Decware // Reference ZMF OTL

[zach915m]

I got in touch with Steve and he has all the parts on order but doesn't want to invoice me until he has a more specific lead time. I'm guessing it'll be somewhere in the 2 - 4 month range, but there's no way for me to be sure yet until they start coming in.

We plan to continue the Decware project but are working on some other amp projects with JDS labs and beyond that I hope to start talking about soon.

 

[cedboe]

I got in touch with Steve and he has all the parts on order but doesn't want to invoice me until he has a more specific lead time. I'm guessing it'll be somewhere in the 2 - 4 month range, but there's no way for me to be sure yet until they start coming in.

We plan to continue the Decware project but are working on some other amp projects with JDS labs and beyond that I hope to start talking about soon.

Thanks Zach ! 4-6 months is a reasonnable time for me, please let us know once we can preorder ! I don't want to miss it this time

 

[zach915m]

Any news Zach ?

Thanks Zach ! 4-6 months is a reasonnable time for me, please let us know once we can preorder ! I don't want to miss it this time

Will do - once I have a succinct timeline and such I will think about good options etc to be notified and/or get one ordered!

 

[LegionofDoom]

Will do - once I have a succinct timeline and such I will think about good options etc to be notified and/or get one ordered!

@zach915m Are you planning to attend the November-2023 Dallas Can Jam? If so, will you be bringing a Decware/ZMF unit for show goers to listen to?

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m Are you planning to attend the November-2023 Dallas Can Jam? If so, will you be bringing a Decware/ZMF unit for show goers to listen to?

Yes and yes! We will be there with the Decware

 

[Wes S]

Yes and yes! We will be there with the Decware

Yes! I can't wait to hear it and meet the ZMF crew. I plan in being the first one there.

 

[busseysound]

I've been meaning to post for quite awhile now about my journey with the ZMF Decware OTL amp since I got it this last summer. I've done quite a bit of tube rolling and adjusting inputs, etc. Before I begin let me just say I absolutely love this amp. The quality of build is second to none and the collaboration of Zach and Steve's minds has created a marvelous piece of audio engineering. I view it as my end game amp with the possibility of using it as a preamp into a Decware Taboo should I ever find one for sale. Goldwerger pointed out this configuration to me at the Chicago CanJam earlier this year and it is truly magic.

I'm currently using a SR Purple fuse (Master fuse incoming per Wes S. recommendation), Audio Envy Studio Prestige and Mega cables, and a Decware ZBit as my DAC (Dangerous Music Convert 2) only has XLR outputs. The ZBit is amazing and is dead quiet with more power than you'll need for converting a balanced connection to unbalanced. I use a Bryston BOT-1 Transport for ripping, and a Bryston BDP-2 as a music server and streamer.

Now for tube rolling. Steve recommends the stock tubes that come with the amp, or if you replace them continue to use 6N1P and 6N6P for the driver and input tubes. I made the decision to experiment, but carefully making sure to test tubes before putting them in the amp and using proper adapters when needed, etc.

Tubes tested in the input slot:
Tungsram ECC82 black plate
RFT ECC82
Sylvania 12AU7 long black plate
Telefunken ECC802S
RCA 12AU7A
Telefunken ECC85
Amperex Bugle Boy 6AQ8
RCA 6BQ7A
Sylvania 6BQ7A
Raytheon 6BQ7A
Ultron 6BQ7A
Telefunken PCC189
Valvo PCC189
Siemens PCC189
Tungsram PCC189
Telefunken E80CC
Tungsram E80CC
Voskhod Rocket 6N1P-V1
Voskhod Rocket 6N1P
Voskhod (I think) 6N1P-EV

So yeah, a lot. The great thing is that most of these tubes I either already had from the Cayin HA-6A I previously owned, or they were really cheap. The PCC189 was the ultimate winner and I narrowed down the brands to Siemens and Tungsram. The Tungsram (I believe it's from the '50s) is what I'm currently using as it has more bottom end and all of the clarity of the Siemens.

Tubes tested in the driver slots
Novosibirsk 6N6P
Soviet "OTK" Foton 6N6P
Adapted Tung-Sol 5687

Per Goldwergers recommendation I tried the Tung-Sol 5687 and I love them. very balanced with just about all the detail I could ask for. Very happy with them.

Rectifier tube is the Elrog ER5U4G which I was able to purchase from Zach with the amp. Hopefully Elrog will have parts to make more soon but fortunately I was able to obtain one from ZMF.

I tried the new Grand Palladium cable from ZMF at the Dallas CanJam show this last weekend and loved the synergy it had with this amp. The Viking Weave Isa I've had has been just fantastic of course but I want to give the new cable a shot as I think it brought a bit more detail when testing in Dallas. Time will tell. I'll try to keep updates going if I change anything and to let others know how the Master fuse does compared to the Purple in the amp as well.

Thanks again to Zach, Steve, and all who were involved in the creation of this wonderful amp!

 

[goldwerger]

I've been meaning to post for quite awhile now about my journey with the ZMF Decware OTL amp since I got it this last summer. I've done quite a bit of tube rolling and adjusting inputs, etc. Before I begin let me just say I absolutely love this amp. The quality of build is second to none and the collaboration of Zach and Steve's minds has created a marvelous piece of audio engineering. I view it as my end game amp with the possibility of using it as a preamp into a Decware Taboo should I ever find one for sale. Goldwerger pointed out this configuration to me at the Chicago CanJam earlier this year and it is truly magic.

I'm currently using a SR Purple fuse (Master fuse incoming per Wes S. recommendation), Audio Envy Studio Prestige and Mega cables, and a Decware ZBit as my DAC (Dangerous Music Convert 2) only has XLR outputs. The ZBit is amazing and is dead quiet with more power than you'll need for converting a balanced connection to unbalanced. I use a Bryston BOT-1 Transport for ripping, and a Bryston BDP-2 as a music server and streamer.



Now for tube rolling. Steve recommends the stock tubes that come with the amp, or if you replace them continue to use 6N1P and 6N6P for the driver and input tubes. I made the decision to experiment, but carefully making sure to test tubes before putting them in the amp and using proper adapters when needed, etc.

Tubes tested in the input slot:
Tungsram ECC82 black plate
RFT ECC82
Sylvania 12AU7 long black plate
Telefunken ECC802S
RCA 12AU7A
Telefunken ECC85
Amperex Bugle Boy 6AQ8
RCA 6BQ7A
Sylvania 6BQ7A
Raytheon 6BQ7A
Ultron 6BQ7A
Telefunken PCC189
Valvo PCC189
Siemens PCC189
Tungsram PCC189
Telefunken E80CC
Tungsram E80CC
Voskhod Rocket 6N1P-V1
Voskhod Rocket 6N1P
Voskhod (I think) 6N1P-EV


So yeah, a lot. The great thing is that most of these tubes I either already had from the Cayin HA-6A I previously owned, or they were really cheap. The PCC189 was the ultimate winner and I narrowed down the brands to Siemens and Tungsram. The Tungsram (I believe it's from the '50s) is what I'm currently using as it has more bottom end and all of the clarity of the Siemens.

Tubes tested in the driver slots
Novosibirsk 6N6P
Soviet "OTK" Foton 6N6P
Adapted Tung-Sol 5687


Per Goldwergers recommendation I tried the Tung-Sol 5687 and I love them. very balanced with just about all the detail I could ask for. Very happy with them.

Rectifier tube is the Elrog ER5U4G which I was able to purchase from Zach with the amp. Hopefully Elrog will have parts to make more soon but fortunately I was able to obtain one from ZMF.

I tried the new Grand Palladium cable from ZMF at the Dallas CanJam show this last weekend and loved the synergy it had with this amp. The Viking Weave Isa I've had has been just fantastic of course but I want to give the new cable a shot as I think it brought a bit more detail when testing in Dallas. Time will tell. I'll try to keep updates going if I change anything and to let others know how the Master fuse does compared to the Purple in the amp as well.

Thanks again to Zach, Steve, and all who were involved in the creation of this wonderful amp!

Thanks for sharing. Awesome tube roll info. I have a Telefunken PCC189 I’m waiting to roll on and will try that as soon as I get my amp back from Dallas. It’s been on my to-do list and your impressions are useful.

I haven’t tried yet any 12au7 (I also have a ton from other amps). I need to get an adapter and do that..

Love that Elrog tube. I have no idea what it sounds like, but it’s freaking cool

 

[Toonartist]

Thanks for sharing. Awesome tube roll info. I have a Telefunken PCC189 I’m waiting to roll on and will try that as soon as I get my amp back from Dallas. It’s been on my to-do list and your impressions are useful.

I haven’t tried yet any 12au7 (I also have a ton from other amps). I need to get an adapter and do that..

Love that Elrog tube. I have no idea what it sounds like, but it’s freaking cool

I know what you mean... I'm really tempted to get the Elrog 274b (for the Aegis) but keep bottling it each time

 

[zach915m]

Just a note to say we took delivery of some ZMF x Decware OTL amps: https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/zmf-november/products/decware-zmf-otl

I have one 120V and three 230V units left. There will be about equal parts 230V units in this run due to requests. They are up on the site ready to ship this week!

 

[goldwerger]

Some tube rolling this evening.. focused on the gain tube:

Telefunken PCC189 (Ulm factory 1962)
Had high hopes for this one, but found it a bit underwhelming. It was alright, but little less resolving in the higher frequencies where it wasn't linear, even distorted a bit

Philips ECG JAN 6922 (1987)
A great roll for anyone looking for a "tuby" sound: thick and warm bass and very notably holographic. These tubes were made into the 80s (Sylvania USA kept manufacturing them for Phillips for military applications). Brand new NOS are both available and affordable.

RCA 6BQ7A (black plates, O getter 1957)
I ended up going back to my original roll. This tube has a very audible contrast to the Philips. It is less bassy and more neutral tonally, offering a bit more air and resolution. I do think I will be switching around between the 6BQ7A and 6922; quite astonishing how much audible difference a gain tube makes with this amp.

* note 1: power tubes used: Tung-Sol 5687 (1957) , rectifier tube used: Philips Miniwatt GZ34 (brown base, DD hetter, Sittard)
* note 2: listening impressions with Atrium Closed (caldera suede pads)

 

[hmss007]

Some tube rolling this evening.. focused on the gain tube:

Telefunken PCC189 (Ulm factory 1962)
Had high hopes for this one, but found it a bit underwhelming. It was alright, but little less resolving in the higher frequencies where it wasn't linear, even distorted a bit

Philips ECG JAN 6922 (1987)
A great roll for anyone looking for a "tuby" sound: thick and warm bass and very notably hologtaphic..
These tubes were made into the 80s (Sylvania USA kept manufacturing them for Philliand for military applications). Brand new NOS are both available and affordable.

RCA 6BQ7A (black plates, O getter 1957)
I ended up going back to my original roll. This tube has a very audible contrast to the Philips. It is less bassy and more neutral tonally, offering a bit more air and resolution. I do think I will be switching around between the 6BQ7A and 6922; quite astonishing how much audible difference a gain tube makes with this amp.

* note 1: power tubes used: Tung-Sol 5687 (1957) , rectifier tube used: Philips Miniwatt GZ34 (brown base, DD hetter, Sittard)
* note 2: listening impressions with Atrium Closed (caldera seded pads)

Thanks for doing the research @goldwerger, I haven't started to do any rolling yet other than going back and forth with the Baldwin 5U4GB and Sophia 274B mesh-plate rectifier tubes. I've been keeping with what ZMF included with my amp + the upgraded "Sylvania JAN 6922 Military NOS".

I'm curious about the power tube change, as I was under the impression that only 6N6P were compatible (per the information on the ZMF site). I really love the sound on both my Eikons and Atrium Opens.

 

[goldwerger]

Thanks for doing the research @goldwerger, I haven't started to do any rolling yet other than going back and forth with the Baldwin 5U4GB and Sophia 274B mesh-plate rectifier tubes. I've been keeping with what ZMF included with my amp + the upgraded "Sylvania JAN 6922 Military NOS".

I'm curious about the power tube change, as I was under the impression that only 6N6P were compatible (per the information on the ZMF site). I really love the sound on both my Eikons and Atrium Opens.

I’ve experimented with informal plausible deniability..

It’s been several months. Nothing exploded

You’re good to go..

Tubes are a bit of a wild west in terms of equivalents, semi-equivalents, sometimes-equivalents.. it is always circuit specific, and requires research into old specs and a bit of common sense (ideally, info from the circuit designer). It can drive you either mad or happy. I’m rather happy

 

[Coran]

Just a note to say we took delivery of some ZMF x Decware OTL amps: https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/zmf-november/products/decware-zmf-otl

I have one 120V and three 230V units left. There will be about equal parts 230V units in this run due to requests. They are up on the site ready to ship this week!

Damn, sad I missed this. Any idea when more 120V might be for sale?

I've decided to add this to my setup, as I need/want an OTL. My WA22 just isn't the right fit anymore.

 

[goldwerger]

I'm curious about the power tube change, as I was under the impression that only 6N6P were compatible

Just to make sure, in case this wasn’t clear (occurs to me it may not have been) - this requires using adapters, as the pinout on 5687 is different than the socket pinout on the on the amp.

Note some adapters may be too wide to clear the amp casing around the socket edge to fully insert properly, in which case you would need a socket saver (extender) first, building a little Tower of Babel (works). But there are also narrow adapters that fit right in (like this one I got on eBay).