Anyone listen to Zu Audio's Definition Mk3?

>>If I understand you correctly, you are saying to experiment with amps, presumably good SET's, and determine if this is the correct path for me?<<

I think a subset of high-quality SET amps -- particularly 845 based -- are ideal for Definition systems, but you already have a very fine amp in the Atmashpere OTL so you should begin with that; get accustomed to the combination and see how it satisfies you. Once you have that baseline, then try Audion, Sophia or maybe Melody or Consonance 845 SET amps if you find you still have the appetite for trial.

>>From what I have read, I think the Audion may be closest to what I'm looking for, IF SET is what I'm looking for. Does that make sense? Are there any distributors in the US that would allow an in-home audition?<<

The US importer/distributor for Audion is Gary Alpern, reachable at his web site, http://www.trueaudiophile.com. The unfortunate state of high end audio retail is such that the usual burden is on the prospective buyer to find a way to hear the gear they are interested in, or find home trials from online sources. I don't know where you live nor how far one of Gary's retailers is from you, but start by asking him.

Phil

>Gopher wrote:

That was the area to my ears atma was weakest. Transparency, resolution, low bass extension--I'll concede those things.

I use the M60's and if you read carefully I said the "Zu/Atma system" moved me in that direction, not Atma alone. And I suppose I should qualify that technically the Melody 300B SET monos I owned had greater "tone density", but were thick as mud and severely lacking in transparency relative to the Atma's. I wouldn't say the Melodys moved me in the direction of "tone density" because they gave up so many other things most of us, but especially me, value in our music listening.

I didn't miss that--I just assumed Zu speakers were a given as part of a system as this is a Zu thread.

Thanks for clarifying, I can appreciate those observations. Interestingly, I'm using a Melody KT88 integrated myself these days which I like, but it is cleaner, more linear tube then the 300B, imo.

Enjoy your pairing! There is nothing wrong with Atma-sphere. :)

I also think I liked the Atma/Zu combo better than Gopher, who went from the Atma to an 845 amp, that I am pretty sure provided even more tonal density. I was coming from SS amps and with the 6SN7s I used (Black Treasures, RCA, and a couple others) I had tonal density that I was very pleased with. But it is always going to be a matter of personal preferences and system synergy.

A great combo, if that combo matches well with your prefs as a listener.

GB,

My source is the Metric Halo LIO-8, fed by a Macbook pro and Pure Music software

Had the Atma/Amarra #4 Dac running with a MM/PM and Zu Presence speakers.

Atma amp moved me closer to real live music than any of the SET amps I had in my system. The MH 8 is a great dac.

I found the MM running with a LPS to be a noisy little guy killing all my attempts to go to the next level. I had to by a Lampizator transport that took the MM out of transport duties. Now all is dead silent in the system.

To complete the final piece I grabbed a Dale Pitcher Power Bridge that was, to me, a true breakthrough in AC power supply. The Power Bridge makes my Def2 the Def10 SE SA. It runs my transport/Dac.

And cables are the last thing to worry/ get right. The PB will make that thought sound silly.