As I post this, the first 3 or 4 ZTPRE's are in route to customers, so...

Here is the owner's manual for the ZTPRE - recommended reading



https://www.decware.com/newsite/ztpreowner.pdf

It will be updated before it's completely finished, but this will get those first lucky customer's going just fine!

Cheers,

Steve

iLance has shared some here:

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1460653272/29#29

Little bastards.

On another note, the original owner's manual was pushing 20 meg due to the high res photos, I have compressed it down to 1.8 meg so it will be easier to download and email around.

Plus note that you needed the new Pre to get the headroom you were lacking for your JansZens. I have no such problem with my CSP3 and the liquidity and slam of my KS6063's let through.

Still surprised that you can't drive your JansZen's with the CSP3 (to ZMA)? I know Dave uses a CSP3 with his Jan's. However, he might not go near the headroom you need/want with the Jan's. My 6 to 7 more db efficient modified Adagio's have all the headroom they need.

Do tell in time.    

I hear you lLance. I have an Audio Research LS17 SE Preamplifier coming.

Purchased at cost, with full warranty ~ new/in sealed box. The ZMA deserves the new ZTPRE or LS17 SE.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/audio_research_ls17_se.htm

No, I don't have both. The CSP3 is a great Pre. I probably won't part with it. However, I might if you want it.

I think the ZTPRE can exploit more musicality out of my ZMA. As can the LS17 SE. I've discovered how important a transparent Pre can be. I want to take it to the next level of transparent tone/dimensionality through my ZMA.

I could not pass up the buy on the LS17 SE. Plus, ARC is only 25 miles across town/drop off service. They support just about all their gear with parts/vault on the shelf (including LED's), for 46 years. There is not a piece of ARC Chris can't fix. Rare if ever....their will be a problem.

Also, include more authority driven into the ZMA from either the ZTPRE or LS17 SE. I guess I said that with "exploit more" out of the ZMA.

You could send your CSP in for Jupiter Caps? However, selling your CSP and putting the dough towards the last Pre you will ever need, gets my vote for the ZTPRE.

The ARC LS17 SE will be all I will ever need. Damn lucky and the right timing to swing owning it.

Matchstikman,

Be patient my friend, my tunes are back up and running, after having my music server held hostage with ransom ware. I'm back to breaking in the ZTpre. I want to give it a fair chance against the CSP3 so a good burn-in is probably needed.

First you need to decide if you have a need for the ZTpre. Does your amp have balanced inputs? Do all of the sources you have use balanced outputs? If the answer to those questions is no, then the CSP3 is probably a better fit. I am planning to eventually bring a turntable back in, but in the back of the room and I will need a long XLR run to keep noise from sneaking into my interconnects.

Both preamps are really good. If you need a remote option then the ZTpre fills the bill and yes, this unit will fit on any audio rack shelf. Not to mention how freakin cool it looks. One thing to think about is that you will need 6 well matched, identical tubes when tube rolling. This will get a little pricey. Can you imagine Stone, buying 6 telefunkins from Kevin Deal.

FedEx! Saturday delivery coming for my ARC LS17 SE!
Severe thunderstorms forecasted for when I want to fire her up though. Will see how that fleshes out............ .      





Listening Room:


Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew

Sony as Transport (DVP-NS57P)/Sandwich weighted for Isolation

Illuminati D-60 Digital Coax IC

Shunyata Research Ztron Alpha Digital Power Cord to ZDSD
{Extremely Significant}

Decware ZDSD DAC / Recorder
***************************************************************
W/Steve's Output Transformer's/kicking to the curb quite a few superb DAC'S!
***************************************************************
(@ -20 Ref Level, 0.0 Input volume and @ 16/192)


WBT-0102Ag RCA Kimber Select KS1030


***Audio Research LS17 SE Preamplifier*** ~ w/stock 6H30's

.....will upgrade to: DR
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/6H30-Tube-Types/Russian-6H30P-DR


WBT-0102Ag RCA Kimber Select KS1030


Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier
~BIASED at *60* mA~
(NOS/Platinum/E188CC 7308 Cryogenic Mullard's in my A12 an B12 positions~NOS/Platinum/Ediswan CV2492/6922's for Inverter Tubes~JAN Sylvania 0A3's & New Quad of Tube Depot Stealth/Tung-Sol KT66's)
ZMA adjusted at 15%, 20 to 25% max ~ from 0

***************************************************
Kimber Select KS6063 Speaker Cable 8ft WBT-0681-Ag Spades
***************************************************

Acoustic Zen Adagio - Black Pearl (Modified)
.....from 8ohm Taps





Acoustic Zen Adagio's x-over's Modified/Full Range with Mundorf MCap Supremes-single Cap to each Tweeter/4.5k cross
(Gutted: 3kHz/18dB/Octave, Linkwitz/Riley Crossovers....with all crappy parts = gone)


XLO Pro Power Cords to ARC LS17 SE an ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport, ZDSD an ARC LS17 SE, Regenerated/*122*~ Multiwave off...ZMA on High Current Output)



NOS Platinum Tube Rotations in my ZMA,

(matched pairs/from Upscale Audio/Kevin):

(Germany) Telefunken E88CC ~ 1 pair
(Great Britain) Mullard 7308/E188CC ~  2 pair (both pair Cryogenic)
(US/Great Britain) Ediswan CV2492/6922 ~ 2 pair (one pair Cryogenic)
(Hungary) Tungsram 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair
(Hungary) Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8 ~ 1 pair
(Russian) Cryoset 6N23N/P-EB ~ 2 pair

Yes, like my Kimber KS6063's were purchased at a price I can recoup. So is my ARC LS17 SE purchase. Like my 6063's that can be sold when I'm dead (they ain't going anywhere)...so too, most likely will be the case for my LS17.  ;)

I made some changes today. Since I have an abundance of amps at the moment, I moved the ZMA and ZT pre into my basement to try out with my modded Oppo105 and Monitor Audio Gold GX 300 speakers. Well... I think they call this synergy. Holy crap it sounds good. I have had the ZMA in this room before so the big change is the ZT pre. Bigger sound stage and crushing bass. I have always had a problem with noise in this room and the balanced cables have solved this problem for me. The dreaded buzz is gone. The monitor audio speakers are a little more efficient than the Janszens too.

The ZT pre is starting to shine. Is it better than the CSP3? I don't know yet, it's slightly different in a good way. I'm still futzing around with stuff. I will have to remove the NOS tubes and put the CSP3 back to stock before a real comparison.

If I keep this set up like it is, It looks like I will be selling the AVA Fet Valve 400R Amplifier. I know people are talking about AVA on the other thread so maybe there's some interest.

ILance, if you could do me a big favor and put that ZTPRE in front of the AVA and let me know how it sounds?  It would be greatly appreciated.

The ZMA is an obviously superior amp to the AVA.  Heck, your model AVA is a higher end model to the one I own which I think is the etnry level model.

ILance, what differences did you hear between the two amps?

Your info has me headed down the path of the CSP3 somewhere in the distant future and I appreciate your input.