Forums - After a year, very happy

Leigh

Verified Member

Posts: 11

After a year, very happy
02/21/15 at 22:31:49

Thought I'd chime in after having lived with this amp for a year or so. I love it! The biggest improvement over my old highly modded Dynaco amp was in the bass power. It must be those monster capacitors! This thing does not give any evidence of getting overwhelmed at loud (enough) volumes with my ProAc Tablette Anniversary monitors. I have a powered sub running off the solid state preamp as well.

It really does a beautiful job. There are times when I feel like I can actually hear the actual multritracks becoming "unlayered" when I listened to a well mastered recording. The amp isn't romantic by any stretch of the imagination, it's very clear and detailed but in a "pure" way.

I have not done any tube rolling and have no intention of doing so in the near future. It sounds good enough as is. Someday, maybe! But anyway, what a great amp!

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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #1 - 02/21/15 at 23:57:43 Yeah, loved mine too until this morning when it wouldn't power up! Fuse fine, power cord/source fine. No smell and I didn't let the smoke out!
Back to top	ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 25750	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #2 - 02/22/15 at 00:30:08 Of course you've tried another outlet/power source? I hope it comes back to life soon!
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #3 - 02/22/15 at 01:35:36 Worked last night didn't this morning. Weird. I think it might be the switch or IEC since nothing powers up and it's like two monos in one chassis.
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Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #4 - 02/24/15 at 00:45:21

I thought an update was in order. After about 30 hours my ZMA powered up just fine. I have no idea why. I talked to Steve this morning and he thought the IEC and switch were primary suspects once the power cord and cord connections were ruled out. He suggested that I check the fuse holder to make sure it was holding the fuse tightly. When I checked I found one side that may have been on the loose side so I squeezed it tighter with needle nose pliers. I've powered up the amp several times and it's been fine.

I have no idea if it is fixed but so far so good.

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 25750	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #5 - 02/24/15 at 00:47:18 Whew Archie! I'm glad she's operational again and hoping you solved the mystery. It's such a weird feeling when something that should just work away . . . doesn't. And we're slightly lost without our Decware amps. There is no substitute.
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #6 - 02/24/15 at 01:00:47 I'm a little embarrassed to say, but I was in a real funk over it. I put my old SS amp back in and, gosh, it just wasn't the same! Ive got my fingers crossed!
Back to top	ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 25750	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #7 - 02/24/15 at 01:18:59 Don't be embarrassed. We would all be in the same mood!
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jsm71

Seasoned Member

Posts: 134

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #8 - 03/12/15 at 13:19:31

I've crossed the one year mark as well and echo your sentiments. No tube rolling; don't feel it needs it. I can't pinpoint any aspect of the sound that seems off or in any way lacking. My amp/speaker combo has revealed every little change I've made elsewhere in cable upgrades, tube swaps, and a new cartridge/SUT. I'm super happy.

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Decware ZMA, Cary SLP-98P preamp, JansZen zA2.1 speakers with JansZen speaker cables, Marantz TT 15S1 turntable, Lyra Delos MC with Bobs Devices SUT, Marantz SA8004 SACD/CD player, Morrow level 4 ICs, Decware and Shunyata PCs.

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Lonely Raven Seasoned Member Jack of all Trades, Master of None Posts: 3567	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #9 - 03/12/15 at 14:03:08 Well said, and I agree! My ZMA has simply been consistent and does what I need it to.
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stone_of_tone

Seasoned Member

Listen Often/Listen
Deep

Posts: 3217

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #10 - 03/13/15 at 19:46:57

Hey Archie, that is nothing. I get mine an I'm blowing the 5 watt fuse, one after another. I finally smartened up and went out an got a 5.4, 6.8 an a 7 (I forget the ranges) to get it to work. Anyway, I was a bit of a piss baby to Steve about it. He straightened me out with an email I deserved. I should not have let my frustration out on anyone, let alone him. So, I did not cut my nose off to spite my face, fortunately.

14 months for me on my ZMA. What an incredible Amp it is!

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Room Treats-M.Green & mine
Sony TPort
Illuminati D60
Shunyata Z-Alpha DigPcord
Decware ZDSD DAC
Kimber Select KS1030
XLOProPcord
Decware ZMA/25th Mods
Kimber Select KS6063
Acoustic Zen Adagio/Modified
Kimber PK10 Palladian from wall
to PS Audio P3

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stone_of_tone

Seasoned Member

Listen Often/Listen
Deep

Posts: 3217

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #11 - 03/13/15 at 19:55:35

Leigh, ProAc Tablette Anniversary = nice. Yes, not romantic just pure. I have my Acoustic Zen Adagio's just flooring me right now! Enjoy.

Listening Room:
Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew
Sony as Transport
Illuminati D-60
Decware DSD DAC / Recorder (@ -20 Ref Level @ 16/96 or 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 KS3035 Speaker Cable
***********~~************************************
Acoustic Zen Adagio/Black Pearl's (89db SPL @ 1watt/1meter)
***********~~************************************
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 an 120v are used/Multiwave off...ZMA on HC Output)

Decware SE84CS (w/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!

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Room Treats-M.Green & mine
Sony TPort
Illuminati D60
Shunyata Z-Alpha DigPcord
Decware ZDSD DAC
Kimber Select KS1030
XLOProPcord
Decware ZMA/25th Mods
Kimber Select KS6063
Acoustic Zen Adagio/Modified
Kimber PK10 Palladian from wall
to PS Audio P3

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Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #12 - 03/13/15 at 20:05:28

Stone, I remember talking to Steve and he mentioned your situation. He was pretty shaken up over such a big problem with his 2nd ZMA! Those of us down the list were worried too! My issue hasn't reoccurred since I tweaked the fuse holder. Hard to believe that was the issue but it seems to have been. I noticed that my fuse is a 6.4 amp.

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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Lonely Raven

Seasoned Member

Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #13 - 03/14/15 at 06:32:38

Archie, I just had the same thing happen with my ZMA - I listened way into the wee hours last night, and this morning she wouldn't power up! for a minute I thought I'd blown a fuse or my P10 was off or something.

Checked all cables, P10, reseated tubes, flipped the power switch several times - no lights, no joy. At this point I figured maybe I blew a fuse somehow - I walk away to let the logs out and make coffee, when I come back I flick the ZMA and it fired right up!

I guess I'll double check those connections - maybe there is an issue with the power switch itself.

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Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #14 - 03/14/15 at 17:26:16

LR, mine randomly came back on 36 hours later after I'd opened it up and triple checked everything. I used some hemostats to reach into the fuse compartment and I squeezed the holders tighter on both sides. I haven't had any problem since but since it was an intermittent problem, I don't have 100% confidence that I fixed it.

Maybe the holders aren't quite tight enough and minor oxidation eventually hampers the connection? One of Life's mysteries?

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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lLance Seasoned Member Posts: 164	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #15 - 03/14/15 at 20:41:17 I'm also very happy after a year with the ZMA. Best amp Ive owned, best amp amp I've ever heard. I'm always looking at gear but I'm done with amp and speakers.
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pineman

Verified Member

Posts: 19

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #16 - 03/15/15 at 16:58:39

I am going on 6 months as the proud and satisfied owner of ZMA #25 and I could not be happier. Everything about the amp is wonderful-- the power, the detail, the impressive build quality. Who knew my music collection could sound this good?! And not that appearances matter to everyone, but the ZMA is simply gorgeous, very likely the most beautiful object I own. What an amp.

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VPI Classic w/ Ortofon 2M Black, ZP3; PS Audio DSD & PST; ZMA, Zenstyx; Bösendorfer VC-7

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Jeff1 Senior Member Posts: 97	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #17 - 12/25/16 at 01:48:12 Anyone having issues with bad bais meters or other internal problems?
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stone_of_tone Seasoned Member Listen Often/Listen Deep Posts: 3217	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #18 - 12/27/16 at 16:56:53 HI Jeff. My ZMA is running perfect. Check your tubes via this video.....to know for sure it is the Bias meter's. Here is a link to the ZMA Testing Video: https://decware.wistia.com/medias/clex9z20t4 Steve posted this in the Class A/ZMA Thread. It might qualify it/if you have a problem/meters.
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #19 - 12/27/16 at 18:36:35 No meter issues. I did re-zero them a couple years ago.
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Dave1210 Seasoned Member Posts: 959	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #20 - 12/31/16 at 14:54:11 Archie...how do you re-zero the meters?
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Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: After a year, very happy
Reply #21 - 12/31/16 at 18:15:09

Quote:

Archie...how do you re-zero the meters?

The screw in the middle, at the bottom of the meters, changes the zero. If the meter doesn't read zero when powered down, you can adjust it with this screw. I found this out by mistake. My meters haven't' really left their zero but I'm a natural born button pushing screw turner.

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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Dave1210 Seasoned Member Posts: 959	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #22 - 12/31/16 at 19:20:13 Thanks Archie! I'm glad you stumbled on this, because I have a meter that is slightly > zero. Thanks again! -Dave
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Lonely Raven Seasoned Member Jack of all Trades, Master of None Posts: 3567	Re: After a year, very happy Reply #23 - 01/02/17 at 21:18:06 Meters are all good on my serial #000 I never thought to zero them out. I try not to mess with Steve's work...though I'm still debating silver binding posts....
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