I'm telling you-don't judge the Zana that quick...it literally took me months to come to grips with it. At one point I thought it SOUNDED IDENTICAL to my Eximus built it headamp. I can tell by your description so far that you haven't come close to understanding the Zana. I hope that doesn't come across rude-like you're hearing wrong or something lol-but if there was EVER an amp that needed to be LIVED with for a while to come to terms with it's finest, subtlest nuances-the Zana is it.
Glad it sounds good to you now though. Just don't sell yourself short of learning what it really can do. Everything else I've heard sounds like **** in comparison-as those subtlies that I finally acclimated to are pretty much non-exestent.
Should be VERY interesting hearing the WA5-LE this weekend and seeing how it compares to the ZDSE. Stock and upgraded tube package btw...
-DAniel
i don't have time to keep it lol, some1 wants to buy it and just for the HD 800, being almost extra
and your description of the zana sounds just like what i would say about the Beyerdynamic T1 and the WA2.
but umm, no, i do notice its slightly better, but its sooo small, such a tiny tiny difference, i can't really say its better, or that i'm 100% sure i actually hear it. then again. mostly seems like the midrange is more forward maybe a little more plapable and separated, the WA2 slightly more laid back, but its such a small difference, i don't think its worth it. its basically identical, i can't really even say they sound different, and i've never had this happen to me, i always hear a difference. its so small, i can't justify it, at least not now, if i was rich, i'd probably just keep the Zana for the hell of it, it looks like a really cool amp too.
if i had a stock or even a 5998'd WA2, i wouldn't think twice about it, the WA2 would be boxed up, and sold right now. it would be no match, thats how much of an improvement the GEC tubes are with HD 800. its HUGE!!!!!
and i do think very highly of the zana now. lemme tell you, i HATED balancing act, it was very bright with HD 800, sounded too analytical, and was bland with TH-900. i heard more clarity and neutrality, but i didn't like it. i don't know if it was the stock tubes, but it really didn't wow me. i was expecting this when i heard zana, some very crystal clear sound thats bright and fast. and i was shocked to hear warmth, euphonic midrange, and such beautiful tube sound, the same sound i have with WA2/GEC, that was really surprising. and i haven't said it yet, but the HD 800/WA2 is the best i've heard so far, i don't really use my HE-500, TH-900, or even the LCD-3, i just switch between HD 800 and T1 cause the HD 800 especially sounds so good with the WA2, such perfect tonality and transparency, the smoothness, it just is so close to being perfect. and to have the ZD do that, shows thats its really good. right out of the box, its as good as a WA2 with rare and expensive tubes.
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