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The new magnificent Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL Preamplifier

I have spent the last 48 hours, did not go to sleep last night, listening to Linear Tube Audio's new dedicated full size, full function Micro ZOTL Preamplifier and I'm amazed, mesmerized, and delighted with what Mark Schneider in conjunction with David Berning has brought to the market with this new creation.

I'm a reviewer for hometheaterreview.com and about three years ago I awarded the "Product Of The Year" to the LTA ZOTLhead phone/preamplifier, which as a preamplifier completely out performed my $22,000.00 reference linestage!  Even today this remarkable piece, which sells for $1,700.00 with the upgraded power supply is still one of the best preamplifiers on the market.

Well, it took about three years for Mark to come up with a better "mouse trap". This new linestage is on a significantly higher qualitative performance level then its less expensive sibling and is driving my reference system to beautiful musical heights.  You can go to LTA's website to see how their new chassis work looks and the details of the internal quality of parts/construction and the explanation of the Berning's Zero Hysteresis Output Transfomer-Less circuit design.

Across every sonic attribute: timbres/color, image palpability/density, spatial qualities- air around players- tremendous soundstage depth/width/height, powerful overall dynamics, and deep extension with great low frequencies regarding tone/accuracy which gives a great foundation to the music.  All this and delivered with total liquidity and ease.  This preamplifier renders the illusion of real music better then any other linestage I have had in-house for review. 

My full review for hometheaterreview.com, with many more superlative details, will be coming out in the next few months, just wanted to give this "heads up" to the GON members because this preamp just kills it.  By the way I believe the retail cost is 4K, which is a bargain for what you get and the "magic" it will bring to your system.


teajay
rugyboogie
199 posts
 
Have had the LTA Micro ZOTL MZ2s since Jan 2017 and have been using with my Focal Elears. Very happy, then one day I tried the Micro on my Hartsfields with great results.
Have a large weekend project, building my retirement home, bought new gear for there and decided to try the Micro as a pre amp. Shocking to say the least in a very good way. Takes a while to warm up , but it comes alive after 45 min.
Ticks a lot of boxes for not much mula.
My short term quest has been satisfied. If I feel the need can always do some tube rolling.

jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,589 posts
 
I think it's excellent as a preamp.Last week I used it as an integrated while waiting for new fuses for my amp.With only one watt it can't be played loudly naturally,but it sounded fantastic.It even did bass very well.I'm curious to see how it will do when I visit my brother and hook it up to his Cornwalls:-)
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
After trying a handful of amps I use the little LTA exclusively with my 98db omega speakers. Of course I’d dig some more headroom but ultimately the sound is breathtaking. I had Ben with mojo audio do his mods and use his illuminati v3 ps, which is just fantastic! 
slingshot
54 posts
 
Hello Jmolsberg, could you elaborate on what Ben did?  I see they sell a stand alone  illuminati v3 ps for about $1,250. Did he replace the power supply in your LTA with a modified illuminati v3 ps? I also have  Omega speakers: the  Super Alnico High Output Monitor which are 97db. You said you had issues with the head room. I also have a First Watts S.I.T 3 which does not have a lot of gain; 11.5.  
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
^  I wouldn't say I have any issues with headroom but I'd like some more at times. It is only one watt! With that said, gotta makes some concessions and this feels like the only concession I am having to make. The music is marvelous - I am sure you know with the S.I.T 3/omega. I did loan my mz2 to my neighbor who ended up buying the microzotl. We did some A/B and I'll be damned if that upgraded mz2 wasn't right there. Personally, I thought the bass was a little better, maybe the illuminati? 

I purchased the mz2-s with the switching ps. I had Ben do the following with the purchase of the illuminati v3:


illuminatti v3 ps, Hardwire DC power cable into mz2
24 point Stepped attenuator
Replace fuse with self-resetting Thermistor
Upgraded capacitors
Upgrade the main ground from rear to attenuator with OCC UniCrystal silver wire
Upgrade the four wires going from the attenuator to the main board
UniCrystal silver wire
Add an independent ground wire for L and R at output
Bypass the cheap switch in the headphone jack and run the wires directly to the RCAs.
Run the wires from main board first to RCA and jump to binding posts 






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