Tekton Double Impacts

So true Charles, it's great to have so many great available choices. Like Corelli, I admire that you have found the system that suits you and you've been enjoying it all these years. While I used to enjoy trying out different components I'm tired of doing so and hope to be in your situation very soon. Since you were so kind in offering to allow me to hear your Frank's with my DI's I'll return the favor and offer to bring my MZ2 over to try with your Frank's and Total Victorys ( is that what you have?). What tubes are using in your Frank's? I love NOS tubes but other than the almost unobtainable and uber expensive WE 300B I don't think there are many NOS 300B options. 

I was all set to go with the Frank's before hearing about the ZOTL 40 and now I've come full circle and am back to the Frank's. I really can't afford the Line Stage along with the Frank's this year, so the MZ2 with the Frank's is a great option. I like going with hand made in North America products even though I realize they are making some very good products in China. Dealing directly with the likes of Israel, Mark and Eric ( Coincident, LTA and Tekton) very much appeals to me also. 

Also, like Corelli, I could be very happy for a long time with my current system. I get so much musical enjoyment from it that it's hard to believe it could be improved upon but from speaking with others that went from Decware to LTA I know I'm in for a dramatic improvement to my system with the MZ2 and Frank's........or ZOTL 40. 

Hey Charles,

Not only is fair to claim both of us are Jazz lovers I have Lee Morgan and Lester Young tattoos on my arms to prove it!

All the gear that you mention is still in-house in my smaller up-stairs system.  It's a great solid state system, however as we both know it does not sound like a great tube based system.  As one of my listening guests said ,"your up stair's system sounds like great HiFi, your down stairs system sounds like great music".

 I want to share I'm not a great fan of KT-88-120-150 based amplifiers because they sound "solid state-ish" to me.  I also find any gear ( Audio Research, BAT) that uses the Russian 30 super tube in its design quite unpleasant to my ears.

Now,  El-34's, 300B's, 211's, 2A3's, 845 based amps SET or Push Pull that sounds like music to me, with the right line-stage, like the LTA's Micro-ZOTL which is still the best preamp I have ever heard in how uniquely deals with space and macro-dynamics, now we have music to my ears/personal taste.  I have never been a fan of horn designs and have reviewed single driver designs, which have a beautiful purity but lack extended highs/lows that can be easily driven with a few watts. Now, that I'm using the DI's I can play with all these great tube low watt amplifiers, without any drawbacks at all.  

  

Hi Teajay,
Well I must confess, no tattoos. However I do have large photographs of Bird, Dizzy, Miles and Monk on the walls of my listening room 😂😂
I understand the analogy you used to describe your 2 different audio systen’s character, I know just what you mean.  I can imagine how Morgan’s trumpet and Lester’s tenor must sound with your current system.
Charles 

@charles1dad :  Thanks. Good to get a strong second opinion from you on Backert Labs. I will look into the Dan Sachs Preamp.

Any others on Preamp choices?