Hello to all!
Thank you all for your positive and very appreciated comments.
As for how my system now sounds with this wonderful jewel powering the way ???
The best way to answer this is by saying....the fact is, I really do not believe there is any phrase or particular wording that can accurately, or even remotely express the true perception for what the new Zenith model so easily conveys in mesmerizing fashion.But if I "tried" to do it injustice for its full value with limitations in words, I suppose it would go something like this.
If you remember what I wrote about the testing phase in the shop when I simply had a stock CD player using op-amps for the output stage, fed directly to an old "free-air" set of Silver Flute drivers acting as the dummy load, I had immediately noticed something special just five minutes into the initial power up with the variac.
I had the least valuable, used set of tubes in place in case of a problem with the amp. I did have one of my high-definition recordings in the player though (Professor Johnson's reference recording of "Vivaldi for diverse instruments" in HDCD).
Now let's examine a tried-and-true form of audio truth which has always been the expectation for a new amp, or any other new form of audio component within the system, including new tubes.
What we all come to expect is that great sound is not a virtue of new components until at least a decent burn-in cycle has had the chance to ease everything into a stable manner, that which equates to the true sound which will eventually be permanent and the best it can be.
(Just my take on things, but I believe this situation mostly applies when there are electrolytic capacitors in the mix.) I have ZERO of these substandard type capacitors in the Zenith. Does not apply to me.
This burn-in anomaly is no exception within my thought process and expectation. For me, that has pretty much been the standard for my audio upgrades, and new components. I expected that ALL changes are going to go through this break-in period with a "not-so-good" sound during the initial cycle until at least a hundred hours are accumulated. I have grown to expect that.
So, with that in mind, I fully expected to have less than stellar sound quality coming from this new build with all of those large capacitors being fresh, energized for the first time. I was prepared for that with the understanding this is to be expected. I wasn't going to be disappointed if the sound quality was not what I intended for this amplifier during the initial break-in period.
BUT......there was most definitely an exception in this instance. I thought, well, yes it should sound pretty good, regardless of the situation, but to sound this spectacular right out of the gate coming from a fresh cold amplifier really defies logic and past experience.
Going back to that initial first hour after the amplifier came to life in the shop, As soon as I heard music coming out of those free air midrange drivers (6-inch), I kept thinking...Am I actually hearing this? I just wanted to hear something good enough to know that the amplifier was working okay and things were stable. I actually expected to hear something really substandard which I wouldn't want to actually listen to.
Next, I left the shop door open and went into the fireplace room on the other side of the shop wall. I had the volume at about the 9' o'clock position for which max volume is around the 5:30 position. These drivers are around 87db sensitivity at 4 ohms, making them more of a challenge to drive, especially considering they just sat exposed in "free-air" fashion.
My idea was to let the CD player run in repeat mode for several hours and monitor the situation. From the first time that I sat down on to around midnight when I finally shut everything down, I was consistently amazed by how pleasing the music was coming from such a low order arrangement, this as I listened to it coming through a doorway.
Mind you, these are good quality high end drivers limited to mid-range frequencies only. I wouldn't expect to hear much into the higher frequencies and definitely void of any low frequency information. Despite those parameters, you could have fooled me! If I didn't know better, I would have guessed at least a 3-way system in a nice enclosure from what I was hearing. With that in mind, I was stunned and definitely left bewildered by what was actually perceived.
The bass was quite coherent with strong structure and tone considering the limitations of the situation. The upper extension seemed unlimited, with nothing which seemed limited in a general manner. There seemed to be far more high frequency sparkle and definition than that which I would imagine a midrange driver to produce. Let's just say that frequencies between 80 HZ and 7k were very much present with utmost clarity and presence. That is a fair approximation considering the frequency range this driver is capable of, albeit the fact that these were not installed into necessary enclosures for full performance value.
Yes, I was listening to a very well recorded high definition HDCD, and that most definitely makes a profound difference, BUT, only to a limited extent for which conditions allow.
What I focused on was an almost dreamlike quality to the mid-range. The midrange is where these drivers excel of course considering their design. I have used these speakers in designs using the original ToriiMK3 amplifier in previous years, listening to them in a properly set up room in a normal manner. I always thought they sounded very good, but nowhere near as special as I heard them recently after all these years powered by the new Zenith model. The presentation that these drivers represent now with the Zenith are many levels beyond what I heard in the past. Instruments sound silky smooth with a very "airy" quality which seems to just float endlessly into space. What really gets my attention is not only the exposed level of detail and space, but that of the absolute clarity and TONE!
Now I am thinking, this is great, but perhaps after a few hours, the process of break-in might start to alter the sound a bit as everything settles into final form. I shall wait and listen for changes, maybe even some negative ones. After almost 8 hours from the first time the amp was powered on, I still had a smile of complete satisfaction on my face, feeling pretty positive about the outcome.
The next day, I disconnected everything as I finalized the amplifier to take it up to the audio room for service. This will be the real test to get things going and discover just where it might actually lead.
If you recall in previous posts in this thread, I mentioned that my goal was to "re-listen" to the stock ToriiMk3 so that I could relearn what this amplifier sounded like without any other form of signal processing in the path. I reconditioned my listening patterns to only hear how this amp sounded on its own, straight from a quality source, and on directly to JUST a set of high-end full range speakers with ZERO crossover networks. (just a simple Zobel network [capacitor across the leads] to stabilize impedance)
Nothing else in the system for this evaluation so that I have a firm audio memory in place for comparison with the new upgraded version of this amplifier. Note that everything is kept to minimal settings with as much separation from external factors as possible in a controlled manner using the same music and tube compliment. Everything is kept the same for accuracy and fairness.
I did this for at least a full month before it was time to bring the amp into the shop for upgrades.
I remember never being anywhere near as enthused with what I heard, as what I experience now, regardless of the music quality or how well everything was set up. Sure, it sounded very good, and most likely would have rocked the audio world if they experienced this setting. However, I know the difference through experience and what audio memory holds in store.
Yes, within my professional grade acoustic environment using very high-end speakers and an audiophile grade DAC, I would say that this was far better than any music experience I conditioned myself to experience within ANY previous setting.
My goal is to reach the pinnacle of sound where everything breaks free of interacting limitations as far as I can take it. This amplifier upgrade was to be the "transporter" for which to get me there if things go as planned.
The current listening set-up is as you see in the images above. What you see is what I am using at this time for comparative purposes. No signal processing (this means the C9, the Zrock3, the subwoofer system, or any other device which could otherwise be introduced), just a clean source and a high-quality set of speakers.
NONE of those components are in the system for this initial listening comparison. I want only to hear the amplifier in pure form with nothing else to alter its sound. I want to know that what I changed within this amplifier is the difference I hear compared to the stock ToriiMK3.
AND WHAT A DIFFERANCE I AM EXPERIENCING AS I BREAK FREE BEYOND THE THRESHOLD!
I guess now it is apparent that just maybe, just maybe, I might be liking what I hear, making it all very much worth it.
You just may be right!
Everything that I evaluate is just so utterly fantastic that I feel as though it is too good to be true. It is quite real, believe me, more than I could have ever imagined possible. For the first time ever, I truly feel as though I have experienced what true audio on the highest-level sounds like. I never experienced music on this level of purity, definition, and tone, as I am hearing so effortlessly now.
Last evening, I unsealed two new HDCD high-definition CD's from the Grateful Dead. Terrapin Station & American Beauty.
I sat there in utter amazement as the music poured into the room and filled my head with the sweetest form of life-like quality for which I ever heard, no matter that of reality, or that of a well mastered recording. The presence was absolutely REAL in form! I was stunned by the extreme clarity, definition, and focus that I was perceiving by both of these albums. What really strikes me the most is the beautiful warmth of the tone as it is conveyed in such full vivid richness. This is the type of experience which can take over your senses and force you to lose control of your emotions.
This becomes addictive like a drug. Soon it becomes the only thing that you desire, wanting as much of it as possible.If you enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead on these two albums, I have to wonder if you have ever really experienced the level of audio bliss that I discovered within them last night. I know that I never have in the past. This really makes you appreciate just how well recorded these two albums really are. Both of them in the HDCD format are exceptionally fantastic to say the least!
People, you have no idea what the ToriiMK3 is capable of until you hear what can be revealed after the upgrades I implemented. You would want to do the same once you experience it. You have to experience it to understand it.
This is not something that can be expressed accurately with any real justice to define the reality of it all. This has to be experienced the way that I hear it now for one to actually comprehend the "life" which resides within the new Zenith.
Yes, I reached my desired pinnacle of sound. I can tell you that it is like going from the comfort of a cotton robe and replacing it with a pure silk robe made from the Bombyx mori silkworm.
Think of going from a standard bath to that of a steamy hot tub, as the sensation of surrounding pressure jets soothe your aching body. Top this off with a glass of fine wine and you get the picture of where I am going with this difference in sound presentation.
No matter how this sounds, this is not BS! As extreme as it sounds, it is the closest reference I feel can convey the difference between a stock ToriiMK3 and my new Torii Zenith. Of course, this is all dependent upon the quality of other components, the quality of the recorded media, and most importantly, to that of room acoustics.
Now just imagine where I can go once my new DAC is completed and introduced into the system. Perhaps a new form of bliss will prevail. I shall see or hear when that time comes. The new DAC is going to be built to the highest standard with the finest components very much like the Zenith design. It shall be interesting to discover what that build holds in store.
The new DAC is coming soon. I have all the components to build it now. I just have to build a case and assemble it. I expect that sometime in the next few months, maybe sooner. I want to relax with the current system for a while before starting the next major build. I am loving the sound now, so no big rush.
Soon, I will show you a preview of the components to build it.
This summer is when I plan to enhance the wall behind the speakers with a full complement of QRD's to complete the audio room acoustics.
I think that brings me to the end of the journey, but you all know how things go in the audio world.
JB, we shall have to wait and see where this springtime goes as to whether or not a trip is planned your way. I am interested, so I shall let you know when that may be possible. Thanks for the invitation. It would be interesting to check out your new audio situation.
With that, thanks again for all that replied and to those who have been entertained by my newest upgrades.
As always, there is more to come.
I shall return.
See ya!
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