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Problems getting the best out of my Berning

Hello fellow Agoners,

I beckon for help from experienced users of the Berning ZH270! I just received mine new a week ago, and although it is an incredible amp, it is not meeting my expectations. HELP!

First the good news:

This is the fastest amp I have ever head, and it has virtually no noise floor. I am truly impressed with these aspects. It handles most everything with ease and clarity.

Now my system:

Proac 2.5 loudspeakers
Cary CD308 and Arcam FMJ CD23
Kimber PBJ Interconnnects
Audioquest Type 4 cables

(I've also used Dynaudio Audience 72's and all MIT cables, and Triangle Titus + Audioquest Slate cables and PBJ IC's).

OK - now to the problem:

On all three setups mentioned above, the amp seems strongly biased towards the midrange and upper midrange, resulting in a fatiguing presention. There is a significant decrease in bass (not detail, but the actual movement of air) from the other amps I have used for comparison (Classe CAP 101, Pass Aleph 3, Adcom GFA 5400). While the detail and fastness are truly amazing, the midrange emphasis is getting the worst of me!

I've spoken with David Berning and Frank S (FS Audio.com) and both encourage some tweaking to get rid of this perceived (psycho?) acoustic bias. Frank is going to send me some interconnects to try. David mentioned that others have changed the tubes. He doubts anything is wrong with the amp.

Is this all in my head, or have others had similar problems and needed to make adjustments to get it right? While all my other amps are currently SS, I have trouble believing that this is the "tube sound" (I've heard other tube amps). Other threads mention system tweaking to get rid of a "glare" with the ZH270, changing tubes, sensitivity to cabling. My perception of the sound is pretty strong - currently I like my Aleph 3 a whole lot more with the existing setup.

I'm willing to put some time and money into making this work - because in all other respects, this is an absolutely amazing amp. Perhaps it doesn't suit my ear - but I want the advantages of this amp without the disadvantages I just mentioned. Please - suggestions on what to do from all you experienced Berning fans... so many high commendations cannot be that far off (right?).
peter_s
gbeard
29 posts
 
Hi,

I had quite a lot of set up problems in the beginning. I don't think it is tubes, however the amp does sound even better with better tubes. I would carefully read the operations manual again to make certain you haven't missed anything silly (like I did), and then I would look to cable synergy as the culprit. I was very close to sending mine back, but I am very glad I stuck with it, as it is now the heart and soul of my system. I have never heard the SS amps you own, and it is true the ZH may never equal them in bass slam, but it certainly should not sound as if the mids are overwhelming the bass. In fact it is a bass demon in my experience.

gb
allanbhaganinfo
121 posts
 
It takes getting use to, for sure, the amp really has no sonic signature per say, it's most timber correct, as Bobby from Merlin will attest to.

So it really does not smoothen, brighten, add bass or anything, you get exactly what you give it, that really needs getting use to.
gbeard
29 posts
 
My earlier response was written without having read all the posts, my apologies...

Mine did take quite a while to break-in, and it went through some wild gyrations while doing so. It does keep getting better, and better, AND BETTER.

Allan is right on the mark about the Berning. It doesn't really have a "sound". What ever changes I make in my system, the Berning will highlight them, good or bad. I am in the middle of trying some new cables, so I can attest to fact that everything you do will have either a positive or negative effect on the ZH. Set up and synergy are everything! On a side note, I have found the Berning to be fantastically stable, and user friendly. Shes never uttered so much as a burp.

Well, I guess I am wearing my heart on my sleeve here, but I really think is a great real-world amp.

Good luck
gb
rcrump
427 posts
 
Peter S, the TG HSR speaker wire isn't horribly expensive at $800 for 8'.....Let the amp break in for a few weeks is the best suggestion I have for you, but wanted to set the record straight as the speaker wire is a bargain compared to anything else that it competes directly with.....
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,640 posts
 
-Its an easy mistake to make and it would give you the results you have. Try reversing the phase of *one* speaker cable and leave the other alone. Don't pay any attention to the markings on the amp- its possible that it could have an internal phase problem in one channel. Give it a try.
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