Linear Tube Audio - Micro ZOTL - version -3 Update on upgrades


 

Having just received the Micro-Z OTL  version 2 in Feb  and seeing a much better upgrade was available . I had to do it to help complete my quest to get everything in my audio system as good as possible, and for 6 months the 30% off the upgrade stands  . Where the older model had 4 circuit boards ,now just one very high quality Ceramic board ,with  a small sister  board , Gold over thick Copper traces. To start  with an additional 80k uf  in filter capacitance over 200k in total ,more then most amplifiers,pretty much Everything is name brand parts . I have the Top of the line Lundahl input transformers  from Sweden .

having many years in Audio  and having had many audio pieces modded , this preamp is Loaded with top of the line in parts quality using worlds best Belleson low noise regulators , Nichicon GOLD capacitors ,from Japan ,AMTRAN BEST - Golden SQ  also Japan .EPCOS from Germany.Clarity-CMR -U.k  all top notch capacitors 

With balanced inputs , and the David Berning design Micro -Z-OTL output stage and Mark and engineering team . The interior is vastly upgraded, now a. Nice large toggle switch to choose  between the 6 v - 6sn7 tubes and 12v. 12sn7 , the whole tube socket area is a nice thick platform no flexing  and having just 1 Big main board not only more robust but much lower noise floor is Very apparent.   Sonically  the New version -3  is a major step up. To start I used just the stock tubes in the Version 3 to test  vs  an audio friends with the version 2 with much better Rays select 6sn7 tubes and  same Telefunken 12au7 tubes that I bought . TheNew Version is better  with ease !  Image depth is better and a deeper larger soundstage , Bass-MidBass has even better dynamics and slam, even quieter blacker back grounds, With excellent control ,and is just more tuneful, fast, and articulate.  When I decided Now it’s time to. Put in my top Rays select 6sn7 tubes And  12AU7 Telefunken Red tip medical grade  tubes . It was at minimum another  5 % Better still !! This was a substantial upgrade even with stock tubes   .I go to several audio gatherings,  the ones who have heard this all have $50k+ audio systems and stated you would have to spend well over $12k  to just to come close to this preamplifier performance music just is seamless and coherent which I totally agree !! It has the best of what tubes do best in a Big open soundstage stage , with lots of Air and separation around the instruments ,with excellent Solid state like imaging Big dynamics and ultra fast Tight Bass, much more so now in the version 3 . Listening ,to classic Beatles to Pink Floyd interactions in the micro details that before we’re barely audible now come out of the shadows and  are clear and defined , this alone to me is special .I have not found a preamp even  close in the $10k+ range that can better this SS or vacuum Tubes,  Great Job 👏 To  all at LTA Audio 👍🎶👍.

 

audioman58

Perfect. Thanks for the information @thriftyaudio 

Please let us know your thoughts on the upgrade when it is done.

Thank you @audioman58 for the write up. I’ve also been in queue to send my Level 2 in for a number of weeks and just sent it out yesterday. Really looking forward to hearing the improvements you talk about. 

I can 2nd the recommendation of the Pass Labs XA25.  I have 3 different speakers that are in rotation with this combination: (1) Devore Gibbon Super Nines, (2) Klipsch Cornwall IVs, and Sterling Broadcast LS3/6.  The XA25 drives each one with ease and sounds transparent and 3 dimensional.

The pass labs is not in the Gryphons league for power and naturalness I compared the 250.8  it was not as natural or as detailed , this is why ,I may buy the Gryphon 
diablo 300

Are you keeping the LTA pre if you get the 300 - so still using the LTA as pre and 300 for amp? Not sure if 300 can disable volume control or not