Interesting question! I don't remember many here who did jump from the III to the ZMA but it would be interesting to hear the comparisons.

I thought many times of moving to the ZMA when I had some cash in the bank but decided I rely on the tone and bass controls so much, and enjoy the synergy of the Mk III and the HR-1s so much that I'll just keep that combo giving me pleasure.

I can hardly hear anything at all with my ear right by the speakers in the HR-1s. . . . So I don't have that complaint. (May be that if the HR-1s were more efficient I would hear more, or maybe it's the amp being plugged into my PS Audio P10?)

My reason to move would be that ever present audiophile problem of "Am I missing something?" But with my goal of making the most of my recordings sound eminently listenable on my system, and with the flexibility of the Torii MK III accomplishing that so well (especially with the tone controls and the rectifier tube rolling) I don't think I'm missing much at all. So I'm looking forward to the Mk III being my heartbeat well into the next decade.

I have listened to both amps a fair amount.  I have a III and Lonely Raven has a ZMA.  He brings it over to my house a couple times a year and I have heard it each time I go to his house.  So I have heard it on a number of different systems/speakers as he and I have change configurations over the years.

I also recently heard a Torii Mk IV.  

If I had the money to spend on such things (and not multiple college educations) I would upgrade to a ZMA.  I believe it provides more musical detail and has enough head room for just about any speaker in the 89db+ range.  The descriptor "musical" is important here as I think this is the strength of the amp.  I can't speak to how silent it is, but it never bothered me at the listening position.

I didn't spend a lot of time with the MK IV, but I think it was closer to the ZMA than the III.  I had heard it several times before, but this last time, it struck me as being the most musical and involving.  Could have been the system or the songs but it was captivating.

Also, there is something to the treble/bass adjustments on the III that allow you to really dial it in for your particular speakers.  If you have or plan to experiment with single driver speakers, I would put these controls in the very desired category.

With all that said, the Torii is now my #2 amp.  I am running my Rachael with fairly efficient open baffles in a small treated room and its now wonderful.  It took over a year of fiddling, but now it sounds great.

I do intend to use the Torii in a second system with some Betsy based OBs in a much larger room where the headroom it provides is needed.

So the ZMA offers more value, but as always, you can get great value out of all the Decware amps in the right configuration/room.  But if I had the budget, I'd go with the ZMA.  It has the headroom and does a lot of things right in a multitude of situations.  I'd only hesitate is the rest of your system or speakers (single drivers) are "bright".  Then the III gets the nod on versatility.

The ZMA is the most musical Amp you may ever hear = correct. It can drive as Palomino mentioned 89db sensitivity and up. Its versatility to drive my modified Acoustic Zen Adagio's + Tekton Design Impact + Decware DM947's coming tomorrow.....total paramount for me.

My ZMA is quiet for me..... . No inherent noise with ear to Speaker at idle. Just the usual lowest of level connection sound....that you find in any hookup albeit solid state or tube.

I have "the hyper" ear too Ed. Very important my Adagio's Tweeter's are exceptional and they are. The Mundorf MCap Supremes, brings a little emphasis out in them that is well received by my ears. The  DM947's are crossed up at 8k for the 8 inch driver/running pretty much full range.....this will bode well for that Tweeter on top. Competing against the Adagio folded Ribbon, would be to much for the 947's Tweet's at 4.5 and up....for my ear's....I've been spoiled by the Adagio's. .....the Tekton's SB Acoustic's are competent and still breaking in.... .  

I have owned: Torii III, SE84CS, Super Zen CKC & EL34 Mono's.
Decfest Pilgrimage: 2005 & 2008.




Listening Room:


Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew

Sony as Transport (DVP-NS57P)

Illuminati D-60 Digital Coax IC

Shunyata Research Zitron 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
***************************************************
Kimber 8TC new/white & clear jacket/to remind me of how fluid/timbre correct and good the KS6063 are!


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

Decware DM947 (Midrange modification)
w/PX Clarity Caps ......Duelund or Mundorf MCap Supremes pending

Tekton Design Impact
.....from 4ohm 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 (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.  

You stated:
"Why I still use Torii? Because Torii is only amp I get which I can get sound like I want to (with right tube combination)."

EXACTLY.

I have never felt that the ZMA needed any adjustment to the treble or to the bass.  It is simply perfect.  By not having these controls it is actually a relief as I know that I am listening to the music as intended.

I find that with my Mini Tori I go back and forth with the setting and am never completely satisfied I have it right. I fiddle with it too much and over analyze the settings.  This takes away some enjoyment of just enjoying the music

Now that I have my OBs positioned well, my 807 tubes and Audirvana DSD playback, my digital music has lost most if not all of its edge.  That's what allowed my to move to Rachael with no controls.

I hear you on the fiddling with those controls but I have a couple of test songs and once I get them right I leave them alone.  Of course, you put in some new tubes and you need to recalibrate.  It's an amp for those that are not opposed to fiddling around.  It can be very rewarding.