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Hey Delta,
The Canary Audio Grand Reference are 300B based mono block power amps.  They are the successor to the Reference Two model.  The Grand Reference amps aren't even listed on the website yet.  

There are a lot of really nice pre-amps out there.  Tough part is knowing which one will be best suited for your system.  I am using a Purity Audio Design Reference II pre-amp in front of my Grand Reference's and it is a beautiful match.  Bill Baker is know for his pre-amp prowess.  But, the Purity line is no longer produced.  

BTW, I love ZMF headphones.  It is what brought me to Decware back in the day.

Started to get some tube crackling noises in both channels last week. After some amp & preamp tube swapping I determined it was my ZMA power tubes. So after ~2,400 hours I swapped in my spare set of Tube Amp Doctor (TAD) 7027a tubes and the noise is gone.

These TAD tubes have exceptional tonality and soundstage depth. With the new set the music seems even more powerful, clear, and seductive. A noticable difference from the "tired set." I have them biased at 62mA - rock solid.

I highly recommend the TAD's. The TungSol 7027a''s are also excellent, but the TAD's tubes just really suck me into the music. Matched quads are available from StewMac. The only U.S. based online retailer I have found. They're running a 10% off sale now, $149.99 for a matched quad.

HK

Archie,

They are German designed, built in China. Beefier than the TungSol tubes, the TAD Premium Select are well tested and higher quality. They have tighter tolerances with better matching of sets.

Here's a link, check out the description for more information:

https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/7027a-tad-tubes-tad-premium-matched

HK

Hock,  I was locked out of the Decware sites for the past week.  Maybe Steve's Audio Gods know why?  

Is there a coupon code for that TAD 10% off?  I notice that I save the 19% VAT which might be an extra enhancement.

Will do.  The shipping to the US is pretty steep.

Good to know about the TADs.  I've resisted them due to price so I think I'll go with more Tung Sols.  BTW, last time I looked there were a couple affordable NOS and slightly used quads of RCA and GE on ebay.  (I bias much higher, 64 to 68 mA.)

Thanks Archie, looks very good.

HK

I'm expecting to get my ZMA today!  SUPER exciting.  I also have some NOS tubes to play around with.  I figure I should listen to it as voiced by Steve for a while before playing around at all, but knowing me I should ask this question sooner rather than later anyway...

Does everyone really wait 8 hours with the ZMA unplugged before rolling tubes as suggested in the manual?  The way it's written up makes it sound essential for the OA3 tubes, and maybe just like a good idea for the input / inverter / power tubes...

Didn't you get a used ZMA mastertrash?

Have you found out from the seller about how many hours are on it. Not sure, but just imagining HKs idea is more intended for a new amp that needs time to burn in to better hear its fuller potential.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  Seems like this advice is really about the OA3 voltage regulators.  I didn't like the idea of having to go 8 hours between swapping in and out tubes.  It would obviously make comparisons a little harder to do...

Will, yes, I did pick up the used ZMA from the classifieds last week.  I've got it sitting here, warming up and hooked into my system.  In two words, HOLY CRAP!  I know I need to let it settle in and everything first, but it's wholly remarkable cold and right out of the box.  WOW!

I did set it up with the original tube compliment for starters.  I will wrap my brain around it as Steve intend for a while before experimenting.

Enjoy your ZMA. Such a great amplifier. Now you can start stocking up on spare tubes. A stash is essential ☺️.

HK

There are other great places to get tubes.

VIVA Tubes. https://www.vivatubes.com

Tube Amp Doctor (now The Tube Store)  https://www.thetubestore.com

I got my KT66's for my ZMA from TAD and I am very pleased.

Norm

Well the price is sure right on the Tung-Sol 7027A's.  I went ahead and ordered a pair from Vacuum Tube Valves as you suggested, Archie.

Cool!

Does anyone run KT88's with the Anniversary Mods?  I gather I'd want to watch the heat on the transformers, but am curious to try them...  Would add some power to the amp, right?

Mastertrash, how do you like the 7027As?

In a general way, that tracks with what I hear too.  In my case the mids and highs are so much better with the 7027A (and type) than with the KT66 that I don't miss any loss in lower end.  Although I don't really hear a loss in the lows but more of an accentuated mid to high.  Changing the 9 pin tubes hasn't changed this perception overall.  

I find there seem to be two camps with the ZMA.  I think Steve has a preference for the KT66 but he's never posted on ZMA tubes much.

The only KT88 I've tried were JJ tubes that sounded like KT66s.  (They also biased like KT66 which makes me wonder about them in general.)

Rolled a quad of new production Gold Lion KT77 tubes in my ZMA earlier this month. Amazing holographic sound with the Snake River Audio cables. They give up a bit of bass tightness compared to the 7027A tubes but have tremendous midrange magic, although I can't bias them beyond 40mA.

I'll have SRA signature hybrid speaker cables and a Boomslang digital cable for my CD transport here next week, so my cable loom will be almost all SRA. The lone exception being my rather long IC run from the CSP3+ preamp to my ZMA.

I'm ready for some real holiday music magic.

HK

When I first started rolling power tubes in the ZMA I ended up running the GL KT66, When my Torii MKIV finally arrived I ran the GL KT66 for a few months. I got interested in the KT77 and eventually bought a quad. I instantly fell in love with them.

KT66 Not the fastest or crispest bass and midrange, it has a warm seductive feel that really draws you in, like gathering around a fire on a cold night with snow on the ground,  wrapped in a blanket with a warm cup of coco. Still enough speed and energy to startle, keeping the music lively and exciting. Like extra loud pop from the fire that gets a reaction from the group.

Highs seem to be a little muddled, a bit soft and rolled off. The fire is so bright you can only see the brightest stars and only silhouettes of trees in the distance.

KT77 bass to highs very balanced. The bass is fast and tight, rich harmonics still flow through. midrange is full carrying the harmonics from the bass up, giving great detail while maintaining a warmth. Slowly the midrange gives way to shimmering highs. Now you have laid a mat down on the snow near the fire, you have a belly full of hot coco and the warmth of the fire is still letting itself be known. You feel the crispness of the air on your cheeks.  Looking at the trees you can see a little bit of detail that you couldn't see with the bright fire in your vision. As you lay down to look at the stars you are drawn into how many stars are out there, You are left in awe staring up at the vastness.

HK, Grats on the new SRA cables! As you know I'm a huge fan of them.

If they sound good and that's what they are biased at I would let it be and enjoy. My brother is running JJ KT77 in his ZMA and he prefers them biased low.

Interesting on the KT77s.  One of my Tung-Sol 7027As sparked and failed last night so I'm in the market for new tubes.  I put my Tung-Sol 7581As back in and they just don't have the low end of the 7027As.  I was going to just get more of the latter (price and performance are both good) but maybe I'll look at the KT77s.  Any thoughts beyond the Gold Lions?

At what do you bias the KT77s?

I had to look up the KT77 plate dissipation.  I had thought it was more like the 7027A but it's like the EL34 so 40ma makes sense.  Have you tried EL34s?  I tried a Tung-Sol quad but didn't think they competed with my other favorites.

I put in the Gold Lion KT77's last night and so far I am impressed. It seems the dynamic range is wider and the highs and bass clearer and more pronounced. I'm also hearing things in the midrange I had not heard before.

I cannot get the bias much above 40.

Anyone try the GL 6922's.  I about to push the buy button.

Why did you go with the GL KT77 instead of GL KT66?

The SRA cables are really something special, they really allow the DECWARE amps to provide the holographic music.

I found the GL 6922's in the ZMA a bit too laid back for me. More of the romantic tube sound. I prefer, and they are my favorite so far, the Electro-harmonix gold pin 6922. They are less money too which is nice.

Will suggested I try 6P3S-E which is a Russian mil. spec. 6L6GC. It's going to be January before I get the tubes... I also bought a quad of Tung-Sol 6l6G Fat bottles. These are massive tubes!

I've only got 20ish hours on them and they are still changing. When I get more time on them I'll give an update.

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I have several quads of these and I really like them.  However, they seem to lack the bass punch of the 7027As and 7581As.  Their mids are fantastic though.

After 40-50 hours on the Tung-Sol 6l6G I took them out. I'll give a very brief report. Tung-Sol 6l6g were too "fat" for me. They did offer a really nice density, similar to gain riding. In my system they got too dense on some songs and made it necessary to "listen through" the density for some of the higher frequency details. I currently don't have my Zrock2 in the system. At times with the 6l6G it sounded like I had the Zrock2 in and it was turned up a little too much. They did have a nice enveloping quality.

If you're looking to add some density to your system the Tung-Sol 6l6G "fat bottle"  is worth looking into.

Vs. the GL KT66's, 6l6g have more top end extension  I haven't used them in a few months so this suspect.

Vs. GL KT77 the KT77 is more balanced top to bottom. Tighter bass.

Archie, I found the 7027A's to be very dry, bass was fast and clear, not much richness. That was in my Torii a few months ago. I did run them in a ZMA last year driving F15's I don't recall the sound. I do remember that they didn't stay in for very long.

I do enjoy a slightly richer presentation.

Archie,

GS has PAP Quintet 15 speakers which are truly full range with a much lower bass response than our Lii Audio F15 baffles. I heard his system several months ago and bass response was tight and deep,  but not overpowering.

His system and set up's is magical, one of the best systems I've ever heard. I don't believe he employs a ZROCK in his system, but can't remember all the details. His amp is the TORII MK.

HK