Forums - Zen Twins

Geno Seasoned Member Offline Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2319 Pearl, MS	Zen Twins 08/19/23 at 21:12:15 Behold, the Zen Twins!
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Lon Seasoned Member Online "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 28365 Munson Township, OH	Re: Zen Twins Reply #1 - 08/19/23 at 21:30:51 Doubleminty!
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CAJames Seasoned Member Offline "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3292	Re: Zen Twins Reply #2 - 08/20/23 at 05:13:58 Well done! So, balanced monos?
Back to top	[Volumio \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC IP Logged Share: Likes:

Geno Seasoned Member Offline Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2319 Pearl, MS	Re: Zen Twins Reply #3 - 08/20/23 at 07:13:39 Yes indeed!
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CAJames Seasoned Member Offline "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3292	Re: Zen Twins Reply #4 - 08/24/23 at 03:08:41 So????
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Geno Seasoned Member Offline Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2319 Pearl, MS	Re: Zen Twins Reply #5 - 08/24/23 at 18:55:15 I love the new configuration!
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Tal Seasoned Member Offline Posts: 128 California	Re: Zen Twins Reply #6 - 08/24/23 at 19:06:53 Geno Looks good. BTW, love the tube racks!
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CAJames Seasoned Member Offline "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3292	Re: Zen Twins Reply #7 - 08/24/23 at 20:48:55 Quote: Posted by: Geno Posted on: Today at 10:55:15 I love the new configuration!
Back to top	[Volumio \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC IP Logged Share: Likes:

Geno

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Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2319
Pearl, MS

Re: Zen Twins
Reply #8 - 08/25/23 at 02:33:01

Thanks, Tal!

James, the first thing I noticed with this setup, is better separation. Instruments are better defined. Stereo is more stereo, if that makes sense.

I am really enjoying this, as I break #2 in, so that it matches up truer to #1. That’ll be a gradual process, as #1 has a 5 year head start (really 2.5 years, cause I sent it back to get the 25th mods)

Best,

Geno

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SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222
Cambridge CXN(ModWrt)
SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bii2
ZLC Pwr cond.
Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles
Altec Valencia's restored

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CAJames

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"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 3292

Re: Zen Twins
Reply #9 - 08/25/23 at 03:28:07

Quote:

Posted by: Geno Posted on: Today at 18:33:01

...the first thing I noticed with this setup, is better separation. Instruments are better defined. Stereo is more stereo, if that makes sense...

Yes it does. I did very little comparison of balanced to unbalanced, but it definitely seemed like the biggest difference to me was a bigger, better sound stage: more detail and better definition. Instruments were bigger and better defined; but still sounded totally natural in space, not at all exaggerated. There was probably better bass and dynamics too, but that wasn't as big a deal.

Up until now I've been pretty "California Cool" waiting for my UFO25s, but yours arriving and mine getting close to the top of the wait list (I'm in the 60s even though it looks like there may be a hungup with UFO25 production at the moment) is starting to get me pretty fired up!

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[Volumio | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E
STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

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Geno Seasoned Member Offline Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2319 Pearl, MS	Re: Zen Twins Reply #10 - 08/25/23 at 16:31:26 Hang in there, James. There were several aggravating delays, while I watched mine move up the list. Such is life, with all of the supply chain issues. I know it is aggravating for Decware too, as they want to keep things moving at a reasonable rate. Delivery will be here before you know it. Best, Geno
Back to top	SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222 Cambridge CXN(ModWrt) SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b Otari MX5050-Bii2 ZLC Pwr cond. Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles Altec Valencia's restored IP Logged Share: Likes:

Dominick

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Online

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1593
Bergen County, NJ

Re: Zen Twins
Reply #11 - 09/20/23 at 21:20:26

Geno…

It’s been a while since I’ve jumped online. Love your setup with the Zen twins. I can attest the same when I got my own set of Zen twins…I refer to them a the Zen sisters. Bigger soundstage, better separation, increased dynamics. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Thanks to Lon…I got the matching CSP preamp to accompany them. Cheers 🥂 to the twins and the sisters!!

Dom

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Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable, White top ZP3, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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Geno Seasoned Member Offline Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2319 Pearl, MS	Re: Zen Twins Reply #12 - 09/20/23 at 22:23:36 Hey Dom! I sure do love the white. The white face plate on top of the wood base, on the CSP3, really pops - and the Zen's pop on either side of it. Great looking setup! Best, Geno
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CAJames Seasoned Member Offline "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3292	Re: Zen Twins Reply #13 - 09/21/23 at 01:35:46 I never get tired of seeing pictures of your amps Dom. You haven’t sent the second one in for updates have you?
Back to top	[Volumio \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC IP Logged Share: Likes:

Dominick

Seasoned Member

Online

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1593
Bergen County, NJ

Re: Zen Twins
Reply #14 - 09/21/23 at 04:20:17

James/Geno,

Thanks!! I spoke with Sara a few days ago and I am just waiting for an RA number and a quote for the upgrades… it seems the price of the UFO Mod may have increased. Plus…the volume pot makes this horrible scratching sound as I increase the volume….hopefully it just needs a cleaning and not a replacement.

Once I get the RA number from Sara…the amp is going back for the full upgrades and the warranty transfer. The turn around is still only a few weeks.

Hopefully you are climbing the waitlist to get your amps built. I’m sure your chomping at the bit. I can only imagine how that is going to sound.

Dom

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Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable, White top ZP3, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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CAJames Seasoned Member Offline "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 3292	Re: Zen Twins Reply #15 - 09/21/23 at 16:05:19 Well, I've more or less conquered the wait list, but am hung up in the supply chain. I'm keen to get the amps, but I'm trying to stay philosophical about the wait .
Back to top	[Volumio \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC IP Logged Share: Likes:

Dominick Seasoned Member Online Still like that old time Rock and Roll!! Posts: 1593 Bergen County, NJ	Re: Zen Twins Reply #16 - 09/21/23 at 16:55:23 Ah damn!! Nothing worse than dealing with a supply chain issue. On the bright side you should get the complimentary Decware one year club t-shirt. I’m wearing mine right now as we speak. Stay positive and keep us posted!
Back to top	Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable, White top ZP3, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood] IP Logged Share: Likes: