Linear Tube Audio- Any feedback on their amps/ Preamp?

Sense63'

any feedback on the ZOTL amp & pre? I'm guessing you have it by now?

lance

I picked this amp up yesterday and holy crap, it's bested everything I've ever owned. In fact, I was just at the Newport show I don't think I would trade my setup for anything I heard there. I did hear this amp at the show and it was good but it's much better in my treated room.

ZOTL 40 + Micro ZOTL as pre + Direct Stream DAC + Janszen zA2.1 speakers = Holy Grail. After some good breakin time more will be revealed.

Sense63, can't wait to compare notes

Scott,

I agree with your impressions. This is the best sound I've achieved to date. There is a magic combining the Micro as a pre with the ZOTL40. I tried other preamps but nothing can touch the micro, not even at 4 times the price. 

Funny thing, I originally bought the Micro as a headphone amp (and a good one it is), then I found out I could power my 93db efficient speakers in another system with the one watt. As a flea watt amp it sounds fantastic. Finally I decided to try it as a preamp just for the helluva it. Holy crap, it's doesn't have all the bells and whistles and only has 2 inputs but it's the best preamp I've ever heard.

I also have a DS DAC and Janszen zA2.1 hybrid electrostat speakers. The ZOTL40 drives the electrostats with plenty of headroom. I have tried a variety of amps over the years with these speakers and until now have never found a satisfying combo along with the power I need.

Will,

i am listening to the ZOTL40 with a quad of Shuguang Treasure 6CA7-Z. These tubes take an agonizingly long time to break-in. I put them in another amp I have and let them play for almost 2 weeks straight. The ZOTL is very easy on tubes and I think it adds to the long break-in. I think the tubes are almost there now, yes, sounding pretty damn good. Warmer, more liquid and very good bass.

lance

ZOTL40 - EL34 shootout

The shootout was a lot of fun. For those of you who haven't met Mark, he's a great guy and a dedicated audiophile. I like his business model too. Start with a fantastic design and employ local people to manufacture great products HERE, not by slave labor in XYZ foreign country to maximize profits.

OK, the results are in, the EL34 Tung Sols that come stock with the amp sound very good, but there are a few other tubes that sound even better. Here are my Picks for the top tubes in the ZOTL40 in order, no. 1 being the best:

  1. NOS Mullard EL34 XF2
  2. Genelex Gold Lion KT77
  3. Shugaung Black Bottle 6CA7 (very long break-in)
  4. NOS Sovtek EL34 Winged C
  5. psvane EL34PH
  6. Tung Sol EL34
  7. Mullard EL34 reissues

The Gold Lion KT77s are killer in this amp and are manufactured currently.
The very expensive Chinese 6CA7 black bottle tubes and the Phillips knock offs also sound very good but are costly. Equally as good as the Gold Lion KT77s are the NOS Sovtek winged C EL34's and maybe better, but I'm still listening to them. They're getting better with break-in, and I keep going back and forth on that one. I didn't get enough time with the KT77, but my first impression puts it near the top.

If you can get your hands on them, the NOS Mullards in this amp..... I can't explain it.... is the most incredible sound I have ever experienced. Yes, the Mullards are legendary and the ZOTL 40 takes advantage of these vintage tubes in a spectacular way. I bought a set of used NOS Mullards for a fairly reasonable price. Because the ZOTL is so easy on tubes, I expect them to last a long time.

I'm not really good at describing the sound differences in audiophile terms but it was all there, the sound stage, airy highs and tight lows. The top of the list giving the best of these attributes.

The upgraded tubes put the ZOTL40 a notch above the ZH230 in my humble opinion. Maybe that's why David Berning has decided to drop that amp from his line. I did hear that Berning is going to stick to his top of the line amps that he builds himself. The Berning 211/845 monoblock amps were reviewed this month in TAS and I think they used the term "best amp in the world." Oh well, $75K is out of my reach but I've got a ZOTL40.

If you ever wanted to own a $50k amp for a fraction of the price, this is it. I really can't say I've heard anything this good at any audio show. Although I've never heard the 211/845.

Associated gear:
Janszen zA2.1 hybrid eltrostats
JL Audio E110 subs (pair)
PS Audio Direct Stream DAC networked
PS Audio P10 regenerator
Micro ZOTL as preamp with linear power supply
Morrow and Cerious Tech Cables

The NOS Mullards as you probably know are extremely expensive. I purchased a used quad of XF2's for $300. These are used tubes mind you but they test strong. The ZOTL 40 is very easy on tubes so I expect to get a pretty good life span out of these Mullards.

I think the EL34 NOS Mullards are the holy grail of tubes and yes, better than the Gold Lion KT77's. Don't get me wrong the KT77's sound great in the ZOTL40 and definitely better than the Tung Sol EL34's, so the question of is it worth the cost? It's all relative. If I didn't have that extra $300 to spend I would say no but I like to collect tubes. 

David,
i like to try things even when I don't always understand them. I did install a hospital grade outlet when I cleaned out a spare bedroom to use for my stereo. I can't tell you if it made any difference at all, no way to test this without going to a lot of trouble.

I might be accused of participating in some pagan ritual but yes I installed an SR black fuse. When I stop making changes for a minute I will eventually pop the old fuse back in and try to do an A/B comparison. At the moment I have Bobs Cerious Technologies graphene extreme speaker cables burning in and they are spectacular.

Zachawry,

definitely use the Micro ZOTL as a preamp with the ZOTL40. It beat a 4K preamp I tried in my system. The two were meant for each other. The ZOTL40 will work without a preamp, it has a volume control but it's better with a pre.

This combo is absolute magic with my Janszen zA2.1 speakers and plenty of power but they are a little pricey, unless you found them on the used market maybe. I also have a set of Decware ERRx radial speakers that sound pretty good with the combo. The ZOTL40 is way more power than these radial speakers need.

One other thing I noticed is the power. I think the ZOTL40 is actually rated at 46 watts. I have another 40 watt old school tube amp and the ZOTL40 is way more powerful, more volume. My 87db Janszens are driven with headroom to spare.

I just got back from a D.C. HiFi Group meeting. They had the ZOTL10 and Micro ZOTL preamp with Fern & Robey speakers and turntable. The sound was very good.

i am very happy with the ZOTL40 driving my Janszen zA2.1 speakers. I don't See it getting any better than this.

I picked up a Job 225 here on Agon. I will let you know how they do together. Although I've heard the Job 225 can be picky when it comes to the pre it's paired with.

i have tried the Micro ZOTL with other tube amps and it's good but the synergy between the Micro and the ZOTL 40 is the best pairing I've ever heard. Just incredible.

i just noticed today they have a Black Friday sale. I'm going to Have to get the MZ2-S.

t_ramey,

yes, the remote control feature should be available by the end of the year or maybe January? Better to check with them.  I live close by so I hang out there occasionally and I saw the prototype.

The new MZ2-S will soon have a switch on the board to change from 6 volt to 12 volt. This allows you to use 6SN7 or 12SN7 tubes and NOS 12SN7 tubes are cheap because of low demand. He is able to sell the unit pre-rolled with NOS RCA tubes. The sound is incredible.

These LTA amps won't win any beauty contests so if you're into audio jewelry maybe not your thing but if you're into quality, world class sound at a price that seems too good to be true.... For me this is it.

It's apparently been sent on a slow boat. It should be delivered today.

T_ramey, the Micro ZOTL2 plays very well with the Job 225.  The clarity and detail of the Micro as a preamp is astounding. It seems to add no sonic character of its own. Maybe I've never heard a 10K preamp but I've never heard heard anything this good.

In this system I'm using Decware ERRx radial speakers (very good Omni speakers for the price)

http://www.decware.com/newsite/ERR.html

I will eventually move things around and try a set of Monitor Audio GX300's I have.

shydog17,

i am interested in how these amps perform with the Micro ZOTL2

Jsm71,

Mark Schneider is planning to build a full function dedicated preamp and it will have a built in phono stage as well. I will be able to sell my JC3+ when that happens. I just don't know when it will happen.

if anyone out there doesn't know about these amps yet then you don't what you're missing. This is the best kept secret in high end audio.

Baranyi,

did you you get the linear power supply? It makes a difference. I am waiting on the MZ2-S to be built. It comes stock with NOS tubes and remote. This is the best version yet.

Baranyi,

what amp amp are you running with the LTA pre? I am using LTA's ZOTL40 and the combination of the two is better than anything I've heard at any show.

Mark Schneider (owner of LTA) told me this and I don't think he'll mind me quoting him:

"The ZOTL circuitry is complex and like no other tube amplifier. It is an advance in tube technology. Which is why it sounds more musical and realistic than almost all others, and certainly anything in its price range. One of our clients just replaced his $16K Pass preamp that comes in 3 pieces and his $27K Pass power amps with a microZOTL and 2 monoblocked 40s....and says they sound better."

@kddusing - if you're nearby, Linear Tube Audio is located in Takoma Park, MD, not far from where CAF is held. They have a show room so you can go by there any day for a listen. I stop in frequently.

@admranger 

I was at LTA recently and saw the stand alone preamp prototype sitting on the work bench. It’s a full size Fern and Robey built case.  It has a ceramic board and optional phono stage. Mark didn’t say when a production model will be available but it looks promising.

@zek4u 

im sure it will be quite a bit more than the MZ2. I will stop in again within the next couple of weeks and ask Mark about the MC option. I’m interested in MC as well. Mark did say the David Berning designed phono stage will be very good.

I almost Forgot. I removed my ZOTL40 and installed the UltraLinear in my listening room powering my 87db Janszen zA2.1 speakers. I can’t believe the 20 watts can power these speakers this way. Im listening as loud as I like and not close to clipping. As good as the ZOTL40 is the UL is more refined in every way especially the bass. It has a firm grip on the woofers. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a piano sound so real before. I’m just beginning to tube roll the 12AU7 and 12AX7s.