I put the Adagio's back in again. I do have to say I'm keeping them. They are their own wonderful animal. I still occasionally rotate my Genesis Genre II's in as well. Thus, Adagio's an Polk SDA-1's (in stereo) it is! They both bring something different to the party that I like; brunette an a real red head respectively. The Genre II's are blonde.  8-).  ;)

Furthermore, the coherence an transmission line in the Adagio's, when you want to take them up to pounding levels of dynamic range-does make you say: "Oh yeah-I'm keeping them".  

Peace, everyone have a great weekend. Other than a little snow coming Monday morning.....I think Spring might be here in the Upper Midwest.

I wrapped my brain around the new Cremona cable rather quickly! Wow. Even quieter noise floor, even smoother yet detailed treble, tight and dynamic lower frequencies.

I need one more cable to complete my system, a longer one. I wrote to Bruce Davidson of VooDoo Cable to thank him for the deal on this one and to say that I am saving up for the one other cable I need, and he offered me another Cremona in the length I need at dealer cost. So I had to go for it. I'll have a few uncomfortable financial moments but I'll sell a few things and make it work. Exciting to have sound like this for all my sources!

Yes, and these cables are ridiculously expensive even with this sort of break! But, in my opinion after a lot of comparisons, worth it both for their R&R and build quality and material quality, AND what they have brought to my system. Wow. And I get to trickle down better cables to my next system (a few times).

Planning for my next location, I may end up with just ONE main system, and spend time with headphones again. So I may be selling one or two systems and buying a great headphone rig to use with one of my CSP2+. Exciting stuff ahead, but getting these Cremonas really solidifies my main system (unless you and iLance tell me that the ZDSD made the DS their bitch! I might have to give the ZDSD a try then!)

Hey Lon,

You might find this little story amusing - I have looked at the Mapleshade Double Helix Plus cables for a long time, read all the reviews about how they shouldn't work, but do, etc. Then I read what you have to say about them, and decided that the next used set that came up, I would check them out. So last week I got a pair off US Audio Mart, just in time for a listening session with a couple of guys who have been into hi-end audio a lot longer than I have. They weren't familiar with the cables, so as you might expect, they laughed at the "wimpy" little cables. Until I cranked my system up, then their eyes bugged out. Pretty amazing the detail and clarity that come out of them. Smoked my Transparent Audio Musicwave cables. But then one of the other guys got the last laugh - he had brought his HiDiamond 4 power cable with him. I put it on my TEAC UD-501 dac that Steve had recommended. YOWZA!! I had always been suspicious of audio reviewers who say that one cable (especially a power cable) changed the whole sound of their system, but I guess I was wrong. Now I'm digging in the cushions of my couch, trying to find an extra $1200 for a power cable. (And cursing my friend).

Randy

40 days in on the ZDSD and still wowed by its shear musicality signaling through its Decware counterparts! Kimber 3033 back in System too.





Listening Room:
Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew
Sony as Transport
Illuminati D-60
Decware DSD DAC / Recorder (@ -20 Ref Level @ 16/176.4)
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA
Decware CSP3 w/Jupiter Caps (NOS/Platinum/Telefunken 6922/CCa/7308 for input tube)
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA
Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier (NOS/Platinum/Matsushita / National PCC88 / 7DJ8 in A12 an B12 inputs)
Kimber Select KS3033 Speaker Cable
Vintage Polk SDA1 Speakers in Stereo (91db)
XLO Pro Power Cords to CSP3 an ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport, ZDSD an CSP3, Regenerated/118, 119 an 120v are used/Multiwave off...ZMA on HC Output)

Decware SE84CS (NOS Svetlana SV83's from 1980's-not the New Sensor knock-offs) ...when SE Pentodes run in Triode/Decware Style...needs to be in the System!



*****Decware ERRx Speaker's coming in 3 to 4 weeks!********

**Acoustic Zen Adagio's x-over's Modded/Full Range with Mundorf MCap Supremes-an resistors on Tweets/5 or 10k cross**....should have in a week-finished

*****Pending: UFO MOD to my Decware Super Zen CKC

*****Pending: 6C33C Decware Mono-blocks
(Note: ZMA not for sale = Masterpiece)
*****Pending: Steve's new Preamp to be released approx. in October

Glad it got there iLance and that it sounds so good! Keep us posted.

Hi Stone and others,
given the high output of the ZenDAC, does having an additional pre-amp still improve the sound? Or is it just adding lots of additional complexity without much gain?

Thanks ILance!
Please share once you tired it with the CSP as well, would be interested in how that compares to directly going into the Torii.

Another interesting thing too (adding to above reply),  flexibility of adjustment is had with the -20 to -18 on the ZDSD Ref Volume. Not used often but available. I also adjust the input volume for some recordings to -.5 to a -3.0, on the ZDSD. Most of all though, having the Voltage Output flexibility of 7 or 8 (out of 10) on the Output Tubes of my CSP3 is key. I stay at 8 consistently driving the ZMA set at 85% Volume up and CSP3 Volume, as my Master Volume control from 0 to 30%, that will Envelope you and Rock your World. My arm an a leg Input Tube (Telefunken), in the CSP3 is worth every penny too.

Best of all, I have two pair of modified Speakers to alternate with in my Listening Room System. The Adagio's are now awesome. I have the ERRx coming and they will run with Mundorf Mcap Supremes too. The ERRx gives me a 3rd pair, in a 4 to 6 week rotation/each. Each pair gives a different perspective on the Music. Each pair is now modified/optimized, to play well with my Decware. Obviously, I have yet to optimize the ERRx. I know I will like the Mcap Supremes and might put Silver/Oils in them. Also, placement/moving the ERRx around the Listening Room will be Interesting.

Different Speakers gives me more insight on getting the most out of my Decware and Cables.






Listening Room:
Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew
Sony as Transport ****(DVP-NS57P)****
Illuminati D-60 Digital Coax IC
Decware DSD DAC / Recorder (@ -20 Ref Level @ 16/176.4)
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA
Decware CSP3 w/Jupiter Caps (NOS/Platinum/Telefunken 6922/E88CC for input tube)
Kimber Select KS1030 IC RCA
Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier (NOS/Platinum/Matsushita / National PCC88 / 7DJ8 in A12 an B12 inputs)
Kimber Select KS3033 Speaker Cable
Kimber Select KS3035 Speaker Cable (alternated in)
Acoustic Zen Adagio (Modified)
~or~
Vintage Polk SDA1 Speakers in Stereo (91db) (Modified)
~or~
Decware ERRx (coming soon!)
XLO Pro Power Cords to CSP3 an ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport, ZDSD an CSP3, Regenerated/118, 119 an 120v are used/Multiwave off...ZMA on HC Output)

Decware SE84CS (NOS Svetlana SV83's from 1980's-not the New Sensor knock-offs) ...when SE Pentodes run in Triode/Decware Style...needs to be in the System!



*****Decware ERRx Speaker's coming in 2 to 3 weeks!

*****Acoustic Zen Adagio's x-over's Modded/Full Range with Mundorf MCap Supremes-on Tweets/4.5 cross
(Gutted: 3rd order Linkwitz R's....with all crappy parts = gone).

Thanks for weighing in, I was waiting for your impressions. Sounds like the ZDSD is a winner. I'm in love with my PWT / DS (and the PWT has an amazing synergy with the DS via HDMI) AND my Rega/ZP3 sources and I'm soon only going to have a main system and a headphone system and have an excess of gear, which is perhaps an enviable situation but . . . .

Glad the ZDSD is getting such good results!

Just a note about Pike's Peak: at first I would agree with you. But then I did an interconnect upgrade and ran the DS through the CSP2+ and have to say the weight and heft are just right. . .surprised me how much these two factors added for me.

I'm with you Ilance. I can't wait for Steve's new Pre and you would not miss the PS Audio DSD. I would still own one if I did miss it. I'm getting Steve's new Mono"s too. The ZDSD IS JUST THAT GOOD. Herron Audio's Pre is making a visit too.....to my Listening Room. Long live the ZMA on the High Current Output ONLY, on my PS......all it needs.  

I've read some good things about Pike's Peak. It is a good Player no matter how you slice it. I'm going to stick with all Decware.....so no Herron.

Wow, it's been 10 weeks already?

Awesome follow up!

1. Curious if anyone knows what DAC chips are used, or if it uses FPGA , etc. in the ZDSD?

2. Another thing I'm not quite grasping is it has balanced outputs, but uses Silver RCA jacks?

If that's the case will this mean that you will have to use special cables (one end RCA the Other XLR) or adaptors if you were to pair this with the new Decware Balanced Preamp?

Quote:


Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing...if the new monos can bring the Zen transparency, but a little more grunt and consistency like the ZMA, then I'd really have to figure out how to get a pair in my listening setup. I wouldn't give up the ZMA anytime soon though. It would have to take some serious amp to make me even consider that.  Like Decware OTL or to that level.

Quote:


Dude, this is a studio Recorder/DAC; it's a workhorse that happens to sound above and beyond it's paygrade. It just uses a Burr Brown 1795 DA chip.

As far as I know, Steve doesn't mess with the XLR outputs, they are just stock units. Steve creates the unbalanced outputs. If you needed balanced outs, you use the balanced outs the Recorder comes with.

I think you're overthinking things a little bit.    ;)

http://tascam.com/product/da-3000/

Yeah, basically he is trying to give you what the balanced (XLR) can do. However, I think Steve took it a step further.... . His RCA Output Tranny Stage is Analog sounding...through the Wazooooo! Thus, maximizing what the DA Chip has to offer = big time my friends.

I listed both MALE an FEMALE XLR Adaptor's because, this is what I will do to run out of Steve's Output Analog Tranny Stage=to hell with the XLR Outputs of the ZDSD, not when his stage is this good! Then, into the new Pre. Then I need the XLR Adaptors to get into my ZMA. Plus, I would not abandon my RCA/WBT Kimber Unbalanced IC's. Once again, with Steve's Output Stage.....this is the way to do it very well. Anything less than Kimber Select would not do it for me and I don't want to sell (or have Terminated to XLR) my Unbalanced to get XLR Selects....not necessary as detailed above. Of course, it needs to be Cardas quality XLR Adaptor's for me.

Yes LR, I might have to sell my Paine Boston Mass. Antique Table & Rocking Chair to get both the new Pre and the 6C33C Mono's.....but I gotta do what I gotta do  ;) .

Quote:



From what I'm reading there - Steve basically built a ZBIT inside the DAC. So he's taking the output from the XLR, running it through those fantastic little balanced transformers, then out to the RCA outputs. I don't know if he's got anything else in the circuit to tweak the sound or output, but it sounds like it's a ZBIT built in to me.

Looking forward, I'm also assuming the future preamp is going to have that ZBIT style transformer built in as well. (I'd check with Steve first, but...) if that's the case, and you're for sure going to get the preamp - then maybe it would make better sense to buy a stock Tascam, and then let the preamp do the Balanced to Unbalanced conversion. But if you need that conversion now, get the Decware DSD DAC.

Balanced XLR cable is less sensitive to noise - so it's best to keep your signal in that balanced state as long as possible.

Again, check with Steve on all this. The preamp might be all you need though.

Lon wrote on 03/21/15 at 13:27:50:


I just am still having a bit of a shock wrapping my brain around the improvements these cables have brought to my system. I thought the other versions by the same manufacturer were excellent and they are but these. . . it's like they just get out of the way at any frequency and let everything flow. I've never just spun music and not thought about hardware the way that I have the last few weeks. I now feel I have comparable excellence with sources, preamps, amps, speakers, cabling. . . .And I'm enjoying things as I haven't before. Too bad I have to move in a few months and start set up all over again!

Anyway, I'm feeling the bite of the finances drained for these cables, but glad I bit the bullet.

Thanks JD. It's going to be a tremendous effort to move and a draining experience in many ways, and I'm moving my Dad just before I move. Sigh. I'm stocking up on Wheaties.

I would be very surprised if they didn't sound excellent. I haven't explored XLR cables for many years. . . if I were in the market I'd try the Cremona Edition if I could afford it.

I've been playing around with the Input Volume feature on the ZDSD for quite some time now. I can't say enough about it! I now leave it at +3.5db. IT CREATES DETAIL DENSITY TO THE DETAIL THAT IS ALREADY THERE. Of course while, not messing with soundstage depth, tone & timbre, imaging or Tonal Balance. Completely optimizes my Transport. A great tool.....found in no other.

ZMA turned up fully to its useable Volume
-20db Output Volume @ 16/176.4 ZDSD
+3.5 Input Volume ZDSD
+ 10 out of 10, for Input Tube half's of Telefunken of CSP3
+ 8 out of 10, for Output Tubes 6N1P-EV's of CSP3
(the +8 creates a pretty quick sensitive gain for the CSP3 driving into the ZMA = Heaven spot on)!

Anyone do any ADDA of their Vinyl? I'm saving this project for a -17F night in the not so distant future.

Ilance, great tunes. I have "if this bass could talk" on CD.

I've only dabbled in Redbook to Redbook. Doing some DSD is next and of course from Vinyl too. Fun great machine!

I had the opportunity this afternoon (to pit my Vega against my ZDSD/PCM).......man, I so appreciate the ZenMaster-Steve.

I also am enjoying the ZDSD to ZMA to ERRx and with the recent acquisition of an Uptone Regen the sound has jumped up another notch, an excellent tweak if you're using USB. Really sounding sweet right now.