Quote:
Originally Posted by 909
The adversary confrontation begins and I hold you personally responsible.
It’s not fair to pit one amp, namely the ZD against team SinglePower.
Yet more specifically to your question, I’ve heard the ZD and a balanced PPX3 w/ 5687. But before I go further, the next batch of ZDs is going to run (breathe, are you sitting)-- $1990 (and I don’t believe that includes tubes). It’s possible that the chassis might change. I’ve seen a “new” front faceplate and it looks very cool and Craig described other cool changes to the chassis, but I believe at this point nothing is in stone.
I ain’t going to lie I like the Eddie Current sound signature mainly because and IMO it’s the closest recreation of live music I’ve heard. I liked the ZD better than the PPX3 balanced. Don’t get me wrong the PPX3 is a nice amp with lots of raw power and energy, but the ZD is refined and focused while not letting you forget that it’s got a tight reign on the power and dynamics. The ZDs sound soundstage is vast and probably the largest I’ve heard even when compared against balanced amps. The ZD just does so many things right and retains the organic musical flow, which is mightily impressive. And as much as I like the slam of the 5687 it doesn’t have the same level of musical tonality as other tubes I’ve heard that my ear clear prefers. As with anything audio component, the system synergy, your tastes, your ear’s preferences and the type of music you listen to all play a role.
As with all the amps Craig designs there’s a similar sound signature. I believe the Zana Deux is one of the finest sounding amps I've heard and my EC2A3 come close, but the Zana is better. And after comparing the MPX3 w/ NOS 6SN7 against the EC2A3 w/ stock new production tubes I selected the EC2A3 because it sounded better to my ear.
I think the MPX3 is a good amp and Mikhail's provides options to personalize the sound. Yet as with all the MPX3s I've heard I’ve found a few very minor issues to my ear even with the "best" NOS tubes such as slightly slower delivery, chamber like sound, not as detailed (veiled) and less separation. The top tier Eddie Currents such as the Zana Deux are superior sounding to my ear, though your ear, tastes, and set-up might mesh better with the PPX3/MPX3. If possible the best thing you could do is listen to both amps before you make a decision. And meets aren't the best place to do so. Another factor for me is EC uses good parts off the bat and doesn't makes you pay for the upgrade, which adds up very fast ordering SP options. I seriously doubt even the best MPX3 would sound as good as the Zana, but that’s my preference, ear, set-up, and listening experience talking. Compared to a totally built-up MPX3 the Zana would probably be less expensive and to my ear (subjective/objective) sound superior.
It is always best to listen and make the decision with your ears.
|
I have heard the original Zana three times minimum; maybe four. To be fair, my take is that I think you need to compare apples to apples. When you use low power output tubes like the 6sn7 in the MPX3 you are inherently going to get a warmer, slower sound with less bass control and slam. The MPX-6sn7 is about tone, detail retrival and soundstaging not speed and brute force bass.
When you use a high power tube for the outputs of the MPX3 like a 6bl7gta .... the whole comparison is drastically altered. The 6bl7gta at high voltage/ high bias has, as much, if not more power output than the Zana. Per Craig .... the Zana Deux does not operate the 6C33C-B anywhere near its max rated power. In fact only about 8 watts on the plate (x2). Even with the heater current figured in the total heat from the tube, most of which is dissapated in the air, is about 43 watts. Thats 16 watts dissipation on the plate per side with the Zana. The 6bl7gta's in my SLAM SE runs at 8-10 watts dissipation on the plate x2 for 18 or so watts dissipation per tube, depending on the current bias. The power output is essentially equal or slightly in favor of the MPX3 SLAM SE.
Now they still dont sound the same because to me the 6bl7gta is a more refined sounding tube .... the 6c33 can sound a little rough at the top and to bright with a headphone like the K701; to my ears. But the MPX3 with high power output tubes, in general, now has the speed, drive, dynamics and soundstaging that go toe to toe with the Zana .... or anything else for that matter. Contrary to you 909, for musicality, I think the SLAM SE is definitely smoother in the treble and more musical vs the Zana. Beyond that, my Supra high voltage amp is faster and more potent than the SLAM SE or the Zana with the same refinement of the SLAM SE.
When I was at the last Cinci, Ohio meet a member had a PPX3 with a plitron transformer upgrade that used the 6bx7gt output tubes at high voltage. I preferred this amp to any of the other amps at the meet by a wide margin. The dynamics were special and the amp had an exceedingly full tone without sounding the least bit slow. The treble quality was AGAIN definitely on the side of this SP amp to my ears. For price, this PPX3 can be had for $1300 or so and .... to be honest, I was pretty shocked what you can do with even the PPX3 circuit. This PPX3 was stock except for the upgraded transformer to handle the heater current draw of the 6bx7gt tubes. You dont need any upgrades to make the PPX3 or MPX3 good .... and when you stay closer to stock these amps are a bargain price-wise.
909, I do have disagree with your assessment of the 5687 tubes. Depending on what you are driving the 5687's with .... and Singlepowers can use several gain tubes (12 at last count) .... the sound can be fast and explosive or extremely refined. You just have to play with the amp some and hearing a PPX3 balanced at a meet gives you an impression of one out of possibly 100 or more potential tube sets. So many people hear a version of the SP amps at meets and assume thats how they sound. Well thats only true for that tube set and particular configuration. You can tuberoll this amp to sound lush and warm to almost solid state like .... but without the SS artifacts. My biggest reservation with the Zana is ..... can that roughness I hear in the treble be tuberolled out if you have to use 6c33's only .... as there is no substitute.
I do certainly agree with you to listen that people should listen to both amps for as long as you can. I didnt hear the treble issues with the Zana the first couple times I heard the amp as I was apparently so enamored with the amps bass.
Anyway, these amps are at such a high quality level that personal preferance is going to be the biggest factor in the final choice.
