[uncola]

rthomas Maybe get the zmf amp when it's released.(soon)
 
stillhart I was talking to zach since he knows I'm getting the zmf amp.  I'm letting zach take my tube virginity  He took my balanced virginity already so I know he's a gentle lover

 

[zach915m]

  I hope you test the amp with hd800 since I just ordered some  

 
Hahah yes I've tried it with the HD800 and HD800s - I only own the HD650 but the goal of the amp is to have it power the ZMF's and other ortho's with ease and to power high impedance dynamics with beauty,  This is part of what's taking us a while on the last few tweaks.  I'm happy to report it's going to sound wonderful with both.
 
 

Oh btw, I tried finding the sensitivity rating of the Blackwood on these forums / on Zach's website but I couldn't find any mention of it anywhere. Does anybody know what the sensitivity rating is for Blackwood?

@zach915m

 
It's about 89/90db/Mw, fairly hard to drive.
 

  Ok, I think he uses the Violectric V281 in his personal rig and at meets but I feel that it's a bit expensive.

 
Yeah I don't have the Violectric anymore, kinda wish I still did, I do love that amp.  I've spent so much time developing the ZMF amp with our electrical engineer lately that it's my main amp by default.
 
 

   
I'm still new and have not nailed down a preferred sound signature especially for amps yet.
 
I've read that Zach's house sound is warm and musical so I guess a neutral amp would be best?

 
Really hard to figure out one's preferred sound sig, I don't even know that I have a"I need this" type of sound.  For example the HD800 and ZMF Omni are VERY different headphones, but I love them both. The Violectric stuff is considered thicker and more robust sounding, and I love the V281, while the Schiit Magni/Modi are a little brighter, but they are incredible sounding and an incredible value. Lots of brilliant gear out there

 

[tvnosaint]

Email Zach for less diplomatic answers. You're so frickin nice. The omni and my dac I am not looking to upgrade. The LC and balanced out of the gov2 as well as those beautiful CCas in the Lyr make my upgrade no rush on the amp. But it has to happen to even out my chain. Soundstage and tone are #1and 2 to be addressed. Then dynamics micro and macro. I do love texture and detail. Sure wish I was in Atl this weekend. You won't hear New Orleanians say that often.

 

[zach915m]

Finally got the last Rusted Zebra Vibro MK II set for MassDrop on the bench.  Very excited to get the last of these to everyone who joined the drop.
 

 

[elessartelconta]

Oh btw, I tried finding the sensitivity rating of the Blackwood on these forums / on Zach's website but I couldn't find any mention of it anywhere. Does anybody know what the sensitivity rating is for Blackwood?

@zach915m

 
It's about 89/90db/Mw, fairly hard to drive.

 
Thanks Zach! I'm trying to find a "tube sound" amplifier for the blackwood. OTLs are pretty much ruled out, I am trying to find output transformer coupled as well as hybrid tube amps, preference to output transformer coupled (however budget might drive me towards hybrid).
 
Everyone, any suggestions for output transformer coupled tube amps around / within $500 (mainly for the Blackwood)? The lower the price the better

 

[mysticstryk]

Finally got the last Rusted Zebra Vibro MK II set for MassDrop on the bench.  Very excited to get the last of these to everyone who joined the drop.

The cups really turned out beautiful Zach! Got my shipping confirmation from massdrop a couple days ago, should be here by tomorrow.

 

[LS302]

I haven't receive any delivery confirmation yet. This set may be mine.

 

[zach915m]

  I haven't receive any delivery confirmation yet. This set may be mine.

 
MassDrop sent me the last 16 labels on thursday, 8 of them went out on friday and the other 8 are going out tomorrow and tuesday at the latest.  I don't know how their shipping system works, but if tracking hasn't already updated for you it will soon!

 

[lenroot77]

MassDrop sent me the last 16 labels on thursday, 8 of them went out on friday and the other 8 are going out tomorrow and tuesday at the latest.  I don't know how their shipping system works, but if tracking hasn't already updated for you it will soon!

Can't wait to get these! Patiently waiting

 

[ThePianoMan]

Thanks Zach! I'm trying to find a "tube sound" amplifier for the blackwood. OTLs are pretty much ruled out, I am trying to find output transformer coupled as well as hybrid tube amps, preference to output transformer coupled (however budget might drive me towards hybrid).

Everyone, any suggestions for output transformer coupled tube amps around / within $500 (mainly for the Blackwood)? The lower the price the better

Schiit Lyr 2, you won't be disappointed, it really provides the power the Omni needs (and it needs A LOT of power)

 

[Kraig Ashley]

thank you those are mine, zach did a great job my first headset from, him, i', so impress with his work i buy a vibro 2 

 

[elessartelconta]

 

Thanks Zach! I'm trying to find a "tube sound" amplifier for the blackwood. OTLs are pretty much ruled out, I am trying to find output transformer coupled as well as hybrid tube amps, preference to output transformer coupled (however budget might drive me towards hybrid).

Everyone, any suggestions for output transformer coupled tube amps around / within $500 (mainly for the Blackwood)? The lower the price the better

Schiit Lyr 2, you won't be disappointed, it really provides the power the Omni needs (and it needs A LOT of power)

 
Thanks for the suggestion! I've certainly considered the Lyr, as well as other hybrid tube amps (Project Ember by Garage 1217, for example). However, I'm unable to find any transformer coupled tube amps in this price range, and was just wondering if anybody has any experience with them. I recently started a thread for understanding amp power specs better, and learned a lot from the responses there. 
 
From *approximate* calculations, for the Blackwood to be able to reach around 120 dBSPL, we need an amp that can put out ~1200mW at 50ohm, with 7.5V and 160mA. That current is really high, and nobody wants to be deaf anyway. So checking requirements for 110 dBSPL, the Blackwood would require approx 125mW, with 2.5V and 50mA current. That's way more manageable. 
 
The Magni 2U can put out ~75mA at 50 ohm (1.2W rms, 0.2 ohm output resistance), and the Lyr can put out ~110mA (4W rms, 0.3 ohm output resistance). So the Magni 2U can drive the headphones to ~113 dBSPL (at which point it reaches its current output limit), and the Lyr 2 can drive it to ~117 dBSPL. 
 
(Someone more knowledgeable (@zach915m?), PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong with any of these calculations / assumptions)
 
So as far as *power requirements* go, even the Magni 2U (which I own) is enough to drive the Blackwoods to more than listening levels (for me). I just want to try a different (not necessarily "better" than Magni) amp with which I can try the "tube sound" with the headphones, but of course it needs to be powerful enough first. 
 
Lets keep the suggestions coming!

 

[mysticstryk]

 
 
Just picked mine up today, the cups are beautiful.  Listening impressions after I've had more time with them.

 

[LS302]

Thanks Zach! Just received shipping confirmation. Looking forward to get it.

 

[iamxLn]

Went to a vintage audio store today and tried these through a Magnavox 8301-10 that was pulled from a console, he thinks it had like 3-5w. I don't know much about it, he said it's a good tweeter, high efficiency speaker or headphone amp. The bass output was insane. Does anyone know or have any experience with it? It was a single output transformer tube amp but also had a tube for the power and the input.