Update 3/7/17  web page is now completed:  https://www.decware.com/newsite/ZROCK.html


STEVE IS ACCEPTING PRE-ORDERS FOR THIS NOW!

I was given the privilege to be the first to receive one of these.
I have been talking with Steve for several months now expressing some issues I was having and he had told me of something he had wanted to build that was probably a perfect fit for me.
Well after receiving it yesterday I would have to say, as usual, he was correct.
I have played a few dozen records so far from things that already sounded quite excellent to things that did not and the improvements are quite exceptional.

I will start with the effects on recordings that I "thought" already sounded as good as I would ever want them to.
The ZROCK made a very noticeable improvement in density throughout the frequency range everything sounded richer, fuller with more detail and with an unexpected increase in the soundstage which surprised me. I am also now able to reduce the toe in of the speakers quite a bit since the density is so much better. I am really surprised by how much more information I am hearing now and how much wider and deeper the soundstage seems to be. I was worried that it would be the opposite since I was adding another device into the signal path. Just a note I did have this built with the Jupiter caps as with my other gear.
I was also concerned that I would have too much bass, you know the non musical fill in type bass, not the case at all, everything is very balanced tight and full.

Now with things that were harder to listen to on a reveling system such as mine.
First there are two settings on this that give two distinctly different EQ signatures, one is very clear and dynamic and the other while increasing the lower end also rolls off the highs and should do an excellent job at allowing us to listen to some very poor recordings making them listenable again, thank you for this.
So far everything I have listened to has sounded excellent with the more dynamic setting.

With the increase in the lower register it really makes everything sound better in that it is fuller richer and deeper I also don't have the urge to turn it up to try and gain some density and impact anymore.
Before I would get up and turn it up and then get up and turn it down because it was just louder not better, and the real litmus test is my wife hasn't asked me to turn it down for two days meaning first, it isn't too loud anymore and second it sounds really good.
This is not just a low frequency boost on my system but a density boost all the way through.

I have to say this again because it is such a surprise to me, the part that floors me the most is how much more depth and width I seem to have now and it even seems clearer and more detailed probably because all of the information is better balanced now.
I am anxious to see how it will sound after some hours are put on it.

I want to say thank you to Steve for working with me all these months and helping me get to where I wanted to be, above and beyond what we expect in today's world. Great business man but more importantly Steve is a stand up guy.

Awesome! Looks like I need to get an order in...... .
Nice first impressions SSeeker. Yeah, a pic or two from SS or Steve would be great. Input and Output back, etc...front view close up...... .


Yes, very "stand up".....Steve just fixed my ZMA ASAP and Sarah did a stand up job of getting it on the road back to me. No complaints here.

Pic

Iam sorry.... what exactly is this?  Did i miss the press release?

ah got it!  it has a name now.  that's the part i missed.

Stone
The horror..

The switch in the front is the bypass, on off, switch.
The one in the back is the two different EQ's.
The tube is a 5963 12au7 type.
Just vinyl

I just finished a little experimentation with a couple 12au7's I had, an RCA clear top and a Psvane and the 5963 he sent actually sounds best, so I guess I will leave it alone for now and let it burn in for quite a while before I try anything else.

My ZMA has been out of service with my livingroom torn up for home theater upgrades. I've been so busy with work, no time to listen, and I was craving it last night. So I feel you brother.

Here is the link for anyone wanting to pre-order the ZROCK.

http://secure.ultracart.com/cgi-bin/UCEditor?merchantId=DIY&ADD=ZROCK

Steve

Have started the web page for the ZROCK, should be ready soon : )



Covert testing facility

Steve

Here's some pics of the Z-Rock

SS

Any further updates on your experience with the Zrock?  I am considering  purchasing one to add to between my TT (Rega P3-24) and my ZP3. Seems like you are using the Zrock between your TT and ZP3, as well. So I am especially interested in your feedback after spending more hours with Zrock. Worth the $$?

Tal

Tal

I couldn't live without it now.

DougK

That should work just fine the way you describe.

Last century it was all "if the first watt. . ." and a purist signal path. . . this century it's CPU and power supplies and preamps and ZStages and now a ZRock too!

I'm sure the ZRock is really cool, but I have spent years getting my system so that it does both the mediocre and the great recordings justice and I'm not adding another box in the chain! (The passive ZBit was the last item I needed. . . I'm in awe every day now of the music in my room, and the best sound comes from a direct source into the amp, no other gain stage or eq in the path).

Pretty much the gear listed in the "signature" is in use in two systems.

Main system: Rega turntable and PS Audio DMP and DSD, Cambridge Audio CXU, Time Warner DVR as sources; Torii Mk III and ZP3 as amplification (Taboo Mk III as headphone amp connected to CXU and DVR)*; Decware/Turning Point Audio HR-1 as speakers. PS Audio P10 as electrical foundation.  All components are on PS Audio PowerBases-- but at the moment only one PowerBase is "powered"--the one that powers the DVR and Sony TV.

The PS Audio DMP feeds the DSD via HDMI (I2S), as does the DVR via optical and the CXU via coaxial digital. The PS Audio balanced audio out is connected to the ZBIT, which feeds one input of the Torii Mk III; the ZP3 feeds the other Torii input. The Taboo Mk III powers a pair of Audeeze headphones.

In a second system upstairs I have a Denon DVD-AUD1 universal player feeding a Decware CSP2+ and also feeding a Sony TV. I use Oppo PM-1 headphones there,* and all components are plugged into a PS Audio Power Plant Premier.

Cabling in all systems is PS Audio for power cords (AC-12), VooDoo Cable for analog interconnect (two original Stradivarius, three Stradivarius Cremona Edition) except for a Take Five Audio "Deluxe" for balanced to ZBIT; Take Five Audio "Deluxe" coaxial digital, Lifatec optical cable. HDMI cables are PS Audio AC-12 and AC-10.

I could put together two more systems with the Toriis and Decware speakers I have in storage. . . but there's no room here and my wife informs me "there never will be."

*Edit to add: This week I moved my headphone amplifiers around. I found I was not really using the CSP2+ as a preamp in my system, just really as a headphone amp. I prefer the ZP3 straight into the Torii by a hair compared to through the CSP2+ so I decided to bring the Taboo Mk III into the main system to power headphones allowing me a nice change. . .sounds great with these sources and connected to the PS Audio P10.

Wouldn't it seem more appropriate to run it between the phono stage and amplifier, or between preamp and amplifier? I would only see the need to run it between turntable and phono stage if the phono stage were in a receiver or integrated amplifier. . . . Not sure how well that would work in that situation to be honest.

I was trying to PM SonicSeeker to ask exactly how he hooked it up but days that I need 5 posts to PM. Guess I should just call Steve at Decware and ask?

I am running it between the Phono stage and the amp.
Listening to Eric Clapton right now and it sounds most excellent.

Lon,

I thought you used the decware power cables?  What is the advantage of the ps-audio ones?

It's been about seven years or so since the last of the Decware power cords migrated out of my main system.

I think the Decware are really good bang for the buck power cords. But to be honest the best analogy I can come up with, insufficient as it is, between the Decware cords and the PS Audio PerfectWave AC-12s that I have in use throughout my system is. . .well the Decware is like a faucet turned two-thirds of the way up and the PS Audio is like the faucet wide open as far as it can be turned. Everything is better, everything flows. They work so well on all my components (even my guitar and  bass amps), They were expensive, but it's a one time investment really and I am so glad I was able to make the investments at one time.

Ha! Not likely to be traveling that side of the country for a few years at the least, but I'll keep that in mind.

That's true. Just not going to happen.

I haven't been to California since the second half of the 'seventies. Not somewhere I plan to visit soon. . . and if I did I probably wouldn't be bringing power cables along.

I do encourage finding a way to audition them though, possibly a local dealer . . .?

Yes, they don't overcrowd socket space much on a wall fixture.

http://www.psaudio.com/products/ac12-power-cable/#tab-features

Here's photos and a drawing (not mine):

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.