Eddie Current Zana Deux S

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Luckbad, Apr 5, 2016.

  1. KarlStromberg

    KarlStromberg New

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    How about the Modi Multibit as a DAC for the ZDS?
     
  2. cizx.6

    cizx.6 Just couldn't stay away...

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    Will it work? Sure. Is it optimal? Probably not... depends on what your ideal source / amp / transducer ratio is. In this case, it's like 1x / 10x / ?x (What are you using for headphones?) I'm at about 2x / 2x / 1x, but I'm crazy.

    ZDS seems to be pretty good at revealing source limitations. It's pretty low risk to try it and see if you're satisfied.
     
  3. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    ZDS is neutral enough to reveal blights in the chain. The grace m9xx was better than the Bifrost Multibit feeding it but as an otl it still masked some of the Bifrost Multibit low end weirdness so it still sounded good. Leave the Modi Multibit for Beyers, the HD 800, and the Jotunheim.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    FWIW, most of the ZDS guys I know personally or who show up at SBAF meets use Yggdrasil with ZDS. ZDS bass can be bloomy. MM might be too warm and veiled. A good neutral DS DAC would be a good choice with ZDS as well.
     
  5. KarlStromberg

    KarlStromberg New

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    Intel NUC / Roon USB -> DAC -> ZDS -> Utopia and HD800S, that is how it should look like. Currently I am using an AK380 in line-out mode to feed the ZDS, since the V850 is too far away. Therefore I am searching for another DAC.
     
  6. KarlStromberg

    KarlStromberg New

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    What about Gungnir Multibit?
    What would be a recommendation for a "good neutral DS DAC"?

    As far as I know the Yggdrasil does extremely well for its price, however I am not sure if it wouldn't be a little bit "oversized" for just driving the ZDS. Too bad Schiit doesn't offer a black color option for it or for Gungnir Multibit.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Gungnir Multibit is good too.
     
  8. cizx.6

    cizx.6 Just couldn't stay away...

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    There are black versions out there.
     
  9. barboggo

    barboggo Acquaintance

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    I love my Yggdrasil and it works great with the ZDS, but I find myself trying to hide it as much as possible since it just does not match at all. The ZDS is so thin, black and elegant and makes the Yggdrasil feel chunky and large by comparison. And it's not even just the color that's doing this (lighter greys and whites makes objects optically larger), but also the industrial design (beveled edges, convex curves), the whole mid-2000's bold, minimalist Dieter Rams styling, etc.

    Seriously considering swapping it for a Holo Spring DAC if I can't find a nice spot to tuck it away.
     
  10. cizx.6

    cizx.6 Just couldn't stay away...

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    this MIGHT be the wrong hobby for you. :)

    I like my eclectic rack of various parts... but only my cat and I can see it.
     
  11. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
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    I had something similar to this custom made for my ZDSE, Yggdrasil, GuMB and Vega:
    http://www.ironbridgefurniture.com/ibf-037-jali-style-low-tv-cabinet-1797-p.asp
     
  12. RiddleyWalker

    RiddleyWalker Friend

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    Hoping to solicit some tube advice... What's a nice "neutral" (or perhaps even bright-ish) tube? I very much enjoy the Philips JAN 6SL7WGT (green letters), which is the closet thing to a dynamic sounding neutral tube that I've found. Most of the popular 6SL7 that I've tried are warmer and less detailed sounding (RCA 5691, Tungsol 6SU7GTY).
     
  13. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    FWIW, the Tung Sol 6SU7GTY black glass brown base is the brightest tube I've tried.
     
  14. sheldaze

    sheldaze Friend

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    Looking back, it may not have been such a great plan - connecting Mojo, m9xx, and Bifrost Multibit to the ZDS at a meet. This was how Psalmanzer heard it. And the ZDS was built this year, so it is the recent version. I personally use the Yggdrasil in my home setup. And at a private meet upcoming this weekend, it will be connected to Yggdrasil (the person hosting owns two) and Ayre QB-9 DSD / Audio-GD 27, something or another with a DS. I can never remember the Audio-GD names o_O
     
  15. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's more like 5000 hours, if these Russian tubes don't die in the first 40 hours. After that, replace both in the set. Some of what Psalm heard wasn't incorrect. The bass is a bit bloomy, but what he heard was mostly the DACs, not the potential of the ZDS.
     
  17. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    I have a BAT amp that uses the Russian tubes. 5000+ hours sounds about right. They were built to work in MIG fighter jets and IIRC were designed to handle 6 g's of acceleration. Not to mention a thermonuclear electromagnetic impulse. :eek: So you can listen to music after "the Big One". |\/|
    Plus 4 of them make a great space heater in the winter.
     
  18. barboggo

    barboggo Acquaintance

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    Hey guys, I just came back this afternoon to my ZDS and noticed that the power light was off, despite me having left the amp on earlier today. Now it doesn't look like the amp is receiving any power. Has anyone had this issue before? Is it a blown fuse or something? I emailed EC about it already, but perhaps someone here can help?

    *UPDATE*
    Turns out it was just the fuse. See my post on page 7 for pictures.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2017
  19. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Double check the umbilical cord while it's off to make sure the pins are all seated properly.
     
  20. barboggo

    barboggo Acquaintance

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    I just double checked the cord. It looks good to me. The plugs feel extremely robust and the amp has been untouched since I set it up so I can't imagine it being a cable issue.
     

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