Anyone listen to Zu Audio's Definition Mk3?


Comparisons with the 1.5s and the others that came before? Getting the itch; again......
128x128warrenh
I can pretty much understand where the pro and not so pro ASR comments are coming from. It's the age old debate as to whether cool detailed neutrality is preferable to a maybe more colourful but equally vibrant sound.
My Def 4s are due to be ready in July, and having taken on a highly neutral and transparent tt/arm (see my thread on the analog forum 'Trans Fi Audio Salvation direct rim drive turntable') I'm on the hunt for a neutral cartridge.
The market for an upgraded amp is an interesting one, currently I run Hovland HP200 tube pre/Radia ss pow, which has served me well with the Def 2s. I have identified three ways to go if Def 4s indicate need for improvement, all for about the same price as the Def 4s. These are: the ASR Emitter 2, Dave Berning Z-OTL pre/pow, and the Audion pre or Silvercore TVC pre/Audion Silver Dream pow. My only issue with the ASR as a complement to the Def 4s is that the amps are overpowerful at 250w/ch feeding 101+dB efficient speakers, which by design only need the first 15-30W on tap. Doesn't this leave a possible power/impedance mismatch between the ASR and the Def 4s, showing neither to their best advantage?
Actually I meant the Audion Black Shadow pow as one of the alternatives to my Hovland Radia, and alongside the ASR as final upgrade choice to feed the Def 4s
Spiritofmusic,
Will it be possible for you to actually compare these amplifiers in your system? I`d think the Audion and ASR are different enough that you`ll definitely go in one direction or the other.
Well Charles, ASR, Audion and Dave Berning all have distributors in the UK, and pre/pow combinations are all in the £10000-15000 range.
Firstly, purchase of the Def 4s and new tt/arm have pretty much emptied my bank account, and a little upturn in the World economy would be SO good for business.
Because the Hovland pre/pow has served me so well, amp upgrade is something I'm curious about, but is not a priority right now.
So as a fan of ASR, is it not overkill on the power front mated with the ultra high eff Def 4s?
Spirit,
It seems you have built a truly excellent system,congratulations! Without question you`ll get numerous opinions regarding which power amp is better for your system.The ASR does seem to be overkill power(on paper anyway) yet I don`t doubt glory,agear or others who prefer it(why should I?). The issue is what type of sound moves you and connects you to the music you enjoy.

Depending on your ears and taste I could see any of the 3 choices working out great for you.For me given my preferences and priorities I`d buy the Audion amp in a heartbeat.But as we all know it purely personal choice as opposed to some infailiable objective rule book. Hey, just buy which ever one sounds best to your ears when the time comes. It is pointless to argue about which amp is better in absolute terms, audio is the epitome of a subjective endeavor.
Regards,