SOTA preamps: Tortuga LDR3000T, microZOTL MZ3, or Kinki EX-P7?


I narrowed my search to these 3 line stage preamps, 2 released 2019, 1 released 2018. Please comment if you know or suspect one may outperform the other two.

For this discussion disregard price differences; imagine all 3 have similar SRP, which they don't. (FYI Tortuga w/1st cap upgrade $3450, Linear Tube Audio/LTA MZ3 $3700/no upgrades offered IIRC, Kinki Studio w/shipping and tariff about $2300/no upgrades offered except a Goldmund type face plate.)

IMO these 3 line stage preamps offer the best value and best performance for my needs listed herein. Better performance likely costs at least 3x more.

Please suggest other preamp only if it fits my needs listed herein, it has SRP under about $6k, you AB tested it vs. one of the subjects (or a derivative listed herein), and you preferred that other preamp (that's a lot of qualifications).

Important: the associated speakers have wide range tuning functions including active distributed sub array and gain and tilt controls for mid-treble crossed @ either 750 Hz or 1.3k Hz (depending on the model). The speaker tuning functions eliminate or almost eliminate spectral differences between the preamps.

Derivative models w/same performance: LDR3000T released mid-late 2019 is one box combining the earlier celebrated passive 4th Generation volume control + outboard tube buffer w/3 gain settings (0, +3, +6 dB). Of the 2 cap upgrades Tortuga offers I would get the 1st cap upgrade, about $440. The preamp stages are identical in LTA's $3700 MZ3 and $4400 "Preamplifier" model (both released 2019); both models are LTA's all time best preamp stage by yuge margin.

My line level preamp needs:
1. Remote volume
2. Unbalanced OK
3. Switch between 3 sources, tape outputs irrelevant
4. Requires current capacity to drive load impedance as low as about 8k ohm, comprising 12k ohm sub amps and a wide array of different main amps.

I suspect and shall confirm all 3 subjects meet all needs. That's it. Any other feature is unnecessary. Internal DAC is fail, period, full stop. Headphone feature is irrelevant.

This is likely my last active line preamp purchase; I want it to last for decades. If the preamp has an LED I plan to buy a spare LED for future replacement. IOW long term service is yuge.

Tortuga: US made, nice. I lean this direction. Srajan/6moons slightly preferred the $15k Nagra Classic tube preamp over the Kinki; I hope the Tortuga performs more like the Nagra. Dave Slagle is one of my heroes; he used to make autoformer volume controls. I hope Tortuga's LDR volume control performance equals or beats Dave's autoformer volume. Switchable gain of 0, +3 or +6 dB via a triode tube followed by a SS current buffer. Did not check the PS type.

Linear Tube Audio microZOTL MZ3: US made. Employs Berning's "Zero hysteresis OTL" circuit alleged to improve tube performance by modulating the music signal atop a carrier frequency (150k or 250k, forgot). Advertised to increase tube life, but it employs 4 tubes to Tortuga's 1 or 2 (forgot). Highly refined ladder-resistor volume control. Deluxe linear PS.

Which weighs more on performance: Tortuga's volume control, ZOTL's unique gain stage, or is it a wash?

If it's a wash I may lean toward LTA for it's more common parts and technology improving odds for long term service and parts supply.

Kinki Studio: all SS/no tube maintenance. Chinese newcomer but reviewers rave about performance. Gold plated PCB traces. Separate transformer per channel each isolated in alloy sub-enclosure. Internal images evoke a $10-15k preamp. Long distance service from China (manufactured) and/or Singapore (international sales rep). Kinki replied quickly to my email. Per Srajan/6moons: the only thing clearly better, and only marginally is Nagra's $15k Classic tube preamp.

Thanks! 





128x128spkrplus
Mmmm, interesting thread. I started with a Schiit Saga, then moved the an LTA MZ2S finding it roughtly a sideways step, from there I moved to a LTA MZ3 which was all round better but a touch thin sounding. I then moved the my current DACGEAR LDR Pre Mk.II which was better in all areas.

I'll be trying a new Tortuga LDR300x V3 Active soon in my biamped setup. Due to the FET buffer I suspect it may drive my 2x amps better than my current fully passive LDR though that's by no means guaranteed. Guess I'll find out.
Our MP-3 ticks all the boxes too and is fully balanced. Usually I try to avoid mentioning our stuff, but in your case you need to drive 8K and there simply aren't that many preamps that can do that. But ours can on account of a direct-coupled low impedance output that we patented. Otherwise I'd be looking at the preamp based on Berning's circuit as it gets around the main issue that plagues most preamps (tube or solid state) which is how to couple the preamp to a load in a transparent manner.
I got the Kinki EX-P7,which meets or exceeds my very high expectations.

I still love tube amps and preamps for all their well known attributes. A tube preamp might portray more density than the P7 but I similarly suspect there are multiple other parameters wherein the P7 would outperform a tube preamp.


I have long lusted for the Tortuga 3000. Im not at all confident that spending the extra 2K for upgraded caps will reward you THAT much, but hey, if $$$ is not an object, go for it

I believe they offer a 30 day, so...


Please start a thread if you do
Hey. This is Nicholas from LTA. I haven't heard the other preamps, but I can answer any questions you may have about the MZ3. (Yes, it checks your basic boxes.)

Also, hoping this will bump this so others will see it and chime in to help you make your decision. :)