I have been in want of a ZTPRE since shorty after its introduction, but could not justify acquiring one.

The layout and execution of the components is truly a thing of beauty and modern ( steampunk? ) design.  

While my past goal was to eliminate a pre from my system and the DS Dac did just that, constantly reading comments on how a pre improved on the DS kept me wondering.

Sound wise I want for nothing at this moment without a pre, its that good.
But when Lon acquired a ZTPRE and reported on how much of an improvement it made I made up my mind that I had to give it a go.

Then the 25th ZTPRE sold and the introductory price was gone, drat!

I had to put my aspirations of ownership on hold until I could muster up more additional funds.
Then I came across busterfree's classified for his ZTPRE.
It was optioned out exactly the way I would have ordered mine.

With in 24 hours it was on its way, I haven't waited for an audio component to arrive with this much anticipation since I can't remember when.
Hopefully it will arrive Monday and I will be able to report on it by next weekend!

Congrats! You got a great deal and a great component from a great Decware forumite. I don't have th ZDSD and can't comment on the -20 db thang. I will say that my ZTPRE exceeded my own expectations for a preamp at any price and of any type.

I tried sextets of 6922 types from Mullard, Phillips, Amperex and other makers and ended up going back to the 6N1P and then the 6N5P--Steve's tested and selected balanced 6N5P are remarkable in the ZTPRE, bettering all the other NOS US and European types. I highly recommend trying 6N5P in the ZTPRE!

Oh okay, I get it now, the 20 db cut, don't know why I was thinking of the Decware component, you had it spelled out plain as day. No I haven't tried that, but I need all the gain I can get from my DSD DAC for my system, i run mine now balanced out, no output cut, and use the ZTPRE to control system volume. I could probably get any with the 20 db cut on if I were only using the system for music, but the DVR needs the extra boost as its output is the lowest. Anyway now, with the ZBIT, ZROCK2, and the 25th Anniversary Monoblocks I'm getting the sort of sound I only dreamed of. Tube-rolling lately has been very educational and shown me sonics I never really imagined I'd have. I don't feel like messing with anything now. . . though I do have a 25th Anniversary CSP3 arriving Monday. . . .

The ZTPRE is an amazing component. It really does "make everything better" and yet it can fade into the woodwork, it doesn't call attention to itself, it lets everything else shine. Awesome preamp--I thought I could do without a preamp but I was wrong.

All systems are different but once I had a sextet of 6N5P that I got off ebay in the ZTPRE I was like "Wow, this is the tube to use." And then I ordered six from Steve that he tested and tried in his own ZTPRE and everything went a notch higher still. As all our systems are different I can't make any guarantees but I sure think the 6N5P is worth a try.

The ZTPRE has opened up a seemingly endless combination of gain settings.

Direct Stream DAC - run wide open or in -20dB ( both variable via the volume control )

ZTPRE - adjustable via the input and output attenuators

Atma-Sphere M60 OTL 20dB of gain or 12dB gain

Right now, the best sounding gain path combination is;

DS on full output, volume set to 88
ZTPRE input volume set at 75%, output at 100%
M60 gain with shorting plug = 12dB of gain

Lower noise floor than I had previously, keep in mind that the Duo Omegas are 108 dB sensitive.

I thought the noise floor was as low as it could go before the ZTPRE, now the system is like a black hole when it comes to self noise.

After extensive listening this week end there appears to be 2 sweet spots regarding the gain structure in my system.

The DS at full output with volume set around 88
ZTPRE volume at 75% and output level at 100%
M60 amp gain set to 12 dB

or

The DS with the -20 dB attenuation engaged, volume at 100
ZTPRE volume at 100% and output level at 100%
M60 amp gain set to 12 dB

Which of these two gain structure/paths I prefer depends on the type/quality of the source material that I am listening to.

It is now much easier to distinguish which sounds better, wav or flac and I do not always prefer one over the other.

Mark58 keeps talking about his attempt to corner the world's supply of Amperex 7308, 6922 and 6DJ8 tube types. As a result I kept remembering how a particular pair of 7308s from Amperex were the only tube type to oust select 6N1P from the Torii Mk III about five years ago, and how a pair of Amperex 7308 were just the right tubes for my Magnum Dynalab 90T SE tuner when I went through a lot of tube rolling on that component.

So I spent money I probably shouldn't have finding US Amperex 7308s for the SE84UFO3-25 Monoblocks and the CSP3-25, all positions for the input and driver tubes in those components, replacing 6N5P type. (And as a side note I have been using an Amperex 12AU7 in the ZROCK2).

Wow. With the red-tipped 6N5P from Steve in the ZTPRE I got that open dynamic sound coupled with the warm texture of the Amperex 7308 in the other components. There's just a hint of classic tube amp sound with the 7308s in place. . . a finishing touch to the modern monster sound these components are birthed with. So after a bit of time with these I started looking for more to outfit the ZTPRE just to see what an all-Amperex signal chain would sound like. Due to Mark buying up half of what was available on ebay I didn't see an affordable option, but I did see a great deal on Amperex 6DJ8 from Holland, bought six and installed them in the ZTPRE.

As result. . . more old school richness. There's a slight diminishment of the openness and dynamic nature the 6N5P were bringing in the ZTPRE, but a bit more inner focus and a hint more warmth.

So I have two ways to voice the system with two tube sets in the ZTPRE. Either one with a bit of gain adjustment and ZROCK2 motion make excellent teleporters to musical delight. I'll put the 6N5P back in soon because I do miss the bit of dynamic punch I don't quite have with the Amperex 6DJ8, but I'm enjoying the ease and flow of the Amperex a lot right now.

The ZTPRE (like all the other Decware components I have) is an incredibly musical component that one bonds with and finds ways to have musical enjoyment increase incrementally over time. I'm so glad I have one!