So is it two caps compared to three caps, or as I read it two caps compared to six caps?

Or four to six?

Anyway, it seems Steve is happy with the resulting sound, very happy. I know I'll have to send my ZTPRE back one of these days for the mod, I just won't be able to resist. Will have to wait and pay for my recent playing around first. Luckily the ZTPRE sounds so so good as is. . . it's not a national emergency.

Well, even without mods the ZTPRE are amazing preamps. The ZTPRE caused me to redefine "transparency" as it seems to not be there but is, which is more like "invisible" than transparent I guess.

It's true that the mods are ear-opening and horizon changing. I have only one niggling fear about having the ZTPRE outfitted with the mods: there's a wonderful nature to the ZTPRE that favors all recordings, good and bad, like a seasoning that works with all meats and vegetables and makes all taste really good and highlights their uniqueness. I would hate for the ZTPRE to be so ruthlessly revealing that this becomes a casualty. Perhaps Steve can reassure us that the ZTPRE just gets better with the mods.

Mine has three inputs, which I really enjoy as I have a DAC, a phono preamp, and a tuner, all with balanced outputs and it is so nice to have them all controlled by the ZTPRE. I'm not sure that the lack of an input would make enough space for more caps, Steve would have to tell us. I looked at the interior pic in the manual and it seems it might, but I'm not sure if leads are long enough etc.

Congrats on the Monoblocks (amazing amps!) and what you have coming your way. You're going to be swimming in music when it's all in place.

Possibly, but switches "have consequences."

Thanks for weighing in on that Steve. I agree that the mods have helped all recordings to sound better. It's just that the ZTPRE is so good as is I was worried.

I've used 6N1P and 6N5P in the ZTPRE with great success, but I really like the 7308 I have in there. . . . I don't feel the difference is really "sparkle" so much as focus and resolution.

I'll definitely send the ZTPRE in later this year for the mods. I think my next return for mods will be the Taboo Mk III. But some household needs have come up that may slow me down. . . .

If you do mods yourself, you'll void your Decware lifetime warranty. Should take this into consideration, especially given the implied future value of the warranty.

Plus, you'll know it will be done right by the Master. Steve does all the 25th anniversary modifications himself. Makes for a high level of quality control.

HK

Steve, will the mods work if one wants to add multiple inputs?

Great news! Thanks, Steve.

I'll be dealing with some space constraints on the rack and would like feedback on some footer/isolation for stacking the ZTPRE on top of a Directstream DAC. The photo below looks like the Isoacoustic Orea's but not sure. I'd like to avoid marring the top of the Dac. What would you use for isolation between the two?

Thanks, Lon. I will put those at the top of my list. Do you put those under your DSD as well? Remove the stock footers?

My picture in reply #15 shows the stock feet that were included with the ZTPRE. I don’t know if Decware is still using them. You cannot tell by looking at the product page. Thanks

Thanks, Juan. I had found the pic over in the ZBIT forum and asked there as well. https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1509810612/9#9

Interesting those are the stock footers. I guess I'll wait and see what mine comes with and try that before ordering an "upgrade".

Four months down! Not long now I'm getting so excited for this piece if equipment!

Congrats! One day I might send my ZTPRE in for the mod. .. but I can't bear it being out of my system! You are going to be really enjoying your ZTPRE.

This thing is killer! I have about 150-200 hours on it now and can't imagine not having it in my system. Everything is sounding so good. Animated is the word I keep coming back to. Even less than desirable recordings sound quite good. Music is out and about in the room and not flat sounding what so ever.

I'm so glad I discovered Decware products. Thanks Steve!

Jim

I'm pretty new to the forum and Decware, but my brother-in-law has put my efficient speakers (99 dB SPL) on his SE84UFO25; I've always known they need a good-sounding tube amp.

My question is, how often are DecFans using the ZTPRE with non-balanced input amps, like most of the Decware line-up, and those that are, how much of a loss of value and sound quality/characteristics does it pose ZBIT'n to the RCA inputs for the amps?  

Why or why NOT use a ZTPRE with a SE84UFO25 or more likely Torii JRV2?

Thanks

Or you can use these:

To be perfectly frank if you have only one source you may get more benefit from this signal path: source to ZBIT to ZROCK2. The ZROCK2 will allow you to tame that harshness more with judicious tube-rollng and gain tweaking with the ZBIT than the ZTPRE or CSP3 will. The ZROCK2 was the Goldilock's pudding for my system, the one final piece that made digital amazing for me. That would save you some money too. Won't provide a remote for you. . . but living without a remote is possible. I did that for a few decades and then again recently briefly.

Wow. I adjust volume sometimes between discs, but rarely within the playback of a disc. . . so I guess it's easier for me to do without a remote. (Though I can do so at my source and from the ZTPRE).

You can try it either way, before or after the preamp--I use it before the preamp in part because then my occasional headphone use in this system can benefit from the ZROCK2, and in part because I find that sounds just a bit better (slight difference really overall).