to the useable power of my current amp, I think I'm going to get my feet wet here and just go ahead and order one (early Jul)... The worst case here is if I audition the amp and find it wanting, I take a hit for the restocking fee and round-trip shipping... I think I can live with that...

I mean, in my experience in audio, there comes a time when you need to put specs aside, and just fire the damn thing up and see what you've got...   (m.)

Yes, based on my experience with Decware, due to the long waiting time involved, should you ever be tempted into buying any of their amps, that is the perfect time to make your purchase!

It can take 4 months.

Before I got my amp, there were many times during the waiting time when I kept telling myself that I should not have sat on the fence.....

I guess that a call to Sarah or DeVon is the safest way to get a definitive answer, but I believe that you are not charged until the amp is shipped. Looked on the website for verification, but didn't see it.

Nothing special about July, it's just that the wait is so long for amps that the sooner you get an order in, the sooner an amp comes your way.

An amp's warranty can be restored and assigned to the new owner by shipping the amp in to Decware for a thorough bench test. A charge applies. Details are on the web site.

OK... Good info on both posts... Thanks... My trigger finger is getting itchy, folks... Although considering the wait, it really is deferring the satisfaction... Too bad they don't have a loaner program...   (m.)

Good to know... In one respect, I kinda wish they'd take the money out of my account right away when I order, so I wouldn't constantly have to earmark that amount... My Pay Pal account is tied in with my bank account... But it really doesn't matter one way or the other... Although getting in an early order would be nice...  It's just that I'm not very used to purchasing something without the money being there first...

I'll mull the issue over tonight...   (m.)

Hello: I'm pretty much a set-it-up-and-then-leave-it kind of guy... Once I get a system sounding good to my ears, I'm pretty much off buying program material after that...

I want to relate something here: Being on a tight budget, I got my entre' into SET amps via Chinese tube gear-- and I want to tell you that my first amp, a Music Angel X-3, sounded superb to my ears... The only thing was that it was a very [very] poor build quality... The power switch fell out of the oversized knock-out... One RCA jack ground shroud actually came out with the plug!... One channel was down about 3db from the other until I found some trim pots inside for balancing... But the thing sounded like music...

My second SET is the one I have now... The Musical Paradise MP 301MK II... It's well built, but doesn't sound quite as good as the Music Angel to my ears... And my ears are used to live music mostly... Or recording live music, and listening through the mic preamps with headphones... That's about as real as it gets...

Back to Decware: If recording musicians like this stuff, then it just has to be good, IMO...  That's a very demanding litmus test, really...  The only issue is something that I never really came up against before, and that is the power equation... But I think the Zen will do it for me, and I'm willing to take a chance on it...   (m.)

Congrats. I think you're going to enjoy the amp. . . perhaps not the wait. (I'm in the same boat, waiting on a CSP2+ as well as waiting a repair on a CSP2.)

Ah, that was a good one, made me LOL!

I do want to add some info here as to why I'm going for a small-box SET amp: The whole system was supposed to be a table-top mini sort of system for reference use... My apt. in town ( I also have a cabin) is very small, and I needed to stick the whole affair in a place where it would work, and not get in the way...

The other criteria was that the whole system, including I/C's and cabling would cost no more than $1000.00... ( the Zen will take it well over this mark)...

BTW, here is the concept:  

So, the Zen fits nicely into this format... The only issue was the speaker / amp interface... And yes, I know the speakers could be better placed, but my space requirements [here and now] just won't allow it... But I think the Zen will be perfect for my needs here...

I need to throw a CD in, and just play and enjoy it at moderate volume levels... (m.)

Nice little setup. In the future you may wish to consider selling the old amp and speakers and buying a pair of TRAPEZIUM desktop speakers. They truly outperform any bookshelf type speaker and give full rangers a run for their money.

Get the ZEN first and see how it does. I am sure it will do great in your setup. Then plan for the future.

Too bad you've already ordered. I'm selling my 5-month old Zen. I'm jumping over the Bottlehead fence.

Clowkey
Is the Zen still available? What are you asking for it?