Yep, that's my concern with the 2A3 and its inability to power larger speakers. So maybe the ZDSE is the way to go?  Rather than spending twice though, I'd like to see what experience people have with other similar quality amps for headphone/speakers. Thanks for the pm, will wait to hear how you like your new setup!

My Super 7 drives my JBL SVA 1600s to loud levels w/ only 3 watts.  Depends on your situation.
 

Well I just paid Craig my deposit for an all-black ZDSE. It cost a little extra, and will take about a month to build as opposed to 2 weeks which he quoted me for a stock one. Counting down the days...
 
I'm looking into a NOS dac in the meantime and will probably get either a MHDTStockholm or a Metrum Octave for now.
 
-Daniel

Congrats on your purchase.  I'm also considering going the route of the ZDSE, my original intention.
 
Just out of curiosity, has anyone had any experience -- first or secondhand -- of any of Mapleshade's products?

Quote:

stevem324 said:

I would try to isolate the issue by first making sure that the problem is not coming from the source. Try a different amp and if you don't hear the problem, then it is either your amp or headphones. I would then swap tubes from left to right, one set at a time (rectifier and power tubes) to see if the issue jumps from the left to the right channel. If it does, then you have a bad tube. If the issue still persists, you may need to change the 6SL7 tube. Another possibility is that you have a bad connection at the pins of the amp, umbilical cord or power supply. When I had my ZD SE, I spent hours on the phone with Craig troubleshooting my issue which ended up being a bad pin connection inside the amp. I had ring out each pin with Craig's guidance to find the problem. Hopefully, your issue is just a bad tube. Good luck.

Click to expand...

I used my ZDSE as a preamp with my Decware Taboo. I sounds incredibly nice. Removing the power tubes and reinserting them seemed to have corrected the volume fluctuation problem I had earlier. Thanks for your help, SteveM324.

Quote:

clayton sf said:

I used my ZDSE as a preamp with my Decware Taboo. I sounds incredibly nice. Removing the power tubes and reinserting them seemed to have corrected the volume fluctuation problem I had earlier. Thanks for your help, SteveM324.

Click to expand...

Hi Clayton,
Your welcome.  If reinstalling the power tubes fixed the problem, then you probably had oxidation on the tube pins.  You should clean all the tube pins.  I had that problem too.  I like the retro look of your setup.

Steve,
 
What do you use to clean the pins on your tubes? Can I use rubbing alcohol? I've never cleaned pins before. I usually just wipe off with a clean old t-shirt.
 
Thanks.

Quote:

clayton sf said:

Steve,
 
What do you use to clean the pins on your tubes? Can I use rubbing alcohol? I've never cleaned pins before. I usually just wipe off with a clean old t-shirt.
 
Thanks.

Click to expand...

I've used rubbing alcohol in the past.  Just cotton balls and rubbing alcohol.  I don't think it fixed my problem, but it did clean the pins.

clayton sf said:

Steve,

What do you use to clean the pins on your tubes? Can I use rubbing alcohol? I've never cleaned pins before. I usually just wipe off with a clean old t-shirt.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I used a small clean wire brush and I brushed the pins from several different angles to get them clean. Then I used a cotton cloth to wipe the pins clean of any debris from the brushing.

Thinking of splurging on a B22; has anyone done a comparison with the Zana? My Zana has terrific synergy with most of my cans (HD650, AD2000, HD800, RS1i) and the Taboo takes care of my LCD 2, so I'm not sure where the B22 fits in. But man it's a curiosity that won't let up and just sticks in my craw. 

Eric-do you feel any of those headphones match the best with the ZDSE? And do you feel the AD2K and RS1i are a bit redundant, or not? I'm about to buy another AD2000, but the RS1i is supposedly somewhat similar, and much easier to come by now days. Getting antsy for my black-top Zana to arrive next week.
 
Sorry I can't comment on the B22 question...
 
-Daniel

It depends on the B22 design.  They seem to be different from one another.  When i was doing heavy listening and a/b with many amps I did run across a balanced B22 on a pair of HD800s that i liked better than my Zana with the my 800s.  They can sound very good with balancing but it is preference the level we are talking about.  Although i liked it better, it was just too expensive to have one built and finding a comparable one seemed difficult and expensive.

Quote:

bourneperfect said:

Eric-do you feel any of those headphones match the best with the ZDSE? And do you feel the AD2K and RS1i are a bit redundant, or not? I'm about to buy another AD2000, but the RS1i is supposedly somewhat similar, and much easier to come by now days. Getting antsy for my black-top Zana to arrive next week.
 
Sorry I can't comment on the B22 question...
 
-Daniel

Click to expand...

 
The best match so far has been the HD650. Contrary to many reports, I find they hold their own against any of the other cans when it comes to casual listening. I find them simply untouchable when it comes to bop or jazz. Between the RS1i and the AD2000, there is a sense of redundancy, but mostly in that I use them exclusively for rock. I prefer the AD2K by a fair margin, mostly for the deeper soundstage and far, far better comfort. Of all my cans I would consider selling only the RS1i (which I find physically unbearable after 20 minutes with bowls). I still believe the RS1i's are best at capturing the scintillating qualities of an electric guitar, but as a package, I believe the AD2K are more versatile and unique (that insistent, forward-moving sense of speed is phenomenal). I don't know if the Zana really offers a great deal of improvement to the RS1i, but the synergy with the AD2K is perceived almost immediately. I once, while in the throes of audio rapture, opined that the AD2K/Zana synergy is comparable to that of the HD650. 
 
I'll soon find out about the B22. I couldn't resist. 

Thank you for that. Looks like I'll be picking up an AD2K for the third time-I've been missing their sound for a while now. Also, if the Zana doesn't bring my HD 800s up by a fair margin along with my incoming dac, I'll be trading them in shortly with another T1, which I also love. Anyone have ZDSE/T1 impressions? IIRC Dallan tried them but wasn't really a fan of the T1 to begin with...
 
-Daniel

No, never tried the T-1 still waiting.  Supposed to be at the upcoming meet.
 
Also, I believe that when i picked up my Zana at Craig's house, pre HD800 release by about five months, he had me audition my Zana with the AD2K and he said that he preferred them to the HD650 on the Zana.  I remember being amazed at the synergy, a match made in heaven.  I almost bought one but the HD800 was then announced and got that.