Linear Tube Audio- Any feedback on their amps/ Preamp?

@kddusing - if you're nearby, Linear Tube Audio is located in Takoma Park, MD, not far from where CAF is held. They have a show room so you can go by there any day for a listen. I stop in frequently.

Their preamp my brother bought and has several units 3x as much thst are not as good. 
And their Lps+:external power supply is incredible. 
It takes the Very good D-1  Lumin digital  12-13v external power supply and makes it exceed their T-1  3x the money. The ps and get the better wire harness, 
And replace fuses the 2 fuses. 1.6 fast blow 20mm Hifi tuning.  The synergistic 
Can be too rich .in a ps you want the neutrality. $700 retail .The preamp ask for a bigger case and ,Khozmo shunt attenuator 63 step with relay,and remote 
Around $2600 with extras . 

New huge Linear Tube Audio, David Berning fan in Texas. Had it all and favorites so far, Harbeth/Croft separates, Harbeth/LFD NCSE, Harbeth/Naim SN2, Leben/Devore. I was waiting for my Harbeth 30.1s to get repaired and got into headphones to keep me happy - Sennheiser HD800S. Mistake. Unreal with a Violectric V280 and V281. I then tried to merge the headphone system into the near field desktop rig and wanted the best performance of both worlds. It’s worse than trying to do good 2-channel with an AV system. I didn’t want anything huge sitting on my beautiful desk like a PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP or Manley Stingray II tube Integrated. Violectric V281 was great but wasn’t completely happy with the 2 channel side using its pre-outs or the AV pass through on the Belles. I moved on from Harbeth P3ESRs at this point because I wanted to lose the mid bass hump. My research of great headphone amps that also act as great preamps led me to the LTA MZ2. I was a little scared that the MZ2 wouldn’t kick the HD800S headphones into gear being their bass can be a little lightweight. I also wanted to maintain dynamics, soundstage and nuance. Well so far, I haven't been disappointed with the MZ2 one bit. I know you guys hate hearing this but it really seems like the best of tubes and solid state.

Now moving on to 2-channel. MZ2 with the Z10 has blown me away with my newly acquired Proac Tablette 10 speakers that only require a minimum of 5 watts. The guy I bought the Z10 from had the tubes messed up pretty bad. Now have all Gold Lions in the MZ2 and Z10. WOW! Still using a Tung-Sol 6SN7 GTB in the MZ2 as Gold Lion doesn't make that one yet. Seems perfectly fine. My old Chord 2Qute DAC is working out great with this rig. Timbre, instruments truly sound like what they are supposed to sound like in every recording, such beautiful tonal color and balance. Vocals sound the best I’ve ever heard, Stacey Kent, Norah Jones and Brandi Carlile. Rock sounds amazing, Radiohead, Spoon, you name it. Transients like leading edge sound much more realistic now that I got the Tung-Sol 2AT7/ 12AU7 and cheap Russian tubes out of the Z10. Sound stage placement also got more defined without any fatigue. Tonal balance, perfect. So happy. Who thought I could have the best of both worlds in one system, headphone and 2-channel. Maybe I can now concentrate on the music.

Folks may want to check this out if they haven't seen it already:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-linear-tube-audio-lta-ultralinear-amplifier

As good as it gets.......

Awesome review!  Agree with every word. 
The records of Cecile McLorin Salvant have been in my Music Direct wish list for a while. The redbook of Woman Child blew my crazy audiophile friend away with the MZ2/Z10. Wait until he hears it on vinyl. 

Heard the LTA with Rethm loudspeakers at the NYC audio show this past autumn.

They sounded marvelous, and easily ranked as the best I heard in an otherwise extremely poor show

I want to get to RMAF or CAF this year. Since I already have an LTA system, guess RMAF would be fine since all I’ll be buying is music :). Still would like to meet the LTA folks at CAF and tell them thank you personally. 

I was set on a Naim Nait 2 and was comparing some Proac Tablette 10s to my old Harbeth P3esr speakers. For grins, hooked up the ZOTL 10 to my Sennheiser’s  HDV 820 pre outs with the P3s playing. Wow!  Doesn’t go loud but I sit nearfield. Still curious about a Pass Labs XA-25 and the HPA-1 but this simple setup sounds incredible. It was like going from hi end to something world class. 

I'm using the mz2 with a Pass xa30.8, and the synergy is pretty special.  From what I've been reading, the XA-25 may even be better, so I'd say you can't go wrong.  I would like to know what tube rollers are using in the MZ2 to better the stock tubes.  Any suggestions welcome.

Terry London from hometheaterreview.com seems to really like the Micro-ZOTL with the XA-25. So did teajay here at Audiogon. List goes on...

Jack from theaudiobeatnik.com reviewed the XA-25 with the MZ2-S but seemed to like the HPA-1 best. " The two Pass Labs products had a very nice synergy. "  I just wonder what tubes Jack used and if things could have gotten better.  I'm running my HD-800S headphones balanced with the HDV820 and worry what kind of of performance hit I'll take moving to single ended.

Then there is the MZ2-S & ZOTL 10 combo that Herb Reichert and Rafe Arnott loved at RMAF 2017... I should have just stuck with the combo. Didn't because of a speaker mismatch. Maybe I'll just get another. MZ2-S with the LPS+ but the Pass Labs combo also intrigues me.

I'm using all Gold Lions in my ZOTL 10 and put Gold Lions in my MicroZOTL2.0 before I sold it to my friend. My 6SN7s were the Tung-Sol 6SN7 GTB 1 Pair Reissue that I believe came stock. I just didn't want to mess with NOS tubes as I've had bad luck with the ones I purchased being microphonic.

Think I'll try to find an XA-25 eventually just to compare. I'll borrow my old MZ2 when the time comes.

Still waiting for the ultralinear.

Man. Ultralinear sounds amazing. Okay I’m adding it to the list. Just kind of shocked the ZOTL 10 powers the P3ESRs. Funny how Enjoy The Music just published a great ZOTL 10 review right when I decide to keep mine. He also seems to be the first state that the little 10 can power less efficient Speakers. I don’t crank my stuff though. Well, stars aligned for me on my April fools birthday. Ha. 

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0418/Linear_Tube_Audio_ZOTL10_MKII_Review.htm

From reading the review, what does stick out with my system is the quality of the bass and the dynamics. It’s scope is huge and defined. Transient information is just amazing. So real and I have crappy cables right now. 

Any word on a stand alone preamp from LTA?  I thought they were working on one?

@admranger 

I was at LTA recently and saw the stand alone preamp prototype sitting on the work bench. It’s a full size Fern and Robey built case.  It has a ceramic board and optional phono stage. Mark didn’t say when a production model will be available but it looks promising.

Wonder if it will have MC too.  About to buy a DV 75 Mk. IV. But it might be hard to beat it with the Dr. T mode with my 20X2L. 

Am sure it will be a lot more then the MZ2-S. 

@zek4u 

im sure it will be quite a bit more than the MZ2. I will stop in again within the next couple of weeks and ask Mark about the MC option. I’m interested in MC as well. Mark did say the David Berning designed phono stage will be very good.

I almost Forgot. I removed my ZOTL40 and installed the UltraLinear in my listening room powering my 87db Janszen zA2.1 speakers. I can’t believe the 20 watts can power these speakers this way. Im listening as loud as I like and not close to clipping. As good as the ZOTL40 is the UL is more refined in every way especially the bass. It has a firm grip on the woofers. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a piano sound so real before. I’m just beginning to tube roll the 12AU7 and 12AX7s.