Yup, I'm at it again.

Very much enjoyed my Decware CSP3, I owned for 27 months and my Audio Research LS17 SE too (over the summer for the LS17).

I hope Ilance reads this and comments. He was auditioning the 2.0.

Back to the point. I have been enjoying my ZMA ran direct from ZDSD. I could happily live with my ZMA / ZDSD combo. However, I miss my Pre's sometimes. The ZOTL is far to interesting not to have in my Listening Room!

I called Linear Tube Audio and they are burning a ZOTL2.0 in for me for 3 to 4 days and they will then ship.

The MicroZOTL2.0 has me intrigued. If it floats my boat....then Tube rolling will happen from Uncle Kevvy with Mullard's of course for the 12AT7's/first and then a good choice on the 6SN7's. I'm avoiding the power supply upgrade for now. Let's see what she can do stock out of the Gate.

http://hometheaterreview.com/linear-tube-audio-microzotl20-preamplifierheadphone...

http://www.stereophile.com/content/linear-tube-audio-microzotl20-line-stageheadp...



ZOTL2.0 with my additional Kimber KS1030 ~ happening sometime next week!










Listening Room:


Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew

Sony as Transport (DVP-NS57P)

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


Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier
~BIASED at *60* mA~
(NOS/Platinum/Mullard E188CC/7308's in my A12 an B12 Input positions Cryogenic~NOS/Platinum/Telefunken E88CC for Inverter Tubes~NOS RCA 0A3's & matched Quad/Tung-Sol KT66's)
ZMA adjusted at 20% to 30-40% max ~ from 0 Gain


***************************************************
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 Cord to ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport and ZDSD, Regenerated/*120*~ Multiwave off...ZMA on High Current Output)

++ ZDSD DAC, kicked to the Curb: Auralic Vega, PS Audio PWT & PWD, PS Audio Direct Stream DAC, Chord Qute, NAD M51 (twice) & Schiit Yggdrasil.


~NOS Platinum Tubes from Upscale Audio/Kevin:

(Great Britain) Mullard 7308/E188CC ~  2 pair (both pair Cryogenic)
(Germany) Telefunken E88CC ~ 1 pair
(US/Great Britain) Ediswan CV2492/6922 ~ 2 pair (one pair Cryogenic)
(Hungary) Tungsram 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair
(Hungary) Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8 ~ 1 pair.

From Cryoset:
(Russia) 6N23N/P-EB ~ 2 pair

(Russia) 6N23P's ~ 2 pair/came with ZMA.

You bet SS.

Great to read lLance. Reading about this Pre's ability to have no signature and let the color and speed of the music to jet through got my attention in the reviews and competing with the best $$$$.

Of course, this ZOTL delivers density and my reason for bringing back in a Preamp. Its
been noted to have incredible PRaT, slam with tone and timbre to die for.

I am curious to use the one watt output on my Adagio's/to hear that at appropriate SPL.

You ran your CSP3 into it without overwhelming its output/1 watt? Interesting.

I should call and see if I'm getting the 6 and 12 toggle. If I love it, I will need to get the upgraded power supply.

Can't wait to get it. They are burning it in for 3 to 4 days for me.

I will add, my ZMA is so seasoned in and playing such beautiful music with my NOS tube choices and Cabling..... I should just leave well enough alone. However, some of my favorites I miss what my CSP3 and ARC LS17 SE brought to bare.

I know I need to have ZOTL2.0 in.

SonicSeeker, lLance & Matchstikman, my MicroZOTL2.0 is out for delivery!

Excellent.

Stone, I know it is still early, but is it possible to rank the ZOTL, CSP3 and AR preamps?

Stone. Would you say the ZDSD a sort of pre? With the adjustable output transformers changing the voltage, it seemed to me to act similarly to a CSP3...Simpler and "of its own" sound, but introducing great clarity with the added effects of adding or subtracted signal density and lucidity depending on settings?

I wonder if this is part of why you tend to be "on the fence" with pres, liking things about them, and not? Double signal manipulation after the source can be pretty powerful...maybe too!?!

Okay, now I'm (even further) impressed. I just brought the ZMA up to SPL's, it could not obtain before/with the ZOTL, with no fatigue, top to bottom coherence-balance/no collapse of soundstage. I don't listen at these levels....but it is fun to go there. This explains what I'm hearing at normal and upper limit normal Listening levels.

Stone....is very happy.....what I though was Hyperbole about this Amp as a Pre.....is not bull malarkey.  I'm resisting running it direct to my Adagio's until next week. It will be interesting; what it can do before clipping....... .

I read you Will. I wish I could afford to keep all three of my recent Pre's (CSP3, ARC and now the 2.0). The ultimate rotation.

I think this one might turn out to be the most favorable for me. If I sell it in 27 months from now....like I did my CSP3......I'm still in bliss with the ZMA direct from ZDSD.

Yes, I'll hear what I think of it in another few weeks for sure.

The Torii Mk III is just that good too. I think only the ZTPRE would really offer improvements. I'm just not able to afford that in the configuration I would need, and to be honest I am not sure it would be a change worth the money.

With the ZBIT allowing me to use the balanced outputs of my DirectStream DAC I've got all that I need without the CSP2+ that I use to add other sources to the Torii. I tried just this week again to run the DirectStream into the CSP2+ now that I have a new Transport. . . and I still prefer the DirectStream without the CSP2+.

We have it so good with these amps.

Interesting results, Stone.  Somewhere in the back of the head I thought you would say that the Pre is good but without the pre in the chain it is better.

Are you going to keep that pre?

Also, have you had enough time to compare the 3 pres you've used?

Stone, did you hook it up to your speakers and try it as a high effiency power amp? It's the best I've ever heard my ERRx sound.