[cats4cans]

Evening Gents,

I hope you are well? Just checking in to see how your respective journeys are going?

Not messing further with a setup is a good thing, right? My MZ3 is on for hours everyday and I haven’t futzed with the tubes in quite awhile. RCA 6201 blackplate and 12SN7GT clear. I forget the exact years, but they’re older than I am so 60s, maybe even 50s. I thought I was buying a preamp, but I think I use it that way least of all. Paired with ZMF VO is my favorite, so quick, but what continues to surprise me is how well it behaves as an integrated. I know it’s maxing out at less than 1/2W into 16 ohm Zu speakers, but it sounds so good and gets plenty loud. Not broadcast volume, but I usually tap out well before 90 dB-C anyway. Need to protect my hearing for the long term.

 

[AussieMick]

 

[cats4cans]

I’ve been told that’s a killer combo. What speakers are you driving?

 

[AussieMick]

I’ve been told that’s a killer combo. What speakers are you driving?

Focal Kanta No.2. Innuos Zen MK3 streamer, Chord M Scaler/TT2 DAC.

 

[AussieMick]

Australian/New Zealand people, I have an MZ3 for sale. PM if interested. Trying to raise the dollars for a Z40+

 

[George Hincapie]

Australian/New Zealand people, I have an MZ3 for sale. PM if interested. Trying to raise the dollars for a Z40+

I approve of this upgrade.

 

[Killerb]

I approve of this upgrade.

FWIW, I use a MZ3 as a preamp with a Z40+ and it is a super sweet combo that I cannot imagine will be bettered in my system. Maybe if you can find a used Z40+ like I did, you could keep your options open.

 

[Atriya]

Has anyone found the 200-step "Hi-Res" volume control to behave differently from the standard 100-step volume control?

With the high-res, the increase in volume as I turn the dial up seems more uneven, and at lower volumes the sound seems tonally disbalanced.

Even at a fixed normal listening volume, I'm not sure the sound is the same in both cases: it seems more "forward" when using the standard volume control.

 

[jamato8]

Has anyone found the 200-step "Hi-Res" volume control to behave differently from the standard 100-step volume control?

With the high-res, the increase in volume as I turn the dial up seems more uneven, and at lower volumes the sound seems tonally disbalanced. Even at a fixed normal listening volume, I'm not sure the sound is the same in both cases: it seems more "forward" when using the standard volume.

Have you asked LTA about this?

 

[Atriya]

Have you asked LTA about this?

I probably should, yes. Was just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

 

[cats4cans]

I probably should, yes. Was just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

I’ve never noticed a tonal or presentation change. It’s still the same resistor ladder, just with more steps I think. The curve seems different though, it isn’t just 2:1.

 

[skhan007]

Didn't even know this existed. Something they're putting on newer MZ3's?

 

[Atriya]

I’ve never noticed a tonal or presentation change. It’s still the same resistor ladder, just with more steps I think. The curve seems different though, it isn’t just 2:1.

The curve is definitely different. On hi-res I listen at 120/199, so 60%, but on the standard control the same volume is around 35/100, so only about 35%.

Leading up to the 120/199 on the hi-res setting, say when I am at 50/199, I get this "ghostlike" sound profile, where there is no bass at all, just upper-mids and treble. Increasing further to listening levels, the bass and mids come in.