Zu Soul Superfly

I haven't heard the Tiny Triode monoblocks on Zu, but I would proceed with confidence. I have yet to hear an EL84 amp not sound musical powering the Zu FRD. Within its power limits, for example, the very modest Almarro A205 single-ended EL84 embarrasses many more expensive amps of various types on Druids, and therefore I'm sure on Soul too. And it's only 5 to 8w.

The Tiny Triode should prove both toneful and quite versatile on Superfly. You'll have around 20 honest watts in pseudo-triode mode with four EL84s running into 16 ohms from an 8 ohms tap, and perhaps 35w in normal tetrode mode, so at the flip of a switch you'll have the laid-back sound of triode mode with adequate power, and able to call up the more vivid and punchy tetrode sound when you want more oomph.

$700 seems to me a great price for those amps, which were limited production, no longer made, and quite scarce.

Phil

45 SET plays pretty loudly on my Def. 2's, no congestion at 'normal loud' levels. Can't play house parties.

My RWA 70.2s kick absolute tail on them, Class D ain't all the same. Their 50 watts or so into 6 ohms (which the Defs are) + active bass power from giant pro amps + bass EQ = girl with guitar all the way up to clean rave sound.

Zanon,

The thing is that "Class D" is just a general classification and in fact various "class D" amps have almost nothing in common. In the implementation, that is. In terms of sound, there is probably some general overlap. But to me a (say) Red Wine tripath amp sound quite a bit different from a gainclone or a Bel Canto ICE amp. I am no golden ear and think these differences are pretty easily audible.

Paulfolbrecht:

It is certainly possible I will hear a class-d that does not sound like another class-d. I hope it sounds better.

I am merely stating fact that tri-path sounded as good (or bad) as $1000 Rotel.

I am not one of those people who thinks just because it costs more it is good.

PHIL: Non-audiophile people who don't notice and don't care are probably better served by $500 polks or $100 speakers available at any garage sale than $2000 Souls. Anyone who cares enough about sound to spend for the Souls really should care enough for at least modest placement.

I shake my head that you recommend tiny triode monoblock for Soul. Whomever follows up this advise is setting themselves up for disappointment. Unless of course they seek a congested midrange, and again, I point them to $500 polks (actually, $200 polk monitor so you can truly enjoy that choked sound). Well whatever. Maybe Curious_george is from the "plop them down" school of thought and does not care whether left is louder than right. That is his business of course.

Miklorsmith: 45W is OK. 5 or 8 is just not.

Having as much experience with Zu products and probably more than anybody posting here, it is unrealistic for any Zu speaker to perform optimally with a flea power SET/PSET amp be it 45, 50, PX-25, or 2A3.

Every Zu speaker, including models with a self contained subwoofer system, requires at least 15WPC; some need more.

No question they can be driven with single digit power but nowhere near their full capability.

IMO
YMMV
Dealer disclaimer