Linear Tube Audio version 3 of the MicroZOTL pre

I think I'll hold off and wait for some reviews.  $1950 to upgrade without balanced input transformers. Plus shipping.  With my luck, mine would get lost or damaged in transit. 

Just purchased my version 2 a few months ago. Guess I will wait till the version 4 upgrade.

I just upgraded to level 2. I found the upgrade was absolutely worth it. I’m going to wait for awhile but will upgrade when it makes sense in the future. I trust LTA. When they say it’s an upgrade, sign me up. Great company. 

I took the leap. I also really trust LTA and have been a huge David Berning fan since I heard some of his gear many moons ago. 
There is currently a backlog on the updates and I told LTA I would wait a bit until they worked through that before I send my unit in. So not sure when I’ll get mine upgraded, but I am sure it will be beneficial.

@cbrez - Do you have any additional information - or anecdotal feedback - on what the level three upgrade will bring in regards to highs and bass? I wonder if they might have intimated any other details. 

@cbrez @sls883 @thriftyaudio -

Out of curiosity, are you using the LTA preamp with a solid state or tube amp? I’m using mine with a Conrad Johnson Classic 120 with EL 34 tubes. I’m always curious about other pairings. 

@bluethinker I'm using a Coda No 8 V1 solid state amp.  Before the LTA preamp, I had c-j tube preamps. 

@bluethinker You can take a look at system by clicking on my handle.

My power amp is a Pass Labs XA-25 (solid state). My speakers are very difficult to drive with a 0.5 Ohm draw in the high treble. The XA-25 is stable down to 0.5 Ohm, so this works well.

You should add your system so we can see the details.

I am new to the tube game. If I did not have the Bricasti M1S2 DAC I would consider the LTA DAC, but the M1S2 is so flexible I do not plan on changing.

@bluethinker Regarding any additional information, LTA mentioned the following:

notably more refined with a quieter noise level and an easy, free flowing presentation

This in addition to the refinements in bass and top end.

I also am using a Pass XA25. I think it is a marvelous amplifier and it sounds wonderful IMO with my Dynaudio speakers.

I too am going to wait before committing to the Version 3 upgrade.  I’ve been very happy with Version 2 with the 6SN7 tube upgrade.  I’m currently running the MicroZOTL pre with a Simaudio Moon 860v2 SS amp and it is a great combination.  
 

BTW, I agree that LTA is a good company and very open and trustworthy.  They have the best Customer Service I’ve experienced with audio firms. 👍🏻

@sls883 ​In your opinion, is there a lot lost by using coda   with the RCA connection?​​​​​​

@paoz I don't think so, but I'm not able to do any comparisons. My amp sits directly beneath my preamp, so distance is not an issue

I've tried several interconnects (nothing too pricey) and find the Black Cat Silverstar 88 to work really well. 

Too bad no balanced outputs are offered.

@thriftyaudio - I once tried to post my system but got hung up with technical glitches. Will try to get it posted over the next few months. I’ve been cycling through different components and am torn between two potential reference systems. 

With the balanced Lundahl transformers is always a plus .

I just bought mine last month , They knew 1000% while building my pre ,why didn’t they at least offer me the upgrade option ,that was not very good ,not very ethical imo , and to be honest having the very high grade Lundahl input transformers is always a plus ,another $2 k ,  I bought their best tube setup ,and then got rid of the older Mullards for the far superior Medical grade Red top Telefunken 12au7 $500 a pair but well worth the detail and transparency.

@audioman58 That is strange.  I would be very frustrated as well.  I bought mine used and it is about 2 years old, so I can't be too upset. 

With the right tubes, it sounds great.  I doubt that I will upgrade mine.  Maybe if it was $1000, or so, but not $2k.  I just can't imagine that it's that much better...

You will not believe the answer I received from LTA , they purposely deceived me 

as being the absolute latest , they said it was a spur of the moment thing 

a blatant Lie, lots of months previously  had to be planned drawings circuit boards testing at least 6 months previously , I waited 6 weeks after the holidays 

I would have gladly waited another month ,and for onky $200 difference 

to have any integrity ,I should have been at least given the option . 
they just wanted to use up older parts ,it’s still a very good preamp  but the new one much better still , considering I have bought 3 pieces of electronics from them and referred others to them integrity and loyalty is That  too much too ask , ? What’s next I would be blamed if it stopped working .

I am very dissapointing  if that is their response just pass the Buck , I will sell it and never do business with them ,that was very unprofessional , and a very underhanded thing to do .I am almost 67;and I told them this would be my end game preamp . I will let you know if they do the right thing ,or not ,and send you their answer why they didnot let me know .

@wrm57 LTA has never offered truly balanced gear. It was just transformers to make it compatible. Not sure how big of a deal it is though.

Please see this response , I ordered my preamp just before Christmas mind you little was being done until After New years . any major upgrade would be known Months in advance between designing and testing layouts , then ordering New custom Circuit boards . My preamp was not even built until a month after the new year. I wil be 67 having disabilities from the service and old age had to retire 

I picked this as my retirement end game preamp and asked specifically if there was any upgrades That could be had , No . Please see below the answer I received yesterday , mind you after new years they could have reached out and told me for only $200 more get the mk3 build but would be an additional month or so . I waited 6 weeks to get the old one .my order was not even on the table  the first 3 weeks in Jan . I have other preamps at home . Is this an ethical way to Run what I consider a fine audio company at LTA Audio I have purchased 3 products from them and referred others to them . This is my loyalty reward , To fellow Audiophiles ,taking into consideration my unit was not even in process yet ,my Age , loyalty ,and disabilities , how would you take this excuse sent to you by Email ,I don’t think New Years cheer woud be on your tongue. Mark Schneider is the head designer .I didnot have the opportunity to speak with him . Just give me the left over parts and now send your unit in and an additional $1150 we will take care of you , a Very low blow even more so when I Donot have a disposable income , please do see this not so truthful response below. I still have Faith that LTA is a company of integrity and will do the Honorable thing ,which should have been offered to me after the long holiday break . Please see ⬇️ Below.
 

At the time of receiving your order, in late December, we did not know that we would be offering the upgrade. As I said, we were strongly considering making the minimal required changes in order to keep the MZ Preamp as Level 2. Because we had already tested similar changes for a different product, we were lucky in being able to release the new version more quickly than would have been typical. 

Again, I am sorry that the timing of the situation seems unfavorable to you. When you make a new version of a product, a dividing line must be set. You happened to be just before that line, which means you received exactly what you ordered without unexpected delays. Any orders we received in January, February, or March were met with an uncertain lead time and we are still a few days from shipping the first Level 3 units. Over two months seems like a fair buffer time.Best, Will .

Hey, this is Will from LTA. audioman58 already posted the most relevant part of our email exchange, but I would be happy to share more of it or answer any questions about the development and timing of the Level 3, the cost of the upgrade, his discounted upgrade cost, or any other relevant subject.

We try to develop and release things in ways that will reduce customer annoyance, but we cannot please everyone. I also believe strongly in being transparent and straightforward in my communication, so it is disappointing that audioman58 continues to believe that he is being deceived. I hope he is able to continue to enjoy his Level 2 preamp, which remains a product that we take pride in.

Yesterday I was livid that I didnot. Make the mk3 upgrade 

mark called me personally and went over the Very extensive upgrades the 

state of the art ceramic boards alone are 8x more monies and the new layout  magnitudes less distortion . And well worth the upgrade cost . Even a new soft start to dramatically save on Tube life and 80k in capacitance upgrade is like with a Amplifier well over $120 uf for dynamic swings . They are paying shipping and insurances both ways ,I send my preamp back in 10 days . I will run it in myself 

with my Isotek runin cd , LSA maybe small But Mark and Co make a great product 

and have integrity .myself a hot head at times Audiophiles too  can be  hard to deal with myself included .

Signing in to say LTA has been fantastic to deal with from day 1. Their customer service and communication has been stellar. Love my Aero DAC and patiently looking forward to the mk3.

Glad to hear the above customer was taken care of. Not surprising really. 

@audioman58 - I've always sensed your enthusiasm for audio and music on the forum, so I’m happy things are resolved.

For anyone considering an LTA product, I can’t recommend them highly enough. Excellent product and customer service is top notch.

bluethinker I can be obsessive in trying to check all the boxes , LTA is just as obsessive in when they do come out with a upgrade it is a major one .

looking forwards to getting it sent out and getting it runin , this way too I can share exactly what changes I hear. I have 8 reference tracks I know very well . Now the wait and the breakin Patience sometimes is the hardest part !!

I think Shipping both ways is included as well as balanced Lundahl input transformers ,the Rays tubes add $480 I believe.

@audioman58 - I’m not able to do the upgrade myself for awhile. Will have to wait a few months, unfortunately. Please share your review with us after the LTA level 3 is in your system and run-in! 

Bluethinker  I will for sure give my comparisons I have a bunch of reference songs I know very well and wrote down highlights on each  and what to look for using my brothers Latest Gryphon Diablo latest model integrated  which is exceptional.

Does anyone have a firsthand experience comparing LTA pre-amp to PrimaLuna EVO 300 or 400 pre-amps?

In one setup I have PrimaLuna EVO 300 integrated with efficient Cube Audio speakers - and I am happy with them sonically but replacing the darn power tubes is no fun.

In another setup I have Pass Labs XA-25 power amp feeding rather demanding SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles - for this set I am looking for a tube pre-amp. LTA and EVO 300 are currently my top considerations.

Thanks in advance.

@tkukielk - Unfortunately, I’ve not had the opportunity to hear the Primaluna. I’d suspect the pass XA-25 with the LTA would be spectacular though. 

I do use the MicroZOTL with a Pass XA25 on a pair of Dynaudio Heritage Specials. I think it is a great combination - very musical, dynamic, engaging. I have not heard the PrimaLuna to compare.

Also very glad LTA worked things out with @audioman58. Customer experience counts for so much and LTA has a very solid reputation at this point. They have always been very responsive when I have reached out.

@tkukielk I wouldn’t really view the PL and LTA as substitutes as they’re quite different. The PL will have more of the traditional tubey warm sound while the LTA will sound more neutral but still with that tube magic, so it really comes down to which type of sound you’re looking for and prefer with your equipment. As such I’m not surprised at all that @cbrez finds the LTA pre with his XA25 to be a synergistic combination. and LTA does offer a trial period that you might consider taking advantage of. Frankly, if you can afford a little more than the LTA I’d go for the Spatial Audio Raven that is probably a best of both worlds option between PL and LTA, and they also offer a trial period so that’s absolutely what I’d do. And I should note that the Raven is fully balanced where the LTA is not, which is a consideration given your Pass is a fully balanced amp.  Just some thoughts FWIW, and best of luck.

Cbrez my unit is out for #3 upgrade this  . I will fill everyone know  the magnitude 

the upgrade it’s pretty comprehensive  on mainly now on a much larger # costly double sided Ceramic circuit board loaded with A much larger capacitors ,power supplies, and even better soft tubes will last even longer by design.

Knowing build quality well the prima luna is not in the same league

Look at the output you dont use a low quality attenuator 

Round silver can either Alps or Bourne  attenuator very  inexpensive 

And robs low level detail.