How does Berning ZH270 compare to Cary Cad211 AE ?

711smilin:
Thanks for the heads-up on the Dodd 120s. Their website is pretty thin though... any reviews out there online?? Are the 120s class A? Low feedback?

Have you tried their pre-amp?

I'll email the designer also, but am hoping for more impressions from you. TIA!

Your English is fine sir.Thats a good explanation,one I can easily understand.Thanks alot for your time and energy,Bob

Regarding cable match:
I have tested AU24 and Cardas Golden Ref. in my system. I think they are "greysounding" compared to Valhalla. Valhalla is far more "tactile", speedy and resolving. I wonder why so many using the two first mentioned cables still after testing Valhalla. I will describe Valhalla as a neutral cable, but very resolving. They don’t hide anything.

I will definitely not let a cable change cause loss of detail richness and openness, but I wish that the sound could be little more “forgiving” all over. I would like to keep all the existing positive sides with some “forgiveness” touch. May this be difficult to obtain?

Maybe ZH270 together with MX will change my cable opinion. Any comments?

I can’t either understand why so many describe my Cary 211 AE amp as “to organic” and not extreme enough in the top and bottom ends. The fact is that the 211 AE drawing a big sound stage, and is very open and resolving and not closed in any term. The bass is tight and it is the best I have had so far. I have had many tube amps, and I will not describe the 211AE as too “organic”. I will rather use “lucid” as the description.

You guys on Audiogon have been very helpful and understanding. Thanks again… :-)

Tubegroover,

You're exactly right. When I had a large listening room (16 years ago) I used larger speakers being bi-amped with tubes an d could get big dynamic swings. But since being in my small room (11 x 13.5 x 8) I have taken to a different type of listening. I still play symphonies and big band jazz (and rock) but just not anywhere as loud as it tends to really overload the room. I've learned to appreciated medium level reproduction of "big pieces".

By the way, I don't listen to many female vocals. You know, this reminds me of something I read in Automobile magazine about 10 or more years ago. The editor said that a small sports car (like the Mazda Miata) driven at its limits can be as much fun as a larger sports sedan like the BMW 5 series. "It's not how fast the car goes, it's how it goes fast." Besides small good handling cars feel like they're going faster. Just check out the Mazda RX8.

"Maybe ZH270 together with MX will change my cable opinion. Any comments?"

My guess from my 6 years experience with the VSM is that the Berning will not offer more forgiveness which is what you are looking for Nr9. To the contrary I think it will reveal the imbalance of the silver cables with the VSM to a greater degree than the Cary. It is an extremely transparent amplifier. As stated in an above post, I have experimented with numerous silver cables and the problem is the upper frequencies become overemphasized and render a leaness to the presentation. The Merlins are, as well, so resolving that this can become a real issue, especially if you are very sensitive to it. The only silver cable in my experience, and its not pure silver, is the Stereovox which doesnt' do this. It offers body, transparency and control with high frequency extension and air without any undo emphasis. I really love the organic wholeness and balance that this cable presents. I have listened to other silver cables which subjectively offer greater bass impact.

I agree, copper cables certainly don't offer the transparency of silver but many do work with Merlins better, at least to my ears. Silver cables I have tried include the following

Blue Marble - ics and speaker
Harmonic Tech Silway -ics
Nordost Vahalla - ics
Stealth Beta - ic's(these were definitely the most transparent of the bunch and conversely the most amusical with the VSM. They were unlistenable after 5 minutes. I had 3 pair on hand. Each added pair made the sound worse)
a few others over the years but the results were the same.

Before you do anything, you might want to listen first with the different feedback settings per Musicpre's suggestion but I am fairly certain you will come to the conclusion that Vahallas and Merlins most likely won't like each other and neither of the amps will have much say about it. I don't know anyone using this combo.

It the problem continues and you want to maintain the transparency of the Vahallas, I would STRONGLY suggest trying Stereovox, especially the 600 sei mk2's and you might want to try their reference speaker cable which I
haven't tried in my system, I'm afraid I'll like it too much and be compelled to buy. I am using the Studio which is a copper cable. The price has come down from the strastophere on these cables to more realistic levels. I wonder what my wife would say about that comment? ;^)

Good Luck and keep us posted on your results