I want to power some speakers with the ZDS, what do you suggest?

Awesome event, even better people. Really impressed by the Verite and Aeolus, but I prefer my Auteur for my musical tastes. Thanks Brent for lending me your laptop!! My favorite sounding equipment was the Thunderbolt A-10 and Stax headphone combo, but not sure if it would be appropriate for my...

Mind if I park my equipment next to you? I've always wanted to hear DAVE powering a ZDS...

I'm not sure which pads I was using, I forget. :C Regardless, they are not sibilant, but I think they were brighter/clearer than my experiences at home with the blackwood Auteur. I'm not sure how much of this can be attributed to your A2 vs. my A1 Yggy, or how the FR charts look, these were just...

I think they’re fairly similar, but the Verite is faster and has more bass presence. Why do you feel they are dissimilar? I was using vegan pads I think, I forget.

The Utopia is bright/neutral like the Verite and the HD800, and unlike the Auteur which is neutral/slightly dark.

Got a chance to put ears on them at the factory, they are very very resolving, more colored than the Auteur, and have a bigger sound stage. Huge low end and mid bass, more than the Auteur, brighter than the Auteur — think of a mix between the Utopia and the HD800, and you have the Verite.

I can make it, I’ll bring my stack.

I was unimpressed with the performance of the Cavalli lineup, especially when considering the price. They are more thin sounding, veiled, but smoother. The ZDS is just in your face like no other tube amp.

This was the other front runner when I was looking at tube amps. I went with EC having not heard either amp at the time, based on reviews, and after hearing DNA at AXPONA, while it sounded great, it wasn’t as great.

The SE design of ZDS powers massive 300ohm headphones like the HD800, ZMF, etc, extremely well, better than anything I've heard at AXPONA, which is virtually the entire market sans more expensive EC amps. I'll have to pay attention to the next Chicagoland meet, I'm sure other people have found...

Paired with the Auteur, it is an amazing reference level rig. Dynamics are unbeatable, and only much more expensive electrostatics and their equipment provided better fidelity. But at those price points (WA33, etc) you might as well get an amazing 2ch system.

Well I guess I’m getting a travel pair.

This is a true end game amp. I’ve lived with it for about a year now and I don’t think I’ll ever upgrade. It’s too good.