[davidxtb]

really interested in ZDT in driving AKG K1000

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidxtb /img/forum/go_quote.gif really interested in ZDT in driving AKG K1000

My ZDT with a Sylvania gold pin 5751 and PS Audio Digital Link III DAC set for 192K up-sampling is fairly good with the K1000, and was better than all my previous attempts at amping them. But wiatrob's balanced EHHA was slightly better when I compared them side by side for 2 weeks last October. With GE black plate 5751 tube the K1000/ZDT was too dark. However, my SAC KH1000 amp is even better with my K1000 than both of those amps above.

HiFlight who sold me the SAC amp says the Red Wine Audio 30.2 amp is even better with K1000 than the SAC was. I've also heard the K1000 on Naamanf's Beta 22 amp, and my memory tells me that was also quite good as it was better than his O2 Mk1 on his Blue Hawaii amp. I just don't know how it would compare to the others.

Right now the K1000 are in my main rig with the ZDT, and the SAC amp is in my bedroom for the HE-5 and HD600, so that tells me the ZDT isn't so bad because I do use them with it. It's just not my first choice.

 

[Mr.Sir]

That's interesting. I recently bought AKG K1000/SAC K1000 combination and have been interested in the ZDT. Not only as an upgrade to the SAC but also as a neat solution since it can drive speakers/K1000/headphones without a switch box.

Do you think an improvement can be made for a similar price?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Sir /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's interesting. I recently bought AKG K1000/SAC K1000 combination and have been interested in the ZDT. Not only as an upgrade to the SAC but also as a neat solution since it can drive speakers/K1000/headphones without a switch box. Do you think an improvement can be made for a similar price?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Can you re-phrase it?

The ZDT is great with almost every headphone I have tried with it, but the K1000 have a special requirement, which is a speaker amp that drives 120 ohms well, or a headphone amp with gobs of power into 120 ohms. The ZDT is not bad with them, but it doesn't seem to bring out the K1000's best in terms of detail or bass. The EHHA and SAC were brighter and crisper sounding with K1000, and bass impact improved with EHHA, and then got even better with SAC. HiFlight likes the RWA 30.2 amp with K1000 the most. So does mrarroyo.

 

[Mr.Sir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not sure I understand the question.

Sorry, I worded that terribly.

What I mean is: for roughly the price of the ZDT, can an improvement be made on the SAC K1000?

As you mention, the RWA Signature 30.2 seems like the obvious answer. Are there any alternatives?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Sir /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry, I worded that terribly. What I mean is: for roughly the price of the ZDT, can an improvement be made on the SAC K1000? As you mention, the RWA Signature 30.2 seems like the obvious answer. Are there any alternatives?

A balanced Beta 22 amp would be my choice, having not heard the others.

HiFlight liked an RWA modded Teac speaker amp, but he likes the RWA 30.2 more.

 

[Mr.Sir]

Interesting. Thanks for your thoughts.

I will investigate both more thoroughly.

 

[davidxtb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidxtb /img/forum/go_quote.gif really interested in ZDT in driving AKG K1000

I have compared the SAC KH1000 with my RKV MKII(TELEFUNKEN PCL805 TUBES),yet only to find sac kn1000 IS NOT powful enough to drive K1000, not only in depth and and in scale.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidxtb /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have compared the SAC KH1000 with my RKV MKII(TELEFUNKEN PCL805 TUBES),yet only to find sac kn1000 IS NOT powful enough to drive K1000, not only in depth and and in scale.

Just how loud do you need to play the K1000?

 

[davidxtb]

the sound pressure is not enough in playing symphony even when I turn the regulation resistance of RKV MKII to eleven clock, esp the bass and dynamic state.
as per the power, output voltage of the 10 or more Watts/channel mark in the 120 Ohm impedance will be more preferred. RKV MKII can not provide such power, neither doer SAC KH1000 or AKG BAP1000.
I have tried Musicalfidelity A500a. It can drive AKG K1000 much better yet the sound is too irritative, dry and astringent, in comparison with RKV MKII and AKG BAP1000.the solution is to make AKG BAP1000 as the preamp of the A500a system.
I hope to find some better amp to drive K1000.

 

[Frihed89]

Fast forward 4 months or so.
 
Am I missing something?  There seem to be very few threads/posts on the ZDT from new owners.  Has this amp suddenly become passé?    
 
Has it reached it's third build order?
 
Has anyone seen a comparison o the Sonet and ZDT, by any chance?

 

[recstar24]

One thing I have noticed by owners of crags amps, which included myself for many years, is that we enjoy the amps so much we spend more time listening to them then posting impressions. I call it awesome amp syndrome

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

That, and the fact that I think the BA has been getting all the press.  Plus Craig is not a high volume amp builder either.

 

[Frihed89]

Will the amp work with 12AY7, 12AT7 or 12AZ7? They are all electrically different than the 12AX7 and with less gain than the 5751.  The driver of the power tube on each side is just one section of a small triode (12AX7), as is! 

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Will the amp work with 12AY7, 12AT7 or 12AZ7? They are all electrically different than the 12AX7 and with less gain than the 5751.  The driver of the power tube on each side is just one section of a small triode (12AX7), as is! 

I don't know about those.  I do know in addition to the 12AX7 you can use 12BZ7 and 5751.  I know that the 12AU7 wont bias properly and I was told not to use it.