Ditto, with this Line Amplifier.....you have to really listen to hear the one click step back. I was thinking about driving it across town (ARC ~ Plymouth, MN), to have StealthCap's put in it and for a checkup. No need for now.
.....but like you know....without it.....I'm a titch' closer. However, once again, what the ARC brings to the party with the ZMA wide open/full input gain....is fun/good stuff too (and even backed off to 80% of input gain).

My Actual unit:
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649353546-audio-research-ls2b-mkii-line-stere...

http://www.trt-wonder.com/page20.html

......I just can't let it drive me nuts. As I've said before, with Pre and without is a beautiful thing. However, with the ZDSD output designed by the Master himself to go into my ZMA direct....provides the extra few percent that is a titch more tangible...it is hard to put the Line Stage back in. Then I do put it in......and the ARC brings a few virtues back in I dig.....especially with my Mullard of choice in it feeding my ZMA input Mull's with Telefunken inverter's...... . I will just have to suffer to Pre or not to Pre...........  ;D .







Listening Room:



Room Treatments from Michael Green & 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 Kimber KS1030 ~.5 meter


Audio Research Pre w/remote volume & mute LS-2B MkII
NOS Platinum/Mullard 7308/E188CC / Cryogenic
(ARC Pre rotated in and out)


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



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 20% to 30-40% max ~ from 0 Gain ~ w/ZDSD
ZMA adjusted at  80-90% or 100% 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



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 1/4 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).

++ 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.    

However, as I have mentioned before (previous posts on this thread): Steve's ZDSD output stage voicing to ZMA voicing is ART. It is very special for me. All that a very good Line Stage can do for me, whether one of Steve's or this preferred ARC.....is present a different perspective flavor/when I want. The ZDSD running directly to my ZMA is so transparently special and musical.

In reading a recent interview of Nelson Pass....he stated: "I am certainly aware that all this is just entertainment, mine and yours. The objective needs of amplifier users are largely solved on a practical level, and as Marshall McLuhan perceptively noted, we turn our technology into art."