Tekton Double Impacts

Teajay,
I find it interesting that you prefer the 2A3 SET over the LTA Micro ZOTL sibling power amplifiers particularly the 40 watts version that impressed you so thoroughly during your review of it. However as you note,  good quality  SETs offer some unique and elusive musical attributes. I don’t believe you could go wrong with either a high quality 2A3 or 300b. It takes a superior speaker to allow this level of fine discrimination amongst very nuanced amplifiers.
Charles

Teajay,

It's very interesting to hear about the triode labs 2a3,they do make some very solid gear.I had There prototype 7591 based pp a few yrs back that was built all point to point with James outputs and choke with a very heavy duty pwr transformer.I have also owned one of there first 300b stereo designs.I kinda surprised in your position that you have never tried the 2a3.

I have had a couple diff. 2a3 based amps over time and I always found them to be kinda in the middle between the 45 and the 300b,
meaning they can have the midrange and inner glow like the 300b but with more extension on both ends and then also combine the clarity,punch and dynamics that the 45 has but with more pwr.

The 2a3 is just a wonderful tube in my opinion and my very favorite Dht with the right speaker and the DI is the one.I only have one tube amp right now it's the Yamamoto A09 which is a 300b,which I will have to try eventually with the DI's.

I definitely will be getting a MZ2 in the future and can't wait to try with all kinds of pairings.

Enjoy the music,

Kenny.

Hey Charles,

I have had many discussions with listeners regarding which gives most of the magic of David Berning's ZOTL circuit, the 40 watt amplifier or the Micro-ZOTL line-stage.  After trying the Micro-ZOTL with all kinds of  solid state and tube amplifiers it always brings it's virtues ( speed, a very special type of overall dynamic, great color, and a terrific sense of space/3D imaging) to such a level, that when it is removed the system sounds somewhat "dead/whimpy", loses color and sounds much more 2D overall.  Now don't get me wrong, I bought the 40-ZOTL and believe that it's a great amplifier, but my point is that much of the unique sonic qualities of Berning's design can be gotten with the preamp and then you can add any flavors to it with your amplifier.  

And as you said Charlies, to hear these nuances it takes a reference level speaker, plus the ability to be driven with very little watts to use many of the low watt/SET designs, without resorting to horn based speakers which are not my cup of sonic tea. 

Hey Kenny,

As I stated in my response to Charlies, either as a pure listener or as reviewer I'm not a great fan of single driver or horn designs that usually are the partners for 45 or 2A3 based SET amplifiers.  Therefore, I had a lot of different 300b/211/845 based amplifiers because they could drive the speakers I like.  Now, with the DI's I have the freedom to have fun with these great tubes and SET designs because you can drive them
with virtually no watts at all!

Teajay,

I'm with you that horn based speakers aren't my cup of tea either and I started with Khorns and McIntosh,30'yrs ago,and single driver speakers even though there is some very good ones have shortcomings that I find are hard to live with for the long haul.

Charles,

You are so right it does take a very fine speaker to allow this level of fine discrimination amongst very nuanced amps and that certainly includes solid state of various types as well.


I'm still shocked and amazed every single day listening to my DI's,
I can see myself being quite satisfied for a very long time and probably will even buy a 2nd set for my 2nd system.I listen at diff. times of the day and quite sporadically in the summer months,and it would be very nice to have a solid state and tube setup at all times.

I promised Eric that I would write a owners review for his website and I'm still working on it,right now it's way too long and I need to condense it down,Writing is not my cup of tea either'but I do my best.


Kenny.