will
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Yes, biggish rooms seem a lot about the speaker/amp combination with low power. And trying to relate your memories of the feeling of power from the 25th Zen compared to the modded ZMA, for a room that is not yet made....seems to get a little tricky!?
I am not sure just how to calculate my room as it has a lot of changes in spaces, walls, ceilings, and partially open segues into other spaces. I guess functionally it may be 450-500 sq ft with 8.5 ceilings on average. With HR-1s (92.5 dB), a Rachel (either with Zstage or CSP3) just did not have enough power for the listening levels we like with a lot for movies, but also many CDs lost headroom or tended to clip.
I can run my Torii MKIV near clipping at times, though this seems contributed to by the higher voltage output I seem to be preferring just now from the ZBIT and CSP3 together, and this is getting better with modification fine-tuning. Also modifications increasing clarity, spaciousness, articulation, and density have made the Torii/CSP3 feel/act more powerful, though can't say how this might compare to the 25th Anniversary Zen. In this particular setup the Torii IV has enough power, but not much excess for quieter DVDs or CDs played at room filling listening levels we tend to like with serious listening.
Having tried a number of Decware amps (though not a 25th Zen) with my HR-1s and MG944s (94dB), I found I don't like the edge of running out of headroom. So to go lower power in this room, with my sources, I would need more efficient speakers, which has been quite tempting at times. If my HR-1s were not sounding so great, making some open baffles would be more seductive, but the HR-1s as set up are amazing...So is the ZBIT/CSP3/Torii...sounding quite nimble, lucid, powerful and gorgeous to me. So I stick with what I have.
Though I don't do much tube exploration while modding, this conversation reminds me how much I liked the Torii because of lots of adjustability with tubes and settings. In more obvious ways, with all its tubes and settings, you really can make a Torii sound like several different amps. And more subtle refinements can give pretty countless variations....So I got to thinking....The ZMA has a nice variety of tubes for tuning. If you found you feel more comfortable with the power of the modded ZMA, and found it only a little less musical than the 25th Zen, seems likely one could close that gap to tastes with tuning choices...tubes, vibration control, cables......
As you heard at Decfest, each...the Zstage, CSP3, ZTPRE, and ZBIT, depending on settings, adjust space, clarity, weight, and density in varied ways sound-wise...variations on these themes. And though there is a core signature for each, the more that can be changed, the more flexibility in tuning choices. So I think of these in terms of the sound first; then sound adjustability with tubes, settings, etc; and options for input and output needs. Sounds like your Zstage is well used now, and it sounds like you liked the ZBIT. I have not heard the ZROCK2 so can't comment there, but the Zstage and ZBIT I like, especially with the right tube in the Zstage...Seems like these could be a good start with a new amp and DAC....lots of new things....then see what might be a best next step after all that is in place and settled.
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