@sls883, same tubes in my level 3 that I had in my level 2. I have about 200 hours on my level 3 in addition to the 1 week of burn-in at LTA. I think it’s improved from the time I first received it. I have not tried it with my XA-25 yet. I’m using Sylvania 6SN7 from the late 50’s/early 60’s and Mullard 4024 (12AT7). I like those tubes better than the stock tubes. I also purchased the Ray Reserve 6SN7 but I haven’t tried them yet.
Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades
Having just received the Micro-Z OTL version 2 in Feb and seeing a much better upgrade was available . I had to do it to help complete my quest to get everything in my audio system as good as possible, and for 6 months the 30% off the upgrade stands . Where the older model had 4 circuit boards ,now just one very high quality Ceramic board ,with a small sister board , Gold over thick Copper traces. To start with an additional 80k uf in filter capacitance over 200k in total ,more then most amplifiers,pretty much Everything is name brand parts . I have the Top of the line Lundahl input transformers from Sweden .
having many years in Audio and having had many audio pieces modded , this preamp is Loaded with top of the line in parts quality using worlds best Belleson low noise regulators , Nichicon GOLD capacitors ,from Japan ,AMTRAN BEST - Golden SQ also Japan .EPCOS from Germany.Clarity-CMR -U.k all top notch capacitors
With balanced inputs , and the David Berning design Micro -Z-OTL output stage and Mark and engineering team . The interior is vastly upgraded, now a. Nice large toggle switch to choose between the 6 v - 6sn7 tubes and 12v. 12sn7 , the whole tube socket area is a nice thick platform no flexing and having just 1 Big main board not only more robust but much lower noise floor is Very apparent. Sonically the New version -3 is a major step up. To start I used just the stock tubes in the Version 3 to test vs an audio friends with the version 2 with much better Rays select 6sn7 tubes and same Telefunken 12au7 tubes that I bought . TheNew Version is better with ease ! Image depth is better and a deeper larger soundstage , Bass-MidBass has even better dynamics and slam, even quieter blacker back grounds, With excellent control ,and is just more tuneful, fast, and articulate. When I decided Now it’s time to. Put in my top Rays select 6sn7 tubes And 12AU7 Telefunken Red tip medical grade tubes . It was at minimum another 5 % Better still !! This was a substantial upgrade even with stock tubes .I go to several audio gatherings, the ones who have heard this all have $50k+ audio systems and stated you would have to spend well over $12k to just to come close to this preamplifier performance music just is seamless and coherent which I totally agree !! It has the best of what tubes do best in a Big open soundstage stage , with lots of Air and separation around the instruments ,with excellent Solid state like imaging Big dynamics and ultra fast Tight Bass, much more so now in the version 3 . Listening ,to classic Beatles to Pink Floyd interactions in the micro details that before we’re barely audible now come out of the shadows and are clear and defined , this alone to me is special .I have not found a preamp even close in the $10k+ range that can better this SS or vacuum Tubes, Great Job 👏 To all at LTA Audio 👍🎶👍.
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- 85 posts total
@smatsui Thank you for the reply. I'm glad the upgrade worked out for you. I may do it someday, but I have purchased tubes and cables that work with my level 2 preamp. They might also be fine with the level 3 upgrade. I'm using Telefunken ECC801S input tubes. I think I'm using Sylvania 6SN7GT output tubes as well (I have a couple of types that I like). The only input tubes that I've tried that are close to the Telefunken (in my opinion) are Siemens ECC801S. Most of the others lacked the detail, etc of the Telefunken. |
@sls883 Tube rolling in the LTA definitely has a noticeable impact. I have had to change some tubes around, but am using medical grade Telefunkenkens for the inputs and currently Sylvania 6SN7s on the output. All from Brent Jesse. One other thing I have noticed with the Level 3 upgrade - massed strings, particularly violins in orchestral music sound more natural and less congested. I know the complexity of reproducing massed strings has been noted on this forum and others and certainly the recording comes significantly into play here, but Level 2 to Level 3 is really noticeable in this regard. I continue to be impressed the more time I listen after the upgrade. |
@cbrez Don't say that. You're making me want to upgrade. Lol. |
@thriftyaudio Would you care to elaborate on your comparison of the LTA to the Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4 . Thanks |
- 85 posts total

