Forums - Zen Twins

Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2000	Zen Twins 08/19/23 at 21:12:15 Behold, the Zen Twins!
Back to top	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222 Crown sub amp Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7 Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R ZLC Power Cond. Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 23536	Re: Zen Twins Reply #1 - 08/19/23 at 21:30:51 Doubleminty!
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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1678	Re: Zen Twins Reply #2 - 08/20/23 at 05:13:58 Well done! So, balanced monos?
Back to top	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2000	Re: Zen Twins Reply #3 - 08/20/23 at 07:13:39 Yes indeed!
Back to top	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222 Crown sub amp Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7 Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R ZLC Power Cond. Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles IP Logged

CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1678	Re: Zen Twins Reply #4 - 08/24/23 at 03:08:41 So????
Back to top	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2000	Re: Zen Twins Reply #5 - 08/24/23 at 18:55:15 I love the new configuration!
Back to top	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222 Crown sub amp Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7 Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R ZLC Power Cond. Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles IP Logged

Tal Seasoned Member Posts: 128	Re: Zen Twins Reply #6 - 08/24/23 at 19:06:53 Geno Looks good. BTW, love the tube racks!
Back to top	SE84UFO2 25A mods x2, ZP3 25A mods, CSP3 25A mods, ZRock2 25A mods, Rega P3-24 Incognito tonearm rewire and Groovetracer mods, Bob's Devices SUT > ZP3, Denafrips Pontus + Hermes, Bluesound streamer, Zu Soul VI, Omega DeepOmega8 sub, IP Logged

CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1678	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	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Geno

Seasoned Member

Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2000

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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(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222
Crown sub amp
Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT
SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7
Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R
ZLC Power Cond.
Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles

IP Logged

CAJames

Seasoned Member

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

Posts: 1678

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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[FOOBAR2000 | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E
Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650

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Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2000	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	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222 Crown sub amp Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7 Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R ZLC Power Cond. Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles IP Logged

Dominick

Seasoned Member

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1164

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,Rega Fono MK5, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2000	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
Back to top	(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU-222 Crown sub amp Cambridge Audio CXN(ModWright) • ZBIT SL-1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsmith Aida MKll cart • Darlington Labs MP-7 Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R ZLC Power Cond. Lii Audio PT-10/W-15 in open baffles IP Logged

CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1678	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	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Dominick

Seasoned Member

Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1164

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,Rega Fono MK5, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]

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CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 1678	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	[FOOBAR2000 \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Maple-tree Phono 3E Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Senn HD-650 IP Logged

Dominick Seasoned Member Still like that old time Rock and Roll!! Posts: 1164	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,Rega Fono MK5, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood] IP Logged