Ok, just a quick initial impression, and yes, I have to use the usual cliché’s, but I really heard instruments in the mix that I “never” heard before. Some people will say they can hear things “better” when getting new gear, but I’m actually hearing stuff I didn’t know was on the recording. I received 5 pieces of gear from Steve, or should I say Devon (that’s what all the shipping labels say, I beginning to think she’s the master engineer and just keeps Steve around to put a male face on the company... I mean, Steve don’t send me nothing! ;), and I only had time to set up the Torii Mk IV and plugged in my old 14 bit Phillips CD player thinking I’d let it break in on that while I putzed around the apt and heat up a can of chili… well, as that first musical bar hit, I immediately sat down on the couch and couldn’t move. Even without being broken in yet nor positioning my speakers, it was already a magical transformation and that wide sound stage I witnessed at DecFest in Oct. (It also revealed how shitty some of my CD’s were mastered – all midrange). But the good recordings and mastered correctly for CD, were amazing. (Oh, btw, I ended up forgetting about dinner... too busy demoing different CD's).
Tonight I will set up the ZP3 Phono Stage with the ZMC1 SUT, and my customized ZSTAGE with beeswax caps and stepped attenuator as the pre-amp. So, tonight, the “real” magic will happen when I put on my main listening medium, vinyl!
So glad I went to DecFest to audition all the gear so I was able to pick the amp that sounded best to my ears with the right caps. I actually preferred the standard beeswax to the beeswax type II (I auditioned both at DecFest), and I also chose the stepped attenuator, and KT66’s. Black figured and cream chicken head – got that spooky metropolis look
Thanks again to Chris K and Palomino for convincing me to just follow my gut feeling vs. the other circuitry that was present at DecFest – I am very happy and know I made the right decision :)