microZOTL 3 by Linear Tube Audio. True High End Audio.

[jonathan c]

I am curious about the BP dac too and have seen good reviews of it, are you using the usb or co-axial?

Coaxial only.

 

[archi_shih]

Cool stuff and I think the BP looks nice with the tube rectifier. I am currently using denafrips ares with mz3 as well an Eddie Current Studio B. I think this will be my end game for a very long time in terms of headphone amp/preamp dac combination.

 

[adeadcrab]

Not a MZ3 owner (yet - though I may get the Z10E instead) but I love the Soekris line of R2R DACs. Their latest flagship is the 2541. I have the single-ended 1421.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/soe...41-1421-1321-1101.854918/page-7#post-15994916

 

[archi_shih]

Actually the Z10E looks nice if you can utilize the electrostatic headphone amp and the 10 watt power amp may be well suitable for someone with high efficiency speakers. I recently built a pair full range with audax 6" driver, the MZ3 can drive them to a reasonable volume with 50 on the led display. On the BP dac, I read it uses Philips r2r chips, I am wondering my Metrum flint uses the same chips (both gen one and gen two were concealed in a ceramic knid of package with pins out, and Metrum doesn't say what they use for their chips). Don't know much about the Soekris but seen some good reviews.

 

[ThinLizzyDireStraits]

Cool stuff and I think the BP looks nice with the tube rectifier. I am currently using denafrips ares with mz3 as well an Eddie Current Studio B. I think this will be my end game for a very long time in terms of headphone amp/preamp dac combination.

I just picked up the Denafrips Ares 2 off a fellow head-fier. Excited to give it a shot with my incoming MZ3.

 

[archi_shih]

I just picked up the Denafrips Ares 2 off a fellow head-fier. Excited to give it a shot with my incoming MZ3.

I quite like the combination of mz3 and denafrips ares in my systems. They give very pleasing highs and good lows mass. And I use them for listening to jazz, rap, rock, classic, and either from vinyl or spotify. All sound very good considering the ares is not very highly priced. I however haven't really heard any other higher priced dacs, so far I have had Hegel HD 12, Chord mojo, RME adi-2 pro, and i think the denafrips ares sounds smoothest for me, and probably on par with Metrum flint, they are both r2r dac. mz3 will need some days to burn in, then you will start to feel the sound settled in. Happy listening!

 

[Rhodey]

I understand the stock tubes in the mz3 are pretty good but I was curious if anyone has had any luck swapping them out for something else? Any suggestions?

 

[supabayes]

I just pulled the trigger on a MZ3 without tubes to save some money because more likely I will not be happy with stock tubes. People that are not so sure if the MZ3 is suitable for their taste should realize that the amp will take 6SN7 types with jumpers. There are endless tonal options for the 6SN7 family, well, they will cost little more than 12SN7 types for sure. I have some Brimar CV4033 and Mazda 6FQ7 with silver shields in my collection that will pretty much put the MZ3 to the end of the tube-rolling game.


My intension to use it as an reference preamp and headphone amp as secondary. The tonal neutrality of the MZ3 may pair with 300B or 300B driven 845 power amps perfectly, at least on paper, we will see……

PS: I am aware there are Cryo Mullard 6021 and 6060 yellow T options but I will start with CV4033 to get a reference point.

Haven’t logged in to headfi for a while. I m using the MZ3 with stock tubes as a reference preamp and to my LineMagnetic 219IA, which is 300B/845 as you mentioned. The pairing is excellent. Have you tried the combination as posted?

 

[ThinLizzyDireStraits]

I quite like the combination of mz3 and denafrips ares in my systems. They give very pleasing highs and good lows mass. And I use them for listening to jazz, rap, rock, classic, and either from vinyl or spotify. All sound very good considering the ares is not very highly priced. I however haven't really heard any other higher priced dacs, so far I have had Hegel HD 12, Chord mojo, RME adi-2 pro, and i think the denafrips ares sounds smoothest for me, and probably on par with Metrum flint, they are both r2r dac. mz3 will need some days to burn in, then you will start to feel the sound settled in. Happy listening!

I am impressed with the MZ3. Received it yesterday. The sound is amazing so far, much more filled in and 3D as compared to my THX789 (from what I can tell). Clear/clean sound, with tube sound rolled in. No background noise. Listening with Focal Clear at the moment.

 

[archi_shih]

I am impressed with the MZ3. Received it yesterday. The sound is amazing so far, much more filled in and 3D as compared to my THX789 (from what I can tell). Clear/clean sound, with tube sound rolled in. No background noise. Listening with Focal Clear at the moment.

Good for you! Just curious what tubes are you using in mz3 currently? The power supply seems much larger than mine. Maybe LTA has recently upgraded it.

 

[ThinLizzyDireStraits]

Good for you! Just curious what tubes are you using in mz3 currently? The power supply seems much larger than mine. Maybe LTA has recently upgraded it.

I didn't check the tubes yet, haha, I was too excited to get it hooked up. Still running stocks. I'll see what it shipped with and update my post with the tube info.

Yeah, they must have recently upgraded their power supply chassis at the very least. Not sure if anything else changed. The online store still has an old product image of their power supply.

I gotta say, I love the build on these.

 

[sarnhelen]

Yes, mine arrived half an hour ago, new power chassis is more compact which suits me. Immediate impression, listening to orchestra, is of massive soundstage, and great timbre. Can it really get better?

 

[jamato8]

Yes, mine arrived half an hour ago, new power chassis is more compact which suits me. Immediate impression, listening to orchestra, is of massive soundstage, and great timbre. Can it really get better?

I bought the top of the line Abyss after hearing it with my MZ3. I was told by Abyss, it would have enough power. Yes it does and the sound stage was and is magnificent. I also enjoy the SR2 by iBasso with it a lot, some of the best sound I have heard. The stock tubes are NOS and really are hard to beat but that is the fun of tubes, get a few different ones and have fun.

 

[ThinLizzyDireStraits]

Good for you! Just curious what tubes are you using in mz3 currently? The power supply seems much larger than mine. Maybe LTA has recently upgraded it.

Here are the stock tube(s)

Made in Canada
General Electric GE - JAN-CLPV 12SX7GT 62-09

 

[Sound Eq]

is the MicorZotl 3 enough to drive with authority hifiman he1000v1

I wonder if leaner means that the signature of the amp is leaning toward analytical lean signature, as all hifiman headphone in the 1000 series in my opinion would be better to match up with full bodied rich organic amps

I always associate leaner with burson amps, where i did have the conductor 2 and that was not the signature I liked at all, as the mids were thin, and when you raise the volume is just highs and bass