Tekton Double Impacts

What about dynamic range and headroom? I have always found low power setups, even great low power setups, to sound a little flat when driving large speakers...even very efficient large speakers. This has been especially true with some classical recordings. I have also noticed clipping, even with tube amps, that I didn't hear with higher power amps.

I'm not a engineer so I can't explain why the ZOTL amps sound so good but theyre different from any other tube design out there. To me the sound is very powerful, dynamic and fast. It has the best qualities of tubes and SS combined. 

porscheracer,

What about dynamic range and headroom? I have always found low power setups, even great low power setups, to sound a little flat when driving large speakers...even very efficient large speakers. This has been especially true with some classical recordings. I have also noticed clipping, even with tube amps, that I didn't hear with higher power amps.

You bring up some very valid points and I'm certainly not trying to change your mind about the equipment that you already have,you stated before that you are just waiting on speakers and pwr amps to show up and then you will have a complete system.

I would just like to share my experience and opinion about this gear,I was shopping around for speakers and I came across this thread and read about the DI's and all the positive info,then I read a review about them and I decided to call Eric about them,He is a very busy guy and the conversation was'nt all that informative,so I decided to do my homework about the design and call again and ask some very specific questions that I really didn't think he would answer.So I was interested and took the chance and got myself a pair,I have listened to a lot of high end gear in my 31 yrs in this hobby and I'm still in amazement every day that they sound this darn good.

The DI's are efficient but they also have a relatively flat impedance load which makes them a very easy load for about any amp you would want to use.

I also use a MZ2 as well and I still can't believe how good the little guy sounds and also how well 1watt can drive such a big speaker,my room size is 20x25x9 with a open kitchen and I sit 10 ft away.I can generally play any genre of music that I listen to and receive db levels in the low to sometimes mid 90's ,with no loss of bass,or dynamic range and I have yet to hear any compression or clipping in the sound,that is with the volume knob at the 3 to 4 o'clock position and if I turn it all the up it gets only slightly louder but still has no issues.If I listen to a full orchestra music or classic rock and want it louder than I do need a little more pwr.But I'm talking very loud with levels peaking above 95db,I don't generally listen that loud anyway.

I have used several amps of several types mainly for fun,low pwr to high pwr and I have found I don't need more than 10 watts and can also just use the MZ2 most of the time.

I have also found out that the MZ2 driving lesser quality SS amps such as the parasound a21 can help them sound better than any other preamp that I have ever used.

I tried the Freya earlier this year and Offcourse gave it a fair chance with nos tubes and enough breakin time but I sent it back before the trial period ended,I mainly bought it for my 2nd system but I found it to be noisy and not really sound that good,But remember I'm a picky audiophile,buy I do like my Yggy.

Best,

Kenny.

Since I’ve been recently serious in my reflections, reaching out to my tube loving brethren with some lighter fare.

Your take on this quote from Art Dudley?

"If tubes are liquor, the 300B is clearly absinthe. The 2A3 is Cognac, the 45 is Armagnac, the F2a is Tequila, and the EL34 is vodka—which is to say, you can make almost anything out of an EL34, from the repulsive to the sublime."

Are then the Double Impacts the ’equivalent’ of a breathalyzer? And a sommelier?

Lance,

I'm not a engineer so I can't explain why the ZOTL amps sound so good but theyre different from any other tube design out there. To me the sound is very powerful, dynamic and fast. It has the best qualities of tubes and SS combined.

I'm not a engineer either but I'm learning more about this technology only because I'm interested.

I have never heard any of Bernings designs all of these yrs till know and I'm just highly impressed of their magical qualities.

I'm using my MZ2 with the Zotl40,which is way more pwr than I will ever need,but I've always been a fan of the EL-34 tube and I'm using 1966 Mullard XF2's that I have had for a long time,They still probably test near 100%. 

The sound is simply wonderful,very fast,powerful,plenty of color but not Technicolor,dynamic,excellent overall clarity,and wonderful tone overall.

I truly agree they have some of the best qualities of SS and tubes combined.

Maybe you will try your Zotl40 in your system and give us your thoughts.

Best,
Kenny.