Just for reference, I am extremly sensitive to noise and this amp has none. Absolutely nothing. I even connected my Grado Hemp (which is like IEM sensitive) to see lf it picks up any noise. Nothing.
It's really impressive how quiet it is, the hum I mentioned is extremely quiet and I can only detect it when the room is silent and even then it wasn't immediately obvious. I switched the power tubes but it seemed like it remained in the same side, currently I don't have any other tubes on hand to swap others. Interestingly, I found if I plugged a second XLR cable in the hum disappeared, even one of the disconnected Hart interconnects.
Last night I was listening to it and decided to boot up a game on my PC but just continued using the OTL. If I did this with my previous tube amp I'd be able to clearly hear the interference from the GPU working, but on the OTL it made no audible difference.
It's really impressive how quiet it is, the hum I mentioned is extremely quiet and I can only detect it when the room is silent and even then it wasn't immediately obvious. I switched the power tubes but it seemed like it remained in the same side, currently I don't have any other tubes on hand to swap others. Interestingly, I found if I plugged a second XLR cable in the hum disappeared, even one of the disconnected Hart interconnects.
Last night I was listening to it and decided to boot up a game on my PC but just continued using the OTL. If I did this with my previous tube amp I'd be able to clearly hear the interference from the GPU working, but on the OTL it made no audible difference.
I agree, there is a very, very low hum that the amplifier makes. However I have to be close to it and listen for it to hear it. Simply taking one step back makes it unnoticeable. I consider the ZMF Decware a very quiet amplifier and there is no noise in the HPs themselves. A black background.
Just for reference, I am extremly sensitive to noise and this amp has none. Absolutely nothing. I even connected my Grado Hemp (which is like IEM sensitive) to see lf it picks up any noise. Nothing.
This specific behavior makes me wonder if there’s any grounding issue. Not my area of expertise tho. Perhaps try connecting the amp via a power conditioner or, to start, just an outlet elsewhere that has no other devices nearby?
I do have a slight physical hum coming from my unit but there is no noise going to the headphones. I was told an Emotiva CMX2 (line filter with dc blocker) would help, but no avail.
Like others have said, it’s only noticeable when my room is dead silent. The fans on my computer drown out the hum entirely, and they are not even loud at all.
This specific behavior makes me wonder if there’s any grounding issue. Not my area of expertise tho. Perhaps try connecting the amp via a power conditioner or, to start, just an outlet elsewhere that has no other devices nearby?
It's very possible/likely, although I would've thought this would manifest as noise in both channels instead of just one. I definitely think this was the cause of noise on my Cayin.
I have the OTL connected to a small 2-plug Furman conditioner, but cleaning up the power more in my setup is a definite goal for the future, considering it shares outlets with a bunch of computer equipment.
It's very possible/likely, although I would've thought this would manifest as noise in both channels instead of just one. I definitely think this was the cause of noise on my Cayin.
I have the OTL connected to a small 2-plug Furman conditioner, but cleaning up the power more in my setup is a definite goal for the future, considering **it shares outlets with a bunch of computer equipment**
I'm new to the world of tube converters so apologies for the newbie question - Before I plug this in I just wanted to confirm this is correct to use 12AU7 in the input slot. Also would this allow use of E80CC tubes? I know they are not 100% interchangeable with 12AU7 but can be used in some cases. I have a few because Cayin approved their use in the HA-3A in place of the 12AU7.
I'm new to the world of tube converters so apologies for the newbie question - Before I plug this in I just wanted to confirm this is correct to use 12AU7 in the input slot. Also would this allow use of E80CC tubes? I know they are not 100% interchangeable with 12AU7 but can be used in some cases. I have a few because Cayin approved their use in the HA-3A in place of the 12AU7.
Hola ZMF Decware OTL owners! Curious if any of you would be interested in trading for a ZMF Aegis with a nice collection of tubes? If so PM me, I've got mountains of feedback here and am well known. Only USA trades please, and members must have good feedback here. I have other SET amps that are similar sonically to the Aegis, but nothing like the Decware OTL.
Finally looking into doing some tube rolling on this thing after listening to it with stock tubes over the last couple months.
I think I'm going to do the Tung Sol 5687s and an RCA 6BQ7A. I'd need a pair of Tung Sols and just one RCA, correct? Still getting used to these tube types...
On adapters - anyone have suggestions for the Tung Sols? The link I tried didn't lead me anywhere. Also I found this listing from Tube Depot, a place I've bought from with good luck before for the RCA - is this as good as any 6BQ7A? https://www.tubedepot.com/products/...-7Mh8Hhaz_TsTnIN5LS-bWVlaCjDtI4xoCgS0QAvD_BwE
Only $4.99? No adapter needed for this tube on this amp?
@OnlySoMany - would you recommend an RCA rectifier? An RCA 5U4G perhaps, or a U52 instead? Any place you'd recommend to buy from?
Finally looking into doing some tube rolling on this thing after listening to it with stock tubes over the last couple months.
I think I'm going to do the Tung Sol 5687s and an RCA 6BQ7A. I'd need a pair of Tung Sols and just one RCA, correct? Still getting used to these tube types...
On adapters - anyone have suggestions for the Tung Sols? The link I tried didn't lead me anywhere. Also I found this listing from Tube Depot, a place I've bought from with good luck before for the RCA - is this as good as any 6BQ7A? https://www.tubedepot.com/products/...-7Mh8Hhaz_TsTnIN5LS-bWVlaCjDtI4xoCgS0QAvD_BwE
Only $4.99? No adapter needed for this tube on this amp?
@OnlySoMany - would you recommend an RCA rectifier? An RCA 5U4G perhaps, or a U52 instead? Any place you'd recommend to buy from?
The very best I have found were 1940s era rca 5u4g tubes. 70s era were very good as well. Be prepared to pay though, I believe the 1940s were around $350-400 each, and 70s era were around $180 each.
1940s give a more ethereal presentation, 70s a bit more thump and presence.
You can verify the era by the date code that is stamped on the box and also the tube base. They should match.
Edit, added the code list below. It's the first pdf link. Won't let me link to the pdf for some reason.
The very best I have found were 1940s era rca 5u4g tubes. 70s era were very good as well. Be prepared to pay though, I believe the 1940s were around $350-400 each, and 70s era were around $180 each.
1940s give a more ethereal presentation, 70s a bit more thump and presence.
You can verify the era by the date code that is stamped on the box and also the tube base. They should match.
Edit, added the code list below. It's the first pdf link. Won't let me link to the pdf for some reason.
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