[VanHai]

Thanks to you all for the advise. I have swapped out the tubes in the order suggested for others I have to hand. Annoyingly, the issue is with one of the Melz. Swapped the black RCA in and absolute silence, all cracks and popping gone. I am the sad.

Am going to contact the buyer and see if they are will to do anything for me.

The Melz's 1578 are notoriously noisy tubes. i bought 2 pairs from ebay and was lucky that they are very quiet, my were built in 1982. I think your from 1986, check out this link https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-reference-6sn7-thread.117677/

There are some remedies that you can make them quiet.

 

[George Hincapie]

Thanks Van, will have a look.

 

[George Hincapie]

I'd also be grateful for specific tube pairings you guys have found to work well in MZ3 so I can try some other options.

 

[jonathan c]

I'd also be grateful for specific tube pairings you guys have found to work well in MZ3 so I can try some other options.

A few ideas:
• RCA ‘narrow plate’ 6SN7 + Brimar CV455;
• CBS / Hytron 5692 + Mullard 6201 gold pin;
• Sylvania ‘bad boy: 2-hole plate’ 6SN7 + RFT ECC81 ‘foil getter’;
• Sylvania ‘tall boy chrome dome’ 6SN7 + TFK ECC801S;
• National Union ‘smoked glass’ 12SN7 + Valvo ECC81.

 

[jonathan c]

Lovely Tube Ammunition for MZ3:

[Tung Sol have ‘mouse ears’; Sylvania are ‘green print’]

 

[George Hincapie]

A few ideas:
• RCA ‘narrow plate’ 6SN7 + Brimar CV455;
• CBS / Hytron 5692 + Mullard 6201 gold pin;
• Sylvania ‘bad boy: 2-hole plate’ 6SN7 + RFT ECC81 ‘foil getter’;
• Sylvania ‘tall boy chrome dome’ 6SN7 + TFK ECC801S;
• National Union ‘smoked glass’ 12SN7 + Valvo ECC81.

Awesome. Thank you Jonathan.

 

[VanHai]

WOW!. What a combination, the BEST of the best. Tightly controlled mid, treble and vocal, super clear and deep that i ever heard on the MZ3 better sound stage and improved bass. The A2900s GEC are even better than the Valvo 6201 Gold Pin ( Emprex, Mullard and Phillip Gold Pin ect...)

 

[George Hincapie]

WOW!. What a combination, the BEST of the best. Tightly controlled mid, treble and vocal, super clear and deep that i ever heard on the MZ3 better sound stage and improved bass. The A2900s GEC are even better than the Valvo 6201 Gold Pin ( Emprex, Mullard and Phillip Gold Pin ect...)

With the Melz?

 

[VanHai]

With the Melz?

Hi John, yes with the Melz. They are expensive but worth it.

 

[jonathan c]

Hi John, yes with the Melz. They are expensive but worth it.

… I use the M-O-V (Marconi Osram Valve) A2900 pair - with Hitachi 12SN7 pair … mmm mmm mmm !!

 

[jonathan c]

Here is something to consider with MZ3 ….

[Cardas Audio RCA caps on unused sockets: dust and sound protection.]

 

[George Hincapie]

A new NOS DAC arrived today to pair with my LTA MZ3, replacing the Denafrips Ares II 12th Anniversary Edition and Denafrips Iris DDC combination.

The Audial S5 is built in Serbia by Pedja Rogic, and is a TD1541 Statement DAC.

I'll listen subjectively in a few weeks, but initial impressions are good.

 

[George Hincapie]

I do need to find a good USB source for it - any ideas? The Pi4 with LPSU and Ropieee isn't cutting it without the DDC.

 

[David A Silva]

A new NOS DAC arrived today to pair with my LTA MZ3, replacing the Denafrips Ares II 12th Anniversary Edition and Denafrips Iris DDC combination.

The Audial S5 is built in Serbia by Pedja Rogic, and is a TD1541 Statement DAC.

I'll listen subjectively in a few weeks, but initial impressions are good.

Congratulations!!!!!

 

[matthia]

I do need to find a good USB source for it - any ideas? The Pi4 with LPSU and Ropieee isn't cutting it without the DDC.

At SBAF "clemmaster" feeds his Audial S5 with a Holo Red via USB and seems to like it very much.
BTW, congrats, the black version looks really great, I am curious about your listening impressions.

Matt