Atticus x Eddie Current Zana Deux Transformer Jr. Impressions:
The first song I started with was "Watching the River Go By," by John Hartford. This is an impeccably recorded bluegrass/old time tune that has a tremendous amount of space in the recording that really lets you hear the acoustic instruments. And omg as there so much to hear! I've never heard a violin reproduced with such accuracy and richness—the only way to describe it is that it felt like I was the one playing the fiddle. John's voice sounded so thick and full, so much better than listening through solid state amps (Mojo + Liquid Spark both tested extensively). All the instruments just sounded so much more alive, so much more organic, so much closer to how they sound when you are standing next to them on stage. It must have something to do with harmonics and transients and all that fancy stuff we audiophiles love to talk about but can never quite qualify. Outstanding.
Then I decided to switch it up and put on "1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins. I had heard the the ZDTj is bass light—what??? I've never heard the Atticus reproduce such rich and textured bass. When the bass guitar kicked in on the song, I literally stood up and started dancing. And that was another major point in my findings: Atticus + ZDTj produces some of the most layered and sumptuous bass I've ever heard. It was so easy to tell the difference between Flea's Music Man and Paul McCartney's Hofner or Jimmy Jazz Prescott's double bass. Honestly, the bass was so good, I found it distracting, because I couldn't stop focusing on it. From rap to rock to jazz to bluegrass, I can't imagine a better bass.
Mids and treble? Perfect. Vocals sounded live. There. In the room. Mandolins sounded thick and chunky while retaining their brilliance. Honestly, when I first listened to the Atty, I loved it, but I found it a tad congested. Those days are over. The ZDTj injects so much air into the midrange and treble, it creates wonderful separation. Holographic imaging. Z-axis depth. Whatever you want to call it, that magic element that sets TOTL cans apart really became apparent when I listened to the Atticus with tubes. I see why Zach always demoes his creations with tube amp technology.
What else can I say? I feel I've reached my endgame for now. Sure, there is always more—more detail, more clarity, more immersion. But this is enough. It is enough that I can finally say I understand what
@Wes S keeps talking about when he says "just one more song" turns into 2 hours. This combination is addictive.
Life is good. Detailed impressions to follow.
