high-amp, I’ve been using an upgraded MicroZOTL2 as an integrated amplifier feeding a pair of Zu Omen DW mkiis (rated 97db). This replaced a Decware Mini Tori and regulated my Decware SE84 to my office room system.
I would describe the MZ2 sound as liquid - bass is tighter than on the Decwares and overall dynamics pack more punch. It also gives more detail, or rather, the background is so black the details stand out more, if that makes sense. It has not issue driving the Zu’s - I’m listening comfortably to acoustic jazz on vinyl right now and the gain control isn’t even up to noon yet.
I also tried a ZOTL10 mkii. Obviously louder, with sharper soundstaging and fuller mids and even punchier bass. As others have mentioned, LTA amps have little to no bloom, but still have a warm sheen to them that I enjoy. I sold it off because a) it was waaaaay more gain than I needed, as in I never turned the gain knob past 8 o’clock b) the MicroZOTL2 had a certain something I really liked - it just sounds more “liquid” than the ZOTL10 to me, if that makes sense, and c) aesthetically the ZOTL10 wasn’t working in our living room - it is the epitome of a big black cube.
Having said that, I also saw the bundle sale they did for the Labor Day weekend. I reached out to them and they offered a version of the discount for the Z10 integrated and Orchid DAC. I got the phono stage upgrade, hoping it will help me clear the audio shelf of boxes and power cords. They offer a 14-day grace period, and given that I live close to their shop, it ended up convincing me to give the Z10 a go.
I would describe the MZ2 sound as liquid - bass is tighter than on the Decwares and overall dynamics pack more punch. It also gives more detail, or rather, the background is so black the details stand out more, if that makes sense. It has not issue driving the Zu’s - I’m listening comfortably to acoustic jazz on vinyl right now and the gain control isn’t even up to noon yet.
I also tried a ZOTL10 mkii. Obviously louder, with sharper soundstaging and fuller mids and even punchier bass. As others have mentioned, LTA amps have little to no bloom, but still have a warm sheen to them that I enjoy. I sold it off because a) it was waaaaay more gain than I needed, as in I never turned the gain knob past 8 o’clock b) the MicroZOTL2 had a certain something I really liked - it just sounds more “liquid” than the ZOTL10 to me, if that makes sense, and c) aesthetically the ZOTL10 wasn’t working in our living room - it is the epitome of a big black cube.
Having said that, I also saw the bundle sale they did for the Labor Day weekend. I reached out to them and they offered a version of the discount for the Z10 integrated and Orchid DAC. I got the phono stage upgrade, hoping it will help me clear the audio shelf of boxes and power cords. They offer a 14-day grace period, and given that I live close to their shop, it ended up convincing me to give the Z10 a go.