The Decware TABOO MK 111 Thread

[fortunate son]

Quote:

Is there anything more you can add to the comparison of Woo 6 SE to the Taboo? There aren't many that have had a chance to compare those 2 amps. I will get a chance this coming weekend at SSI to hear the Woo 6 SE and 22 for use with my new LCD 3's, so would appreciate any comparison of tonality and dynamics between the 6 SE and Taboos, as that would give me a good point of reference that I will then be able to extrapolate by comparing the Woo 6 SE and 22 (along with other headphone amps that'll be there). When I say tonality, I mean in terms of richness, depth of detail, soundstage, etc. I'd expect similar overall frequency response between good amps - at this level, it's the texture/tone that changes - ie, not what notes it plays, but HOW it plays them.

Thanks for any insight!

The differences I heard are those which will vary from person to person and from headphone to headphone. Both amps have excellent detail and a nice soundstage. The cost of the amps differs by $500-$700 so that is a consideration.

I hold a different view. The differences I heard were huge in terms of what you describe as "tonality, I mean in terms of richness, depth of detail, soundstage, etc.". The ZTMKIII was a big step up in my view and the clear winner. This view is based on owning the 6SE for over a year and upgrading parts and expensive tube rolling even using adapters to try virtually every tube possible. Upon first hearing the ZTMKIII with its factory supplied Russian input and output tubes and the rectifier supplied by Decware, I was wowed and never for a moment considered going back to the 6SE. Trying to make the 6SE sound great with upgrades was like putting lipstick on a pig to make it pretty. It just did not work. The Decware sounded awesome to me right out of the box from the factory, though I eventually improved it further with a WE422A rectifier, rolling NOS 6922 input tubes and using Telefunken EL84 power tubes. It is a masterful amp that I'll never sell. Like any great amp, it needs proper care and feeding with a worthy power cord such as the Decware Power Cord Model DHC2 or DHC3 and great interconnects such as those available from 10audio.com.

 

[ng5921]

If anyone is thinking about selling their Taboo , please let me know! I am interested in purchasing.

 

[LE9000]

I hold a different view. The differences I heard were huge in terms of what you describe as "tonality, I mean in terms of richness, depth of detail, soundstage, etc.". The ZTMKIII was a big step up in my view and the clear winner. This view is based on owning the 6SE for over a year and upgrading parts and expensive tube rolling even using adapters to try virtually every tube possible. Upon first hearing the ZTMKIII with its factory supplied Russian input and output tubes and the rectifier supplied by Decware, I was wowed and never for a moment considered going back to the 6SE. Trying to make the 6SE sound great with upgrades was like putting lipstick on a pig to make it pretty. It just did not work. The Decware sounded awesome to me right out of the box from the factory, though I eventually improved it further with a WE422A rectifier, rolling NOS 6922 input tubes and using Telefunken EL84 power tubes. It is a masterful amp that I'll never sell. Like any great amp, it needs proper care and feeding with a worthy power cord such as the Decware Power Cord Model DHC2 or DHC3 and great interconnects such as those available from 10audio.com.

I am super excited to read this. Managed to find a 2. Hand MK3 in Scandinavia - no easy task btw. Am currently waiting for its arrival - while enjoying this thread.
Sold my woo 6SE a long time ago- an ampsandsound Mogwai took its place. I found that to be much more engaging.
Happy to hear the Decware is not a 6SE clone in sound signature.
HPs waiting for the new amp are LCD3 and ZMF VO.

 

[fortunate son]

Yup, works great. My favorite input tube for the Taboo is a Tung Sol 6SN7GT.

I'm looking forward to trying this. An adapter is on order.
For now, the Tungsram E88CC is very nice with Telefunken EL84 and WE422a that I bought many years ago before the prices escalated.

 

[LE9000]

Hi All,
I was lucky to get my hands on a MKiii - wired for 240v. I Live in Scandinavia.

First of all. I’m blown away by this amp. I love the sound.

However, I do struggle with hum. The classic 50hz transformer hum. Independent from volume control.
Changes with different rectifiers, but it is always there.

With LCD-3 the hum is pretty substantial.

My question to the collective experience in this forum:
Has anyone ever made any changes to the amp in order to silence the noise?

Needless to say, I have done all the testing with ground loops etc.
the transformer keeps buzzing.

might it simply be the 50hz strain on a transformer designed for 60hz operation???

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ng5921]

Still searching for a Taboo if anyone is considering selling theirs!

 

[LE9000]

Hi All,
I was lucky to get my hands on a MKiii - wired for 240v. I Live in Scandinavia.

First of all. I’m blown away by this amp. I love the sound.

However, I do struggle with hum. The classic 50hz transformer hum. Independent from volume control.
Changes with different rectifiers, but it is always there.

With LCD-3 the hum is pretty substantial.

My question to the collective experience in this forum:
Has anyone ever made any changes to the amp in order to silence the noise?

Needless to say, I have done all the testing with ground loops etc.
the transformer keeps buzzing.

might it simply be the 50hz strain on a transformer designed for 60hz operation???

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

No one ever tried to silence the power transformer on the Taboo??

 

[fortunate son]

+1 in favor of using adapter from tubedepot with VT-231 6SN7GT as input tube for ZTMkiii

Huge improvement in every way over the Tungsram E88CC I had been using.

 

[fortunate son]

No one ever tried to silence the power transformer on the Taboo??

Have you tried emailing Steve Deckert at Decware? He has been very helpful to me with questions I've had about my amp.

​

 

[LE9000]

Have you tried emailing Steve Deckert at Decware? He has been very helpful to me with questions I've had about my amp.

​

Yep, I have an ongoing corresponding with Steve. And he is doing his best to troubleshoot the issue via email.

However, we are starting with the very basics - like replacing tubes, DC on the power line etc.

The thing is: researching the humming problem with my amp led me to a thread by the former owner of the amp. He described in detail how he did all to eliminate the hum - just as I have done.
Even taking it to a Hifi center to test with power conditioners etc.
(To be honest, I would rather sell the amp that put myself in a position where I had to buy power cleaning gear that cost 2-3-4 times the amp.)

The thread ends with the former owner accepting the hum.

Now the amp is in my hands. And I absolutely love the sound.
Not so much the hum
I’m not expecting it to be completely silent - like a woo audio amp. Or my Violectric amp.
I can tolerate some noise.

I had similar issues with an ampsandsound transformer.

A local tech explained to me that the difference in Eu power line 50hz vs US 60hz can be a fundamental problem for some American made transformers. Something about the lack of iron in the core of the transformers - but I have no idea if this is true.

Reading more about this topic I found some DIY suggestions how to silence a humming transformer by lowering it in a bath of varnish.
This way eliminating vibrations in the core of the transformer.

This thread contains posts from owners who also struggle with hum. It even has examples of people sending it in for a service- and then getting it back completely silent.
That is kind of the dream scenario - but sending it in for service from Scandinavia is not a simple thing.
So I want to do as much research in advance as possible.

(Sorry for the loooong post - but it might be helpful for future reading)

 

[Swagsupply]

Is anyone interested in buying a Taboo MK 4?

 

[OnlySoMany]

Is anyone interested in buying a Taboo MK 4?

What are the specs and details? Feel free to pm as well.

 

[goldwerger]

I wonder whether anyone knows:

In the Taboo Mk4, are the meters (that shows the output tubes current level) supposed to be lit up (have background lighting) or not?

Thank you

 

[LXMc]

I wonder whether anyone knows:

In the Taboo Mk4, are the meters (that shows the output tubes current level) supposed to be lit up (have background lighting) or not?

Thank you

I am curious for confirmation as well. Just for reference, this is where I got my info on this I mentioned in the watercooler thread (linked to from the Decware contact page): https://www.decwareproducts.com/_files/ugd/f1f204_8c017ab318c543a797b6fed6f2cedbe9.pdf

 

[Swagsupply]

I wonder whether anyone knows:

In the Taboo Mk4, are the meters (that shows the output tubes current level) supposed to be lit up (have background lighting) or not?

Thank you

Does not light up on mine. No difference from MK3 meters.