[TheAbyss2022]

Just finished up on DAG preamp demo. What I can say is it was significantly more open sounding, more engaging, more dynamic.


Bill from Wilson, and Paul from the dealer.



I hear things I did not hear with the VTL, like in the beginning of this track the crowd. The DAG has a 15v input cutoff the VTL being tube is likely 6-10v not sure how much that has to do with what I just heard. The VTL 7.5 sounds awesome and analog the DAG sound; just has more presence the space opened up more, it does not sound any less analog even though it is a digital amp. Oh crap. There is no doubt really that the DAG is the better preamp for this system it just comes with a high price and I need to decide if the additional investment is worth it.

That speaker gear looks like it was made by aliens from the future! Congratulations

I'm sure @ufospls2 would like this design haha.

 

[nfandi]

Just finished up on DAG preamp demo. What I can say is it was significantly more open sounding, more engaging, more dynamic.


Bill from Wilson, and local dealer Paul.



I hear things I did not hear with the VTL, like in the beginning of this track the crowd. The DAG has a 15v input cutoff the VTL being tube is likely 6-10v not sure how much that has to do with what I just heard. The VTL 7.5 sounds awesome and analog the DAG sound; just has more presence the space opened up more, it does not sound any less analog even though it is a digital amp. Oh crap. There is no doubt really that the DAG is the better preamp for this system it just comes with a high price and I need to decide if the additional investment is worth it.

The investment is always worth it if you can afford it.

 

[tfenton02]

Just finished up on DAG preamp demo. What I can say is it was significantly more open sounding, more engaging, more dynamic.


Bill from Wilson, and local dealer Paul.



I hear things I did not hear with the VTL, like in the beginning of this track the crowd. The DAG has a 15v input cutoff the VTL being tube is likely 6-10v not sure how much that has to do with what I just heard. The VTL 7.5 sounds awesome and analog the DAG sound; just has more presence the space opened up more, it does not sound any less analog even though it is a digital amp. Oh crap. There is no doubt really that the DAG is the better preamp for this system it just comes with a high price and I need to decide if the additional investment is worth it.

If you were not aware of the price, after listening to it, what range would you have guessed?

 

[chrisnyc75]

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. I will be making making my next ZMF purchase during next years B-Stock sale. Until then I will have fun with my upcoming Yggy purchase (finally going to order it next week, as I just finished paying off the mortgage ). I would have liked to order the Valhalla 3 along with it, but there is still no firm date of release (to be paired with my AO).

Fwiw, Valhalla 2 is a magnificent little amp that I found to have particular synergy with VO.

 

[RTodd]

If you were not aware of the price, after listening to it, what range would you have guessed?

I was aware, seriously though knowing how much the other components cables rack etc. cost I would have thought 80-100K, after all this is a “spare no expense” preamp from a designer with decades of solid state design under his belt starting with Krell. That the price is what it is gives me significant pause, and requires some serious thought.

No words really can describe the feeling from this, it is so close to live as to be indistinguishable. It was already live sounding with the VTL7.5 though now that is redefined.

Equally impressive on vocal and stepped down jazz, the counter point playing against the harmony is just so natural sounding. Space between notes has become pitch black.

 

[MindBreak]

Fwiw, Valhalla 2 is a magnificent little amp that I found to have particular synergy with VO.

Thanks, I have heard good things about the Valhalla 2, but the Valhalla 3 is being described as a mini Folkvangr which grabbed me. It also completes the set: Mjolnir 3, Vali 3, and Valhalla 3.

 

[chrisnyc75]

Thanks, I have heard good things about the Valhalla 2, but the Valhalla 3 is being described as a mini Folkvangr which grabbed me. It also completes the set: Mjolnir 3, Vali 3, and Valhalla 3.

Having owned and loved Valhalla for a few years already, I was SO tempted to buy Folkvangr, but held back because I can hardly imagine the heat it must generate (or the cost of 12 NOS tubes! lol). But yeah, you will NOT be disappointed at how VO pairs with Schiit OTL tubes.

 

[MindBreak]

Having owned and loved Valhalla for a few years already, I was SO tempted to buy Folkvangr, but held back because I can hardly imagine the heat it must generate (or the cost of 12 NOS tubes! lol). But yeah, you will NOT be disappointed at how VO pairs with Schiit OTL tubes.

Nice, my AO will get a lot of time on the Valhalla 3 prior to the VO purchase. In the case of the Folkvangr, yeah that is a lot of tubes to invest into one amp (per set that is), lol. I can imagine the heat output though, as the Mjolnir 3 pumps out a lot.... of heat (burned my hand once or twice ). Can't wait to own my first OTL amp especially since I will be buying more ZMF cans down the line.

 

[goldwerger]

I was aware, seriously though knowing how much the other components cables rack etc. cost I would have thought 80-100K, after all this is a “spare no expense” preamp from a designer with decades of solid state design under his belt starting with Krell. That the price is what it is gives me significant pause, and requires some serious thought.

No words really can describe the feeling from this, it is so close to live as to be indistinguishable. It was already live sounding with the VTL7.5 though now that is redefined.

Equally impressive on vocal and stepped down jazz, the counter point playing against the harmony is just so natural sounding. Space between notes has become pitch black.

Having heard your system wtih the VTL as the most amazing representation of music I could imagine, hard to fathom an upgrade to it.. congrats buddy!

Having owned and loved Valhalla for a few years already, I was SO tempted to buy Folkvangr, but held back because I can hardly imagine the heat it must generate (or the cost of 12 NOS tubes! lol). But yeah, you will NOT be disappointed at how VO pairs with Schiit OTL tubes.

The idea of tube rolling on this one is dizzying...

 

[BassicScience]

I was aware, seriously though knowing how much the other components cables rack etc. cost I would have thought 80-100K, after all this is a “spare no expense” preamp from a designer with decades of solid state design under his belt starting with Krell. That the price is what it is gives me significant pause, and requires some serious thought.

No words really can describe the feeling from this, it is so close to live as to be indistinguishable. It was already live sounding with the VTL7.5 though now that is redefined.

Equally impressive on vocal and stepped down jazz, the counter point playing against the harmony is just so natural sounding. Space between notes has become pitch black.

Glad you enjoyed the audition, but sorry about the ensuing financial dilemma. You might want to check out the Boulder 2110 preamp at about half the cost. It doesn't have the bling factor of the DAG, but it's also a modular design. I heard it on a nice Wilson setup with a dCS Vivaldi front end, and it was quite breathtaking in terms of realism and dynamics, with a jet black background. Alternatively, you could try and negotiate the price of the DAG down. Dealers tend to have a lot of margin on statement gear. Best of luck either way!

 

[Johnsmith55]

View attachment 1733402493254.jpeg

Today I had the chance to listen to these two monsters duke it out. The Viva Solista and the Riviera Levante, my Viva came on top .

 

[goldwerger]

Today I had the chance to listen to these two monsters duke it out. The Viva Solista and the Riviera Levante, my Viva came on top .

Were you also able to test the Levante as a headphone amp? I understand it's different than the AIC10

P.S. try to "paste" your pictures inside the post where you type, so they show up in the thread. As posted, these are links for download, just fyi..

 

[tfenton02]

I was aware, seriously though knowing how much the other components cables rack etc. cost I would have thought 80-100K, after all this is a “spare no expense” preamp from a designer with decades of solid state design under his belt starting with Krell. That the price is what it is gives me significant pause, and requires some serious thought.

No words really can describe the feeling from this, it is so close to live as to be indistinguishable. It was already live sounding with the VTL7.5 though now that is redefined.

Equally impressive on vocal and stepped down jazz, the counter point playing against the harmony is just so natural sounding. Space between notes has become pitch black.

That’s so amazing…you got me at “no words can describe the feeling from this”. Thanks for sharing !

 

[Neweymatt]

I guess my point is if you own an empy, and don't own those pads, then it's not worth owning an empy. And that's wrong.
I appreciate everyone's opinion.

Those pads weren’t available when the empy was launched (I think), they were a later addition. And as the writer said he’s expressing his own opinion; not everybody prefers the angled pads. And if that’s how you feel about an empy with 2 different types of ear pads how on earth could you ever consider a ZMF? I think Zach has developed about 23 different pad designs for each model.

Yep, the angled alcantara pads did not exist when I bought my OG Empy second hand, just the stock leather and alcantara.

While I was happy enough with those pads, getting the AA pads and now listening to Empyrean with Aegis has transformed that headphone from something I thought I might let go to one that now I probably never will.

So from an investment perspective, considering I'd already sunk $$ into that Empy that I'd never recover selling them, those pads actually seem a bargain to me at $200.

And now that Empy OG is discontinued (why Meze, why?) anyone getting one second hand that doesn't have the AA pads will surely benefit from the additional purchase at a fair price considering Meze's industry-leading design and build quality.

 

[Johnsmith55]

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