Linear Tube Audio at Axpona

@franklin 

I have a pair of Decware ERRx radial speakers and I was surprised at how loud the one watt of the MZ2 would go. If you haven’t tried it then power the HR-1s with the MZ2 just to hear what it can do. The quality of the sound is amazing.

I have extensive experience with both Decware and LTA amps. I have owned the Tori 3 and the flagship ZMA. Once I plugged in the ZOTL40 I had to sell the ZMA. The big difference was transformer haze. There was huge veil lifted with the LTA gear.

I have tried 3 different LTA amps with the ERRx speakers and all 3 bested the sound of the Decware amps. I’m not saying Decware amps are bad at all but I much prefer the ZOTL sound.

@baranyi 

MicroZOTL Preamp vs MZ2

The same house sound just more of it.

The new preamp has a wider, more clearly defined sound stage and more sparkle at the top. The bass is just a bit more real sounding. There is smoothness, a little smoother without losing dynamics. I can’t explain this but could the MZ2 have been a little grainy sounding?

The piano is sounding more real than ever. There is more clarity in the sense of having more space in between notes or just less noise? Not that I could ever detect any audible noise before with the MZ2 but the background is darker. I guess more real sounding, more in the venue feel.

So the flavor is the same just more of it and the best description I could use is refined, more refined. I think Mark has optimized this circuit design as far as it will go and the more I listen the more I like it. I have to return this one but I will be buying one.

Lance

Lance, thank you for your detailed report on the new preamp. When will it start shipping?

@baranyi 

Mark said about 4 weeks for production models to go out.

Thanks Lance for your comments on the sound differences between the ZOTL and Decware amps-much appreciated-by the way I hooked up the MZ2 to the HR-1 speakers and was shocked at how well the MZ2 drove those speakers-not only was the volume sufficient for my listening levels, but it was done with no distortion at all with great imaging, detail, and clarity to the sound