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LTA - MZ2 Driving solid state amps.

Hello All,

I want to get a new pre and I have narrowed it down to the LTA  MZ2 and ps audio bhk, with the mz2'being the one I probably will try.Both of these have built in headphone amps which I would occasionally like.

I would like any feedback on both preamps related to the pairing with solid state amps of any kind.

Kenny.
kdude66
lancelock
625 posts
 
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
1,501 posts
 
Lance, for clarification for others, I assume that was a typo and your phono stage is a Parasound JC-3+.  I doubt a pair of JC-1s would be needed in that set up.
lancelock
625 posts
 
@pryso - Thanks Tim and Yes that should have been a Parasound JC3+ phono stage.
kdude66 OP
1,198 posts
 
Lance,
That's a interesting comparison,may just want to stick with the volume control on the Sonica unless this system needs more than 1 input.

I'll need a preamp with 3 inputs in my main system,I have used the volume control on my direct stream and It's a good one though.

I do know that sometimes we do tend to over complicate our systems and sometimes simpler maybe better and on the other hand if we didn't try multiple combo's we would never know or experience changes for the better.Just a part of the hobby.

Kenny.
lancelock
625 posts
 
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.
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