Tekton Double Impacts

Hello Mac,
You put a huge smile on my face as last November  one week before before the DI's were released I purchased a pair of Impacts and had an even stronger reaction to my first listening session than you did. As mentioned on the Impact thread, I will never part with my MZ2 and Impacts combination. Substituting the stock tubes with some quality NOS tubes adds an even higher plateau of sound quality in my opinion. You will be entranced as additional listening time with a wider scope of music passes.
Enjoy to the fullest extent!
Listen intently.

To those with the MZ2 using as an amplifier.... 
Do you feel that one watt does justice to rock music at 90db average volume from 8 ft away with the DI? 
Does the MZ2 only have one set pre outs? Can another be added if so as an option? If I was not happy with the one watt I would want to run the MZ2 as a preamp and still have an extra preout to run a JL sub. 
Mac, if I am over in your neck of the woods possibly in the next couple of weeks would it be possible to hear your system? I travel to Detroit often for work. 

Charles,

This little one watt wonder defies all logic. It doesn't make sense that the MZ2 can not only produce sound levels equaling my Torii, but levels exceeding it. I usually listen in the mid 70 db's and can obtain levels in the upper 80's before the Torii starts sounding strained. With the MZ I can reach levels in the mid 90's with peaks over 100 without any signs of strain or distortion. Not only that but the MZ is dead quiet with inky black backgrounds that pull you into the music. The MZ is so pure, allowing every minute detail to come forth. Tone is perfect. After just a few hours with it I'm enthralled by it. Will adding a SET or other amp with it be better yet? Terry thinks so and he was dead on regarding this amp being able to drive the DI's. I'll enjoy the MZ alone for a while before thinking about adding an amp.

powerglide,

your experience with the Impacts reminds me of my first reaction when listening to my Enzo's......they blew me away and I spent all night listening to them. The DI's took things to another level but I was already exposed to Tekton speakers so I was ready for what I was hearing. This MZ is a similar experience to my first Tektons.......eye opening and jaw dropping.

mofojo,

definately, I'd love to have another DI owner hear them with the MZ. Let me know when you're in town and we will set something up. We can see how well the MZ will head bang, but I'm guessing you'd be better served adding the ZOTL 10 for that. The MZ was designed as a headphone amp but people realized just what an amazing pre it is......and now some of us are realizing it's also a great amp with HE speakers. Therefore it's limited to one output. You could contact Mark at LTA about a possible second output. 

From Mark when I asked a similar question of him:

"We can provide up to two more sets of RCA outputs. There just isn't room for XLRs. We can provide a set of rca to xlr adapters for $50 made of very good Eire and connectors."

Having XLR was/is necessary for me, which is why I did not go forward and am waiting for future products that may be a better fit.

But with everyone singing it's praises.... :)

Mofojo 5-25-2017
Does the MZ2 only have one set pre outs? Can another be added if so as an option? If I was not happy with the one watt I would want to run the MZ2 as a preamp and still have an extra preout to run a JL sub.

If a second set of pre-outs is added the two sets would almost certainly be wired directly together inside the rear panel, as opposed to being driven by separate output stages. Consequently I would expect the results to be no different than using a good quality "hard y-adapter," such as this one from Audioquest, on the single set of outputs.

In both cases (two sets of pre-outs or hard-y adapters) those results may or may not be good depending on the output impedance of the pre-outs, the input impedance of the sub, and the input impedance of the power amp. And also, if the output impedance of the pre-outs is high, on the lengths and capacitances of the two sets of cables that are involved.

My belief is that the negative comments that are often seen about splitters are often and perhaps usually not due to the splitter itself, but are due to the inability of the component providing the signal to be able to drive the two sets of load impedances and the two sets of cables that are involved, with good results.

The unbalanced input impedance of some of the JL subs is 50K, which would be encouraging, while it is only 10K for some other models, which could very possibly be a problem depending on the output impedance of the pre-outs and the input impedance of the particular power amp that would be used.

I would suggest that you start by asking LTA what the output impedance of the pre-outs is, at 20 Hz as well as at the mid-range frequencies (such as 1 kHz) at which output impedances are usually specified. If the pre-outs are capacitively coupled the 20 Hz output impedance will probably be much higher than the output impedance at mid-range frequencies, and could result in roll-off of the deep bass content of the signals provided to both the sub and the main power amp.

Regards,
-- Al