Hi everyone,
Benjamin from Mojo Audio posting on Head-Fi for the first time (seriously).
So here's my ZOTL story...
drbluenewmexico is a local OCD audiophile, music lover, and music promoter - there's nothing in ABQ like a Dr. Blue party with live music!
The only good thing I got custody of when me and my ex broke up was Dr. Blue (long story, but he smiled when he read that).
I've never met anyone with more of a "collection" of headphones and headphone amps than Dr. Blue. He's got a vintage pair of Apogee Diva speakers and a pair of boat anchor class A Krell amps in his living room, but all he wants to listen to are his many world class headphones. When I first met him I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
I'm not sure if it was before or after he got his "after production" microZOTL1 from David Berning that he sent me a link to all this tech stuff on the ZOTL circuit, but I've been an EE and audiophile DIY hobbyist for decades, and this was one of the first ORIGINAL circuits I'd ever seen.
I had to hear that
Now historically I've owned many of the whose who of headphones, but due to comfort and no need, I always gravitated toward speakers. I actually owned a computer embroidery and uniform business for over a decade and made the hats, shirts, and jackets for the original HeadRoom team (who have since gone solo). They would send me anything I wanted to audition (OK...they wouldn't send me an Orpheus) and give me a deal on anything I wanted to barter for the wearable HeadRoom swag my company manufactured.
Some of the headphones I've owned (think of Goldie Locks and the Three Bears):
Stax SR-3 (no bass)
Grado GS100 (too hard)
Sennheiser HD600 (too soft...too much bass)
AKG K1000 (too uncomfortable)
Denon D2000 (close but no cigar)
Audeze LCD-2 (sounded like computers playing flawless music)
MrSpeakers Ether and Ether C (very, very close, but no cigar)
Sennheiser HD800 (too close...please back off a bit)
And many, many, more portable and less prestigious headphones.
So the first time I heard Dr. Blue's microZOTL1 I was floored. Keeping in mind that over the years I'd borrowed the best HeadRoom had to offer and built a half a dozen of my own DIY headphone amps. Dr. Blue had a well worn set of HD650s and I can't remember Sennheisers ever sounding so good. I seriously considered getting one, but I'd never gotten that much into headphones. They were always something to listen to when my lady wanted to sleep or for when I was on the road...certainly not my first choice.
Dr. Blue told the story of my bringing over an old used PSU for him to hear. After that it seemed like years went by with me visiting Dr. Blue and hearing his latest favorite headphones on his microZOTL1 (I've even bought some of his 2nd favorite headphones from him).
Then all of a sudden he's got this new microZOTL2 to audition - at the time I didn't realize what was going on between Dr. Blue, Mark, and David.
OK...it was black...I liked the look of his original blue metal and glass one better...sort of sounded like the original...I wondered what it would sound like with a decent PSU?
I dropped off an old Joule v1, listened for a bit, Dr. Blue loved the sound, and I never thought much of it after that. Why would I consider such an expensive headphone amp when I had such a good loudspeaker system?
A few months went by and Mark gave me a call about us potentially exhibiting together...that was the beginning of the end
Once I heard the microZOTL2 Mark sent me with my latest and greatest PSU and my digital source and I couldn't listen to my custom Maggies anymore.
That was it.
Every time I tried to listen to my loudspeaker system all I would hear would be the limitations of physics and the flaws in the room.
It didn't take long before my uncompromising reference system was my microZOTL2 - no loudspeaker system could compare.
In order to do my R&D I needed something as accurate as the microZOTL2 powered by a proper PSU and one of the better dynamic headphones (I've been through quite a few this year).
How else could I know what my DAC and music server prototypes actually sounded like?
Fast forward and my company has been exhibiting with Linear Tube Audio (ZOTL) at Can Jams and audiophile shows for over a year now.
You could not believe that a ZOTL40 drives my "acoustic sponge" Maggies almost as hard as my 400wpc hybrid Counterpoint SA-220 amp that I've highly customized.
And then my story took a turn...
A few weeks ago there was a Head-Fi meetup (more like a swap meet) and I heard Stax Omega SR-007 Mk1s for the first time played on a custom DIY direct-drive electrostatic amp (thanks Jim) with my prototype digital source...it took less than 30 seconds before I knew I had to have it (you all know what I mean).
So Dr. Blue had 20+ year old Stax Lambda headphones and a T1 amp he's been trying to barter with me for years that I finally snagged up (he prefers the more visceral sound of the microZOTL2). I've been restoring and upgrading the T1 amp for weeks (now better than new) and just bartered a set of Stax SR-007 Mk1s from Jim from the Head-Fi swap meet...er...meet up (Jim just bought a set of SR-007 Mk2s).
So Allen has my HD800s...Tony wants my Stax Lambda Pros that I got from Dr. Blue...Tony got Jim's half done Stax electrostatic amp kit...and those are just the transactions I was involved in. Not to mention that Tony, Jim, and I have meet for the past two weeks since the Head-Fi meet up to discuss the ultimate electrostatic headphone amp circuit?
This is what happened when the Santa Fe Audio Society meet the Albuquerque Head-Fi group (LOL!).
So last week I'm talking to Mark from ZOTL about our room at the upcoming RMAF and I reluctantly let slip that I switched to Stax ear speakers. Mark told me that he's been talking to David about a small board that converts the ZOTL10 into an electrostatic headphone amp (God loves me).
I've actually been bugging Mark to loan me a ZOTL10 to try in my bedroom...how cool would that be that it could drive my new/used Stax Omegas too
Can you only imagine the ZOTL10 electrostatic amp powered by my new Illuminati PSU driving one of Stax best ears speakers?!?!?!?
Well I can
Mark is not sure if or when he's going to make a prototype electrostatic headphone amp.
Of course I told him where to send his first prototype
Please feel free to disturb Mark at all hours of the day and night in regards to prototyping an electrostatic headphone amp.
If he starts now we may have it in time for RMAF in October
Oh...and don't mention to Mark that I told you about the ZOTL electrostatic headphone amp...it's supposed to be a secret