Have any of you tried any new tube combinations lately you'd like to share? I've been reading about the new PSVane Horizon range - considering taking them for a whirl.
Still haven’t done much “critical” listening yet though I have had some nice sessions. I’ll learn more once I switch back to my NOS set. I also plan to compare to new production TungSol 6SN7 with Gold Lion 12AT7. I posted this on FB 6 days ago.
One immediate complaint about the new Psvane Horizon CV181 - I’m going to need the big bottle top cover for my MZ3. I’ve been using mostly NOS 12SN7 tubes and they’re all short and skinny. Oh well, I had thought about getting the other cover someday anyway.
Nothing else to report yet. Just barely warmed them up so far, but no noise and haven’t noticed anything off. So that’s a good start. The bad stuff is usually easy to hear right away, but the good stuff sometimes takes a while. The HP8 has OEM Psvane Shaw tubes and a fancy NOS Brimar. Going to try the Horizon tubes there too once they’ve settled in. Both amps take 12AT7 tubes, they’re just too short to show in the MZ3. So much listening to do. Woe is me.
Still haven’t done much “critical” listening yet though I have had some nice sessions. I’ll learn more once I switch back to my NOS set. I also plan to compare to new production TungSol 6SN7 with Gold Lion 12AT7. I posted this on FB 6 days ago.
One immediate complaint about the new Psvane Horizon CV181 - I’m going to need the big bottle top cover for my MZ3. I’ve been using mostly NOS 12SN7 tubes and they’re all short and skinny. Oh well, I had thought about getting the other cover someday anyway.
Nothing else to report yet. Just barely warmed them up so far, but no noise and haven’t noticed anything off. So that’s a good start. The bad stuff is usually easy to hear right away, but the good stuff sometimes takes a while. The HP8 has OEM Psvane Shaw tubes and a fancy NOS Brimar. Going to try the Horizon tubes there too once they’ve settled in. Both amps take 12AT7 tubes, they’re just too short to show in the MZ3. So much listening to do. Woe is me.
The big bottle cover is in transit. I always knew it was just a matter of time.
The tubes are available on Amazon in pairs. Mine are actually from a contest they had. Free tubes always sound a little bit better, right? I haven’t heard any blatant faults yet, but mostly I’m using the MZ3 as an integrated. I think headphone listening will be more revealing. Had a really nice session with Jenny Lewis’s Joy’All and Grado RS-2x. For barely broken in headphones and tubes it sounded pretty magical. All the layers and textures were there. The real test is when I switch them out, but I want to give them a few weeks to settle in before I start nitpicking. Dead quiet is a good start.
For those using newer LTA amps with the "Hi-Res" volume control: do you use the standard volume control (100 steps) or the "Hi-Res" one (199 steps)?
Do you find them to have different characteristics (apart from the step granularity of course)?
I find that my listening volume is 40% on the standard volume control, but the same loudness is only achieved at 70% on the "Hi-Res" one. I'm not sure why. The manual says the "Hi-Res" has a more "linear attenuation curve" than the standard volume control, so maybe that has something to do with it.
For those using newer LTA amps with the "Hi-Res" volume control: do you use the standard volume control (100 steps) or the "Hi-Res" one (199 steps)?
Do you find them to have different characteristics (apart from the step granularity of course)?
I find that my listening volume is 40% on the standard volume control, but the same loudness is only achieved at 70% on the "Hi-Res" one. I'm not sure why. The manual says the "Hi-Res" has a more "linear attenuation curve" than the standard volume control, so maybe that has something to do with it.
The standard volume control setting is logarithmic, so the steps get bigger as you turn up the volume. The Hi-Res setting changes this to a linear mapping. This is why you have to turn the volume up more with the Hi-Res setting enabled.
Finally, back in the 'active roster' after a spell in move-related storage, is LTA MZ3. Going '12V' all the way:
pair of Sylvania 'green print' 12SN7 with pair of M-O-V (Marconi-Osram-Valve) A2900 (a 12AT7).
After a thirty-minute low-volume, music-playing warmup ... sound is glorious with tenacity, to boot!
Finally, back in the 'active roster' after a spell in move-related storage, is LTA MZ3. Going '12V' all the way: pair of Sylvania 'green print' 12SN7 with pair of M-O-V (Marconi-Osram-Valve) A2900 (a 12AT7).
After a thirty-minute low-volume, music-playing warmup ... sound is glorious with tenacity, to boot! [Grado RS-1x: 98db/mW, 38 ohms]
I just posted this in MZ2 thread but thought I'd share here too (share same tubes):
I have had my MZ2 for over 10 years. In all that time never rolled tubes. I just assumed that tubes unlike other tube amps wasn't going to make significant differences.
I accepted the MZ2 for what it was. Solid state with some tube qualities.
I did feel that when I had the Woo Audio WA6 that I had enjoyed music more. But I was at a point in the hobby that I got tired of chasing for better and not feeling it was better. Here and there when I went to cam jams and heard the TOTL woo audio and Cavalli amps I would feel like that's the sound I want but felt those amps and sound were too out of my league.
Few weeks back I decided to try new tubes. Replaced the 12sn7 RCA with Sylvania and 12at7 Brimars. It wasn't it. Not the sound signature I craved.
Then did some research and ordered the Melz 1578 (6sn7) from Russia and also RFT Foil Disc Getter 12at7 from Poland.
While I waited for them to arrive I got interested in Monoprice Cavalli Platinum.
I loved it. The mid bloom and immediacy just moved me. It was smooth but lively.
I thought this is what I want but with more taller and wider staging and detail and with more defined bass and extended treble.
Then a week later, the Melz arrived first. So popped them in and tried them with the stock GE Jan 12at7. Oh boy!!!
Things opened up. Really opened up. More air, more space. Just became so much more expansive and immersive.
Not just improved clarity and details but sound became more vivid and vibrant. The sound became so much more lifelike.
Things sounded more real--timbre!!
Melz made MZ2 faster and dynamic--3D.
Not that it was flat sounding before but the kind of holographic 3D the Melz is creating makes me feel like it was flat sounding.
Mids: more present, full and immediate. Comparatively before the Melz, with RCA the mids sounded slightly thin and recessed.
Bass: improvement and increase in bass. At the same time bass became more punchy, fast, tight and hard hitting.
Treble became more extended and shimmering but not bright nor harsh. The influence of the treble made the sound more wetter and airy.
Just more air and space between the notes, instruments and overall sound. It really creates a more 3D space.
The sound for example soars and extends like there is no end. Or the sound appears out of blackness from no where.
Overall went from feeling ok with Zotl to loving the amp.
I'm loving it and hitting myself for not tube rolling and trying these great tubes.
Of course I'm loving it because of my sonic preferences: an open and airy sound. So YMMV.
I just posted this in MZ2 thread but thought I'd share here too (share same tubes):
I have had my MZ2 for over 10 years. In all that time never rolled tubes. I just assumed that tubes unlike other tube amps wasn't going to make significant differences.
I accepted the MZ2 for what it was. Solid state with some tube qualities.
I did feel that when I had the Woo Audio WA6 that I had enjoyed music more. But I was at a point in the hobby that I got tired of chasing for better and not feeling it was better. Here and there when I went to cam jams and heard the TOTL woo audio and Cavalli amps I would feel like that's the sound I want but felt those amps and sound were too out of my league.
Few weeks back I decided to try new tubes. Replaced the 12sn7 RCA with Sylvania and 12at7 Brimars. It wasn't it. Not the sound signature I craved.
Then did some research and ordered the Melz 1578 (6sn7) from Russia and also RFT Foil Disc Getter 12at7 from Poland.
While I waited for them to arrive I got interested in Monoprice Cavalli Platinum.
I loved it. The mid bloom and immediacy just moved me. It was smooth but lively.
I thought this is what I want but with more taller and wider staging and detail and with more defined bass and extended treble.
Then a week later, the Melz arrived first. So popped them in and tried them with the stock RCA 12at7. Oh boy!!!
Things opened up. Really opened up. More air, more space. Just became so much more expansive and immersive.
Not just improved clarity and details but sound became more vivid and vibrant. The sound became so much more lifelike.
Things sounded more real--timbre!!
Melz made MZ2 faster and dynamic.
Mids: more present, full and immediate. Comparatively before the Melz, with RCA the mids sounded slightly thin and recessed.
Bass: improvement and increase in bass. At the same time bass became more punchy, fast, tight and hard hitting.
Treble became more extended and shimmering but not bright nor harsh. The influence of the treble made the sound more wetter and airy.
Just more air and space between the notes, instruments and overall sound.
Overall went from feeling ok with Zotl to loving the amp.
I'm loving it and hitting myself for not tube rolling and trying these great tubes.
Of course I'm loving it because of my sonic preferences: an open and airy sound. So YMMV.
I have a trouble-shooting question for fellow MZ3 owners.
Have any of you encountered low level static when listening through headphones? It’s only evident during quiet passages and between tracks. I’ve changed both sets of tubes (NOS and new stock), rotated the tubes, changed headphones, cables, and sources. The static is consistently through the left channel—and moves to the right when I reverse the L/R headphone cable. This is my first tube amp and it’s incredibly annoying.
I also tried multiple different outlets throughout the house and powered directly from a Jackery because I thought it might be a power issue.
LTA suggested I send it back for them to inspect—but I’m reluctant to do that until I can rule out user error. I don’t have this issue with my gsx-mini.
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