Tascam DA3000 route with a ZBIT input directly to the TORII MKIV.
Best way to go. Adjusting the gain of the ZBIT with the input gain of your Torii.....very nice.

I've been tempted to get a ZBIT and I would need a KS1130 or 1136...but I don't want to spring for it. I will live with my output tranny's Steve put in....they are pretty damn good.

I use a well searched out cheap Transport that competes with the $$.
(I have two others on the shelf/new/boxed).




Lately, I am enjoying the adjustment of my ZDSD's input volume and output level.....manipulating Redbook CD's for the way better!

Truly, the magic happens with tube rolling and the best cabling...proofs in the pudding... . Of course you need the DA3000 Steve chose & modified to ZDSD or add the ZBIT for the best + ZMA or a Torii MKIV = that's a given/we know.  
.....waiting for Kimber Carbon/release.



~ All NOS Platinum graded Tubes from Upscale Audio (except 6N23P's):

(Great Britain) Mullard 7308/E188CC ~  2 pair (both pair Cryogenic)
(Germany) Telefunken 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair (painfully expensive/worth it) ~ as INVERTER TUBES
(US/Great Britain) Ediswan CV2492/6922 ~ 2 pair (one pair Cryogenic)
(Hungary) Tungsram 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair
(Hungary) Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8 ~ 1 pair

(Russia) 6N23P's ~ 2 pair/came with ZMA.


Output Power/New Production:

Matched Quad/Tung-Sol KT66's, Reflector Cryogenic 6P3S-E's or Gold Lion Cryogenic KT88's.

Pending purchase:  Tung-Sol 5881 (for this stone of tone freak that I am), T-Sol 7581A (more headroom I love) & Tung-Sol 7027A's (for even more slam). I will spend the summer with these tubes and hear how it goes!





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)
~Adjustments made to Input volume: -.5, -1.0 or -1.5 max
~Adjustments made to Ref Level: -20, -18 or -16 max


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 6922/E88CC for Inverter Tubes~NOS RCA 0A3's & matched Quad/Tung-Sol KT66's, Reflector Cryogenic 6P3S-E's or Gold Lion Cryogenic KT88's




***************************************************
Kimber Select KS6063 Speaker Cable 8ft WBT-0681-Ag Spades
***************************************************
Kimber (new jacket) 8TC ~ to remind me~how 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 43Hz, with my Velodyne CHT 130 watt plate amp and 0 degree phase
Plate Amp....regen'd clean ~ plugged into P3
Auralex Subdude (a must)
(NOTE ~ Only needed when the recording calls for...Open Baffle Bass has been the best integration I have witnessed when needed and called on)

Audio Research LS-2B MkII Line Stage, in use on occasion with additional Kimber KS1030 IC ~ ZMA at all of 25~30% turn up on input gain ~ Very nice voltage output/from RCA LS-2 to ZMA





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)


ZMA, updated with robust Western Electric Bias/Balance Meter's and new Resistor's ~ Feb/17

XLO Pro Power Cord to ZMA
Shunyata Research Zitron Alpha Digital Power Cord to ZDSD {Significant}
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport, ZDSD & ARC/when in use ~ Regenerated/*120*~ Multiwave off...ZMA on High Current Output)
System configured on Floor ~ Townshend Audio CD Seismic Sink deployed & other Isolation devices.

  Stone,
  Thanks for the reply & update, read it twice, knowing I am sure I'm not getting something here, what are you using to record your CD's from or am I not totally crazy & you didn't tell me? I do have an older Sharp BD-HP20U, would that be a better option than the player but in my MacBook? Your thoughts...
  Got an early surprise the GIF Base Traps were on my porch last night from FedX when I got home, this is gonna be fun.

Best,
Scott

Quote:


Scott, now I am a little confused.  I thought you were asking about a CD transport, but in the post above, you mentioned “record.” Was that a typo?  I may be missing something here so wanted to clarify for my own understanding.  

If you are in fact interested in advice on a CD transport and on a budget, and you want bang for your buck, it is really hard to beat new model Oppo.  I know they are no longer producing units, but will continue to service them.  They are huge in the cell phone manufacturing industry outside the U.S., so not likely we will see Oppe go away, despite their decision to no longer manufacture DVD players.  I have the new UDP-205 and it does an incredible job with optical disk playback, 2-channel and muliti-channel.  You may be able to pick one up on the used market for a discount.  

Running a ZBIT out of the balanced outputs sends the Oppo into the stratosphere sound quality-wise relative to its price point.  Is it the best out there.  No, but you are also not dumping $6000 to $20,000 on the purchase.  

Scott, I use the SDHC 8GB cards to Record.

With the purchase of the ZDSD, Steve sent a nice 20th Anniversary Case that can hold 6 SDHC Cards. In it contained a 8GB Card with some great DSD Music he recorded on it.

Ask Steve if he will send you some DSD on SDHC with your ZBIT to plug in to your DA3000. The Redbook recordings I've made sound pretty damn good. However, this DAC for me, via spinning disc in transport, is all about its Redbook to Steve's output tranny stage to ZMA ....as you will enjoy to and from your ZBIT.

I would recommend an oppo too, as transport via XLR to DA3000 to ZBIT via XLR....what I should do too......
Yes, you will enjoy making Redbook SDHC's of your friends Redbook collection CD's.
Page 31 of the DA3000 manual has your Media capacity chart and rates. 16GB Cards are of course available too.

Ok, Scott, I get it.  You are trying to record the CDs from your friend’s collection.  I thought you were merely interested in playing them.  Well, as Stone wisely stated, the Tascam to SD card will work perfectly.  I have a ZDSD as well and it is an amazing piece of hardware.  SD cards are into the 256GB range, or more?  Been awhile since I was in the market.  

Stone & Jeff,

 Thanks for the input and replies, sorry I didn’t even do even a half ass job of stating what I meant in the post! LOL, ahh well, it won’t be long before I don’t have to have a printout of DecWares Catalog and Google every time I read one your guys past posts and reviews so I know what the heck you’re talking about. Having a great time though, so that’s  what counts.
  Wall treatments from GIK this week, maybe ZU’s and my name is comin up quick on the list for my MKIV. Tascam DA-3000 is out til July for shipment, going to hope somebody backs out on their ZBIT order in the next few weeks, because the list is now huge compared to when I ordered the MKIV.
  I think my poor old hound dog, a 12 y.o. RedBone Coonhound from a shelter thinks I’m gonna put him on E-Bay to fund this, but he might bring about 3 feet of ZSTYX, so he is safe... for now.

Best to All,
Thanks again,
Scott

Will,

Thank you for taking the time to respond with great info. I have decided to go with the Tascam DA3000, Tascam CD500Bal, RME 2 Channel DA Coverter, Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock for my MAC. Additionally I have a ZBIT, & cables on order along with my MKIV that is on the bench. Can’t wait.

Best,
Scott