Anyone listen to Zu Audio's Definition Mk3?

GB,

My source is the Metric Halo LIO-8, fed by a Macbook pro and Pure Music software

Had the Atma/Amarra #4 Dac running with a MM/PM and Zu Presence speakers.

Atma amp moved me closer to real live music than any of the SET amps I had in my system. The MH 8 is a great dac.

I found the MM running with a LPS to be a noisy little guy killing all my attempts to go to the next level. I had to by a Lampizator transport that took the MM out of transport duties. Now all is dead silent in the system.

To complete the final piece I grabbed a Dale Pitcher Power Bridge that was, to me, a true breakthrough in AC power supply. The Power Bridge makes my Def2 the Def10 SE SA. It runs my transport/Dac.

And cables are the last thing to worry/ get right. The PB will make that thought sound silly.

Glory wrote:

Atma amp moved me closer to real live music than any of the SET amps I had in my system. The MH 8 is a great dac.

Agreed on MH LIO-8. I've only experimented with the Melody 300B SET mono's and, at least in direct comparison to the Atma's, the lack of transparency, lack of speed, and general "mudiness" was not for me. On the other hand, prior to buying the Atma's and Definitions, the Melody was a nice amp on my Druids, bettering my Marantz integrated in most areas, but not all. On the Definitions, unfortunately, it was quite a different outcome. Perhaps they just couldn't handle the 6 ohm nom load of the Defs, yet the Atma's could? Go figure.

Glory wrote:

I found the MM running with a LPS to be a noisy little guy killing all my attempts to go to the next level. I had to by a Lampizator transport that took the MM out of transport duties. Now all is dead silent in the system.

I'm not following this? What is the MM and the LPS?

Glory wrote:

To complete the final piece I grabbed a Dale Pitcher Power Bridge that was, to me, a true breakthrough in AC power supply. The Power Bridge makes my Def2 the Def10 SE SA. It runs my transport/Dac.

The Power Bridge runs only your transport and Dac? And it made this big of a difference in your opinion? Have you ever tried the PS Audio Premier or other reconstituted power devices? Seems from a noise/isolation standpoint this would be far more effective? Color me curious.

Gopher wrote:

Thanks for clarifying, I can appreciate those observations. Interestingly, I'm using a Melody KT88 integrated myself these days which I like, but it is cleaner, more linear tube then the 300B, imo.

One thing I have overlooked is that the Melody 300B did work well with my Zu Druids, a 12 ohm load versus the Def's 6 ohm load. I never did do a Atma/Melody comparison on the Druids, but my gut tells me the "winner" would have been the same, though perhaps not to the same degree...not really sure.

Gopher wrote:

Enjoy your pairing! There is nothing wrong with Atma-sphere. :)

I hope I didn't come across as argumentative? I do notice that when responding to threads with an ipad my tone sometimes comes across like an impetuous child. It takes so long to type with a single finger (or two) that I tend to shorten, and perhaps, coarsen, my words.

In response to this amp emphasis on the Zu thread, I'm currently running my Zu Def2's into a Hovland HP200 tube pre amp and Hovland Radia 125W/ch dual mono power amp (both unavailable, Hovland actually sadly having gone bust some years ago).
The combination is v.beguiling and true to source. I am v.confident that the Def4's will sound great thru them, but in due course would love to try an all-tube amp chain, either the Audion Black Shadow 845 SET 25W/ch, or the Dave Berning VOTL combination.
I have taken Phil's advice and tried -10dB attenuators on the termination of i/c's between tt/cd and preamp. This is now allowing me to turn up the preamp so I get the same volume at 2o'c instead of 11o/c. The result is much more presence thru the midband and an increase in bass heft. $30, no contest!

Germanboxer,

Not at all. I just didn't want to come off as if I was insulting your amps. They're very good, some of the best sound I'd heard with my Zus technically. They didn't click for me emotionally, but I respect the hell out of them and am not surprised they're winners on the new Definitions.

When Glory referred to MM he was referring to a MacMini, a small all in one computer made by apple that a lot of guys use as music servers. He replaced it with a Lampizator transport which I had the pleasure of spending a week with a week ago. Its a damn fine piece! Its an EXTENSIVELY modified Squeezebox Duet with tube power supply and tubed SPDIF out which is quite unique... I'm working on a little something with a digi-lampi kit (tube SPDIF out) myself at the moment.