@smatsui I had that problem this winter. I had a couple of pretty good sparks on a couple of occasions. Fortunately, nothing got fried
I've gotten into the habit of touching the metal posts of my audio cabinet before I touch my LTA preamp..
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 👍🎶👍.
@smatsui I had that problem this winter. I had a couple of pretty good sparks on a couple of occasions. Fortunately, nothing got fried I've gotten into the habit of touching the metal posts of my audio cabinet before I touch my LTA preamp.. |
@sls883 I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one to have the issue. I actually did the same thing, touching the metal post of my rack before touching the preamp. I had the issue 100% of the time only when initially touching the preamp. If I touched the preamp a 2nd time, I would not get zapped after getting zapped the first time. The issue was so annoying that I put a ground strap at my rack with a pin to the ground pin of an outlet. I could feel a tingle whenever I initially touched the ground strap. This issue has been completely eliminated with the level 3 upgrade. |
@lancelock I am looking forward to your comparisons of the two preamps. The Rhumba Extreme 1.4 was my second choice, although I was never able to compare the LTA MicroZOTL Level 2 with it in my system. I went with the LTA ultimately based on price, then decided it met my needs, until the Level 3 upgrade became available. @sls883 @smatsui I have never had a grounding/shock issue with any of my equipment, but then again my rack is solid wood. |
@troutstreamnm Enjoy! I continue to be incredibly impressed. There really is more “there, there”! And while mine has settled in, it has taken a bit of time in my system. |