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The new magnificent Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL Preamplifier

I have spent the last 48 hours, did not go to sleep last night, listening to Linear Tube Audio's new dedicated full size, full function Micro ZOTL Preamplifier and I'm amazed, mesmerized, and delighted with what Mark Schneider in conjunction with David Berning has brought to the market with this new creation.

I'm a reviewer for hometheaterreview.com and about three years ago I awarded the "Product Of The Year" to the LTA ZOTLhead phone/preamplifier, which as a preamplifier completely out performed my $22,000.00 reference linestage!  Even today this remarkable piece, which sells for $1,700.00 with the upgraded power supply is still one of the best preamplifiers on the market.

Well, it took about three years for Mark to come up with a better "mouse trap". This new linestage is on a significantly higher qualitative performance level then its less expensive sibling and is driving my reference system to beautiful musical heights.  You can go to LTA's website to see how their new chassis work looks and the details of the internal quality of parts/construction and the explanation of the Berning's Zero Hysteresis Output Transfomer-Less circuit design.

Across every sonic attribute: timbres/color, image palpability/density, spatial qualities- air around players- tremendous soundstage depth/width/height, powerful overall dynamics, and deep extension with great low frequencies regarding tone/accuracy which gives a great foundation to the music.  All this and delivered with total liquidity and ease.  This preamplifier renders the illusion of real music better then any other linestage I have had in-house for review. 

My full review for hometheaterreview.com, with many more superlative details, will be coming out in the next few months, just wanted to give this "heads up" to the GON members because this preamp just kills it.  By the way I believe the retail cost is 4K, which is a bargain for what you get and the "magic" it will bring to your system.


teajay
slingshot
55 posts
 
Hello Jmolsberg, could you elaborate on what Ben did?  I see they sell a stand alone  illuminati v3 ps for about $1,250. Did he replace the power supply in your LTA with a modified illuminati v3 ps? I also have  Omega speakers: the  Super Alnico High Output Monitor which are 97db. You said you had issues with the head room. I also have a First Watts S.I.T 3 which does not have a lot of gain; 11.5.  
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
^  I wouldn't say I have any issues with headroom but I'd like some more at times. It is only one watt! With that said, gotta makes some concessions and this feels like the only concession I am having to make. The music is marvelous - I am sure you know with the S.I.T 3/omega. I did loan my mz2 to my neighbor who ended up buying the microzotl. We did some A/B and I'll be damned if that upgraded mz2 wasn't right there. Personally, I thought the bass was a little better, maybe the illuminati? 

I purchased the mz2-s with the switching ps. I had Ben do the following with the purchase of the illuminati v3:


illuminatti v3 ps, Hardwire DC power cable into mz2
24 point Stepped attenuator
Replace fuse with self-resetting Thermistor
Upgraded capacitors
Upgrade the main ground from rear to attenuator with OCC UniCrystal silver wire
Upgrade the four wires going from the attenuator to the main board
UniCrystal silver wire
Add an independent ground wire for L and R at output
Bypass the cheap switch in the headphone jack and run the wires directly to the RCAs.
Run the wires from main board first to RCA and jump to binding posts 






lancelock's avatar
lancelock
1,107 posts
 
@jmolsberg, many of these mods are now stock in the MZ3.
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
^ correct. So go right for the mz3 if you don't have one! 
slingshot
55 posts
 

Jmolsberg, thank for responding to my question. Wouldn't the modifications void the warranty on it?

I have a friend who is a high end stereo dealer and he will give me a very substantial discount on his products or other products through his dealer friends. I have been looking at the Einstein: The Preamp or their integrated amp and the Vinnie Ross L2 DHT. Very expensive even with a hefty discount. (I previously had the Einstein: The Tube preamp v2 modified with Echole wire and Mundorf capacitors. Unfortunately a carrier dropped it and destroyed it when it was coming back from a repair. I also had the Allnic L5000 DHT.)

However, the more I look at this preamplifier the more sense it makes to me to purchase it. Jack Burton, the Audio Beatnik recently tested the MZ3 with his SIT-3 and he said it sounded great.  I have a high quality Auris Audio headphone amp and the preamp has a tape out which should work with it. If the preamp's headphone quality is comparable to the Auris than I would sell the Auris. I also have a Focal subwoofer and the preamp has two outputs, I assume they both operate at the same time. 

 I noticed LTA offers a true balance input for $250 more. What is the benefit of this when it does not have balanced outputs? Is it to increase the gain? As noted above the SIT-3 has limited gain. I am also looking at the Denafrips Terminator DAC which does have balanced outputs.


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