LTA - MZ2 Driving solid state amps.

I'm sure the BHK is good from what I've heard but I haven't heard it. I have two of the MZ2's and they are spectacular. I also have a Benchmak AHB2 on the way to me so I can let you know next week how it sounds with SS.

@kdude66 In my MZ2 I like the NOS Tung Sol 6SN7 and the NOS Sylvania Chrome Dome better than the CV181-Z. I'm curious what you think.

@kdude66 I have two different systems with MZ's. I'm actually using Tung Sol NOS black glass 12SN7's. They are less expensive if you can find them. Recently started using NOS Tung Sol VT99 6F8G with adaptors and this might be a little better than the 12SN7.

Lance

In the first couple of hours of listening to the new Benchmark AHB2 with the MZ2, I can hear good things already, very promising but need a little break in time.

Kenny,

I'm not sure how much it betters the Job since it's not entirely broken in yet. So far the AHB2 is more detailed, more clarity and neutral. The Job is a tad warmer and has better control of the bass. Both are excellent amps with the Job being the better bargain at almost half of the price. My current setup:

My Listening Room (spare bedroom) 14.5 x 14.5 x 11' high:
Janszen zA2.1
JL Audio E110's (pair)
LTA ZOTL40 (NOS Mullard EL38's)
LTA MZ2-S (NOS Tung Sol 12SN7's)
PS Audio DS DAC
PS Audio P10
Technics SL1200GAE
Parasound JC1+
Teo GC interconnects
Cerious Tech Graphene Extreme PC's and SC's
Mapleshade brass and maple

Living Room:
Decware ERRx Radials
Modwright Oppo Sonica DAC/Streamer
LTA Micro ZOTL
Benchmark AHB2
PS Audio P5
Cerious Tech Graphene Extreme interconnects
Audioquest type 4 SC's

Basement HT/ 2 channel:
Monitor Audio Gold GX300 & center channel
Emotiva XPA Gen 3
Oppo 105
PS Audio P10
Triode Wire Labs PC's
Black Sands PC's
Cerious Tech Graphene Extreme interconnects and SC's

All rooms connected by Cat 5e Ethernet cable running to a loft with a dedicated Dell desk top with 8 TB full of music.

Lance

Just as the MZ2 is sensitive to power cords (I use the Graphene Extreme red with good results) it is also very sensitive to tube rolling. There is a lot to play with here.

Kenny,

the Bencemark AHB2 is sounding great, a very good SS amp. It sounds good with the MZ2 but yes you do have to use adaptors since there is only XLR inputs.

Lance

Kenny,

The AHB is extremely neutral but can be warmed up with a tube preamp but only slightly warmer with the MZ2 in the chain. I wouldn't exactly call the MZ2 warm but tube rolling definitlty can change things. Today I'm took the MZ2 out and used balanced cables direct from the Modwright Sonica. With the Sonica's tube stage it seems to smooth things out and sound very good this way as well.

i originally got the basic switching power supply and the new linear power supply is definitly superior. There is a big difference between the cheap wall wart switching PS and the extremely complicated switching PS that's in the ZOTL40, this Type of PS is better than the best Linear PS. David Berning is the master of designing switching power supplies.

@pryso - Thanks Tim and Yes that should have been a Parasound JC3+ phono stage.

Kenny,
i did get my MZ2 with 3 inputs and gave up the speaker terminals for a second set of outputs in case I wanted to connect powered subs. My Micro ZOTL already has speaker terminals anyway.

update on the AHB2: I ran it in all weekend and I now after some critical listening I think it is superior to the Job 225 in almost every way and the bass is every bit as good or better. I'm hearing more on recordings in this system than I've heard before, micro details are being revealed. I guess it's the low noise floor.