Are you people that did the upgrade comparing level 3 to level 2 using the same tubes?
I can dramatically improve the sound of my level 2 by tube swapping.
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 👍🎶👍.
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- 51 posts total
My Level 3 upgrade arrived Friday and I have spent a large part of the weekend listening to music. The total turn around time was eighteen days including shipping from the West Coast to Maryland and back again. Fortunately I was traveling during much of that time. I let the system play for twelve hours before I started any critical listening. It is very difficult to compare the Level 2 versus the Level 3 results without having them side by side. This is the same issue I have had comparing power amps, speakers, preamps, and DACs. I expect I will have the same difficulty as I upgrade my streamer. Fortunately, I anticipated the issue and had notes regarding particular songs and source material. Across the board I found the instrument and performer separation was improved. Frequently the singer, or featured instrument was brought forward slightly. Stage presence height improved with Level 3. Level 2, plus all my other preamps over the years had exaggerated placement relative to what they should be. Level 3 is the first preamp that I have owned to nail the height issue. Things that are suppose to be overhead (think Pink Floyd, soundtracks with singers on different floors, and helicopters) are where they should be. The soundstage placement is consistent a joy to listen to. Regarding background blackness: I am not certain I can tell if there is an improvement, or even a change. There might be, but I am unable to identify it. Some instruments seem to have a more natural extension. The Level 2 improved this area versus the Benchmark LA4. The Level 3 is better than the 2 with this as well. Bass is more accurate in the extreme (under 30 Hz). The extreme bass in Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" is actually tamed a bit. I didn't have to rush to turn it down because the house was shaking. The house still shakes with the cannon from The 1812 Overture as it should. Bass placement is a bit more detailed and tight. I am very glad I decided to the get the Level 3 upgrade. It compares favorably to the Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4 (have not heard the Rhythm 1.4). Regarding tube rolling: I have the original NOS tubes shipped with the unit plus the Ray Reserve and Gold Lion tubes LTA offers. The upgraded tubes still sound much better than the standard tubes. I am not inclined to try many different tube pairings. I will leave that with the pros, in this case LTA. I did enquire regarding the Ray Select tubes LTA is now offering in place of the NOS Gold Lion. The replied that there would be a slight difference, but not much and that is could be perceived as an improvement or a downgrade depending on my perception. I may buy a pair down the road, but not the immediate future. There may be better tubes out there, but that is not path that I will be exploring for now. |
@sls883, same tubes in my level 3 that I had in my level 2. I have about 200 hours on my level 3 in addition to the 1 week of burn-in at LTA. I think it’s improved from the time I first received it. I have not tried it with my XA-25 yet. I’m using Sylvania 6SN7 from the late 50’s/early 60’s and Mullard 4024 (12AT7). I like those tubes better than the stock tubes. I also purchased the Ray Reserve 6SN7 but I haven’t tried them yet. |
@smatsui Thank you for the reply. I'm glad the upgrade worked out for you. I may do it someday, but I have purchased tubes and cables that work with my level 2 preamp. They might also be fine with the level 3 upgrade. I'm using Telefunken ECC801S input tubes. I think I'm using Sylvania 6SN7GT output tubes as well (I have a couple of types that I like). The only input tubes that I've tried that are close to the Telefunken (in my opinion) are Siemens ECC801S. Most of the others lacked the detail, etc of the Telefunken. |
@sls883 Tube rolling in the LTA definitely has a noticeable impact. I have had to change some tubes around, but am using medical grade Telefunkenkens for the inputs and currently Sylvania 6SN7s on the output. All from Brent Jesse. One other thing I have noticed with the Level 3 upgrade - massed strings, particularly violins in orchestral music sound more natural and less congested. I know the complexity of reproducing massed strings has been noted on this forum and others and certainly the recording comes significantly into play here, but Level 2 to Level 3 is really noticeable in this regard. I continue to be impressed the more time I listen after the upgrade. |
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