Dana, I can't answer your question about where to put the ZROCK but I was wondering what you think of your Rumble Filter.  I looked at the information on the KAB sight.  How did you determine that you needed it and what benefit have you heard with it?

Hi again Archie.  Not sure if I explained how I determined that I needed a rumble filter.  Basically, my subs and even main speakers were sending vibration through my floor and up into the rack, feet and stylus of my turntable.  This in turn causes you woofers to dance/ machine gun in and out at a rapid pace thus working the amplifier harder as well.  I am not sure if you have experienced this yourself but it is fairly common.  Even with a rumble filter in place you can still get the woofer action if you have a cartridge and tonearm that are not in compliance with one another.  I just picked up a VPI Aries 3.5 turntable and a Kiseki Blue NS low output MC cartridge but I have yet to get the rig up and running.  I am curious as to how my system will work and sound.  Kevin Deal at Upscale sold the units to me and he said the Kiseki is perfect with the Aries.  I am hoping to be a believer.

With HR-1s you do not need a sub

Hey Lon....

as you and I have discussed before about our Torii III's - that we will never give them up because of their unsurpassed synergy/performance with full-rangers, at least IME... so far.  I have been contemplating a ZROCK also... for my less than stellar sources and for good music that has less than stellar sonics.  I saw way back that Steve was "2"ing the ZROCK and have been purposely waiting for him to start building the new version.  And.... trying to time it so I can just pick it up at Zenfest in Oct.  So please do keep us posted about your experiences with your ZROCK2 when you get it.

The other thing in your last post that caught my attention, was your mention of your Taboo.  I did not get a chance to spend a lot of time listening to one, on familiar speaks, with my music at last Zenfest, but its "sound" really caught my attention several times during the 3-day event.  Since you and I share similar opinions on Torii's... I suspect we have very similar hearing perceptions.  I'd sure like to hear you compare and contrast your Torii and Taboo.... if not in a forum post to keep from ruffling feathers - just send me a PM.

thx.

You know your comment "heartbeats" really hits on something... something that I think explains why we all end up with more than one amplifier no matter how good it is. Hearing music through a different set of ears is no different than experiencing it from a different consciousness. Hearing music through different amplifiers accomplishes the exact same result... which leads one to realize that music is too grand to be fully taken in by a single consciousness.  Probably explains why I have a dozen amplifiers and a dozen speakers.  
Steve

I personally just want to have ONE AMP TO RULE THEM ALL. I don't have the luxury of switching things out often, nor the room to store things easily for swapping out. I have a wife, she is not into audio, she doesn't want to look at audio equipment, it's a struggle just to have my system in the best room. I'd choose her over the system, reluctantly, she's more important than anything, but luckily I don't have to make that choice, I just have to compromise.

I think, if what Steve writes about the ZROCK2 design and performance is true, that the ZROCK2 will allow me to have that ONE AMP to be the master of the system, the strong heartbeat that pumps all the music through. I just wish I had it NOW.

Well good, don't get married and change it, believe me it will change.

Though I want most to be married to Lucy and have her at the center of my life. And I only need one system, music is more important than equipment to me ultimately, and I'd rather throw money at one system and have the money for music. I've a good balance right now in all aspects of my life, and I count these blessings every day.

I've got the Torii Mk III powering the system again today. I missed the bass and the wider soundstage. I've gotten so used to the push-pull sound and the presentation of this amp. I'll probably use this one most of the time til the ZROCK2 arrives.

Well, that's cool. I have mutual respect going too, which is why I have a storage unit and not making my wife climb over all my stuff in our tiny house. Have to try to ditch the storage unit though, I'm paying more than half my half of the house payment and bills on it. Not sustainable, and I've come to realize I can't enjoy it all. . . in a storage unit.

I've got it down really to one transport, one DAC, one pre, one turntable and phono pre, one set of speakers. . . and if I had to choose right now one amp (Torii Mk III) but we'll see what the ZROCK2 does to both that and the Taboo Mk IV. . . I'll let the winner stay in the system. I can see why others want lots more speakers etc. but not me. Sure I learn a lot comparing components and listening with different "minds" to different things. But I keep coming back to trusting what I like and sticking with and fine-tuning and seasoning one system with stable components. I just want one great system to settle in and listen and watch on. That's among the best parts of life.

Tal,
It has been decades since I heard an MC cartridge and it was in a not so high end system. . . . Many audiophiles say that they are  da bomb and a big step up from MM cartridges. . . . The ZROCK2 though may well give you an interesting flexibility to tailor the sound and (as you don't also have to buy a cartridge) may be the more bang for the buck option.

So I would probably choose that as I'm over the moon happy with my MM cartridge and ZP3 and the ZROCK2 would offer a nice tailoring tool (I think, I hope. . . I have one on order).

You're welcome Tal. I'm probably going to be canceling my order for the ZROCK2 because I've decided to buy a ZTPRE.. . . but in your shoes my recommendation stands! I think it's going to prove to be a great product for Decware.

And just like that the fickle audio winds have blown me into ordering a ZROCK2 again. Had I not canceled my previous order, I'd have one probably built by now! Ah, such is life.

I'm really happy with my system as is, but the ZROCK2 offers another way to get tonal balances tailored and I want to try it out! Mine will have the Jupiter caps and silver RCA jacks, and an ebony knob.

Thanks Randy. Fiscally, not the smartest move. BUT. . . I think I'll have a lot of fun with it.

Well, after months of sitting on the fence, I pulled the trigger today, and placed an order for the ZRock2!

My ZROCK2 is in "Testing" so should have it in a few weeks.

I will have fun playing with it in the main system (which is sounding fantastic right now, I really don't feel it needs anything!) Also my second system. . . I think that will be the perfect place for a ZROCK2. . . I really think the Taboo Mk III there (and the Mark IV in my main system) is close to the perfect tonal balance with speakers, but a good EQ application could make it just right. So. . .I figure the ZROCK2 may end up there or a second one will! (I think both Taboos have perfect tonal balance for headphones!)

I have so much equipment. . . I really do need to thin the herd (and I really don't even need my second system. . .at least not now. . . and I begin to want to check out the ZMA but can only do so by selling a lot of stuff) . . . but I really am happy, deliriously happy with what I have. . . I should stand pat.

Had a full day of playing with the ZROCK2. The RCA tube that Steve sent is very good. But I had bought an Amperex 6085 to try in the ZROCK2 and had to put it in (I had leant it to bottlehead who enjoyed my pair a lot in his ZROCK and preamp). It lacks an appealing warmth the RCA has, but it is very neutral and clear and open and BIG and bold sounding and works really well with the ZROCK2. (The tube itself is as big as an EL84 tube!)

Once the ZROCK2 and the 6085 were all warmed up and properly situated in my system and settled in and connected up to the Torii Mk III . . . what fun to play with! You can really tailor the sound with the "tone" controls of the Torii Mk III and the ZROCK2. Witht he Torii I can place the Torii controls in much lower positions and dial in the EQ in little steps to get an amazing frequency balance that is full and yet still dynamic and detailed. And having 6922 variant tubes in the ZTPRE and the Torii it's nice having a 12AU7 type in the chain to add its flavor.

For most recordings, "medium" to good, just a little bit of EQ A (which I use most) of EQ B will hit a really sweet spot for the recording. I've been able to tweak a bit and really enjoy masterings of cds that irked me before as they were either etched or lean and dry or both. I've bought different masterings in the past as a result, but with the ZROCK2 I feel I can just tailor the sound more to my liking. In many ways the ZROCK2 allows you to be your own mastering engineer, and that's a big part of the fun aspect.

And as reported by the other owners the ingenuous way Steve has implemented this does actually improve imaging and sound staging a bit, definitely does not impact them negatively. And the dynamic "hit" is really pleasing. . . .

Also I had one big fear: that the ZTPRE into the ZBIT into the ZROCK2 might not allow me the volume range that I have been growing accustomed to without distortion. That was a needless worry, at least with the Torii Mk III there is no compression or distortion at all, clear and fluid detailed sound instead.

Excellent recordings don't really need the EQ and you can either center the gain knob or activate the bypass--no discernible difference there--and listen to the beauty of the sound.

I've a little bit more time to play intensely today and in a while I'm going to connect this up to the Taboo Mk IV as a speaker amp and experience the difference the ZROCK2 makes for that amp/speaker combo.

The ZROCK2 was worth waiting for. It may just be the icing on the cake. My new three Z Amigos--the ZBIT, ZTPRE and ZROCK2 have really transformed my listening!

That sounds wonderful Lon.  Thanks for posting your thoughts.  I am seriously considering a ZRock2 for my system.  It seems like a good way to improve those recordings in our collections that for whatever reason don't measure up to our expectations.

Greetings, my first Decware forum post.  I got a ZROCK a few weeks ago.  I don't have a Decware amp yet (hello, Black Friday), so right now I'm using it with my vintage Sansui integrated.  

This thing does exactly what Steve says it does.  I used the tone controls on my Sansui 90% of the time.  Thanks to the A/B switch on the ZROCK, I can happily confirm running the ZROCK with the Sansui tone controls flat sounds way better than taking ZROCK out of the chain and using the Sansui controls.  Everything sounds deeper, richer, faster, less bloated.

I'm glad there are two EQ options, I use them both.  Toggle down is similar to the loudness button.  Everything sounds bigger and richer across the board.  Toggle up is more of a bass extension.  Kind of like using the bass knob but with a faster, more dynamic sound.  I change toggles depending on the recording.  I leave the knob set at about 3 o'clock either way.

IMO a great product that deserves a much wider audience than just Decware amp owners.

Welcome whooycat! Keep posting and hope you have an amp soon!

Yes, whoopycat....keep the impressions coming. I just ordered mine. Obviously, it will be some time before I get to enjoy and comment.

Till then...........I will follow you, sonicseeker and Lon....and anyone else I failed to mention.....and others/new/get one, that care to come onboard.



Whoopycat, here's hoping you buy a Decware Amp today!




.......here is my order of Listening (keeping each scenario in one to two weeks at a time):

ZMA direct from ZDSD with Ediswan pair (Cryo'd) CV2492/6922 ....as inputs/ZMA

ZMA direct from ZDSD with Mullard pair (Cryo'd) 7308/E188CC ....as inputs/ZMA

ARC LS-2B/single Mullard 7308/E188CC (Cryo'd) to Tungsram pair PCC88/7DJ8 ...inputs/ZMA.


.....currently running with ZDSD direct to ZMA (no Line Stage)....with Cryogenic Ediswan pair for inputs in my ZMA. All else (below) equal/in System.






Listening Room:



Room Treatments from Michael Green & my Home Brew


Sony as Transport (DVP-NS57P)
Illuminati D-60 Digital Coax IC ~.5 meter


Shunyata Research Zitron Alpha Digital Power Cord to ZDSD {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 RCA Kimber Select KS1030 ~.5 meter


Audio Research Stereo Line Stage Amplifier w/remote volume & mute LS-2B MkII
NOS Platinum/Mullard 7308/E188CC / Cryogenic


WBT-0102Ag RCA Kimber Select KS1030 ~.75 meter


currently.....NOS Platinum Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8 ~ 1 pair....in for Inputs/ZMA

Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier
~BIASED at *56* 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  60-90% Gain ~ w/ARC Line Stage, running via Remote Control



***************************************************
Kimber Select KS6063 Speaker Cable 8ft WBT-0681-Ag Spades
***************************************************
Kimber 8TC new/white & clear jacket/to remind me of how fluid/timbre correct and good the KS6063 are
Also Read.....the lowest noise floor you will ever witness....that a $5180 pair of speaker cables should have....and they do.....(I was fortunate to get them for $2680/Demo pair/mint, from the CableCo....worth every penny/extraordinary realism.....)



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


Caintuck Audio Eminence Alpha 15" OB BASS Unit
at 53Hz, with my Velodyne CHT 130 watt plate amp and 0 degree phase.....at 1/6 volume on plate
Plate Amp....regen'd clean ~ plugged into P3







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, ARC Pre, and ZDSD, Regenerated/*120*~ Multiwave off...ZMA on High Current Output).


~NOS Platinum Tubes from Upscale Audio/Kevin:

(Great Britain) Mullard 7308/E188CC ~  2 pair (both pair Cryogenic)
(Germany) Telefunken 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair (painfully expensive/worth it)
(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.    

Previous Decware Amplifier's/I have owned/Purchased new: SE84CS (#76 Zen Select/you see in my original Signature below/I used for 13 years/2001 till 2014), Torii MkIII & SuperZen CKC.

Zrock2 arrived yesterday. Initial impressions - WOW! WOW! WOW! With only few hours of listening, I can confirm everything that has been previously stated about this little magic box.

Awesome Jeff! Congrats. I feel your pain on the interconnects. . . My big pain was when I had to buy interconnects for the ZTPRE. Buying balanced there freed up interconnects for the ZROCK2 so at least I was spared that!

I'm on the build sheet!  Now, Carly Simon/Anticipation....plays in my head.  

Everyone, have a great musical weekend. My ZMA is warming up while I write and enjoy a Surly Furious IPA. Cheers!

I would definitely recommend using the tube Steve supplies for the first few weeks. I tried a few others and settled on it for a week or so after the unit had settled into the system and I got a handle on the use of the component.

But I've moved back to the Amperex 6085 that I had bought in anticipation of the ZROCK2 arriving. It has such a balanced clarity and a punch that is seductive. . .I don't want to be without it once I have it.

This is a HUGE tube! The size of an SV83/EL84.