Laconic Lab Night Blues Tube Transformer Coupled Amp

I'd say this amp is quite tropical and warm. Assuming the tonal signature is a good match, I do feel it is a better amp than the Vali 2 and Valhalla 2. (I have been using this instead of the Vali 2 at my desk as of recent, so that probably says something.) The NBM measures with more distortion, but sounds better, if you guys get my drift. Aspects of the higher distortion is audible too, but again, it still sounds better (more engaging, resolving, and open, but less clean.)

The downside is that you could be SOL if anything goes wrong. Craig said this unit is for sale at $300 (but that was when the ruble was a bit higher). I'll inquire about a loaner.

 

I have this and the MicroZOTL2 that SBAF purchased for review side by side. Both are class A push pull. Honestly, after listening to this thing I have to say, the microZOTL2 is trying to solve a problem that doesn't need to be solved. It's using that ridiculous ZOTL circuit instead of a a transformer, but what's the point of ZOTL if it is SIGNIFICANTLY worse sounding than a cheap, but well constructed OPT? It's an attempt to engineer a fix to a problem that didn't exist.

Summary of the Night Blues Mini: This thing is GOOD. If we were on another site someone would have to yell "DIS BE DA BOOTY!"

Holy shit. After being wildly disappointed with the MicroZOTL2 (loose, uncontrolled bass, bad bad bad coherence issues with ALL of my headphones), I wasn't expecting much from this tiny little transformer coupled Russian amp but holy balls it's good. I'm running it off the pulse infinity with the LPS and the Vi DAC at work. I'll bring it home over the weekend for some listening with the Gungnir Multibit. The pulse infinity + this is an AWESOME little desk stack.

First off, it's resolving as hell (not just for a cheapie amp). It's got a bit of that tube romance and leans a little warm without being too warm. Works great with my HD600, modded HD650, and modded HD800. I'll be trying slants and the AD2000 tomorrow, but it's just one heck of an amp so far.

Basically, if you want a tube amp that's better than the Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2 but can't afford a ZDS or ECBA, this is the midpoint. Priced at about $1000-1300 I'd say it was a huge bargain.

 

There might another "loaner" unit I can get that is for sale. Let me check.

 

Only because of the weak ruble is it possible for the Night Blues mini to be as cheap as it is. They won't ship it out of the country so it's basically unobtanium unless you're really crafty. For an amp like this I'd expect it to be $1000-1300 if sold through a distributor and again, I'd consider it a bargain at that price.

I'd definitely not say the ZOTL2 is absolutely terrible, but it came out 2-3 years too late. With the much cheaper Schiit options really trouncing this amp in most areas, the ZOTL2 doesn't make sense honestly at this price. Harmonic richness is great but not at the expense of sacrificing bass completely (it's just one note and thuddy), the prickly treble, and the coherence issues in the FR (especially from bass to lower mids and upper mids to treble).

 

It does, but it's DIY. Most people can't or don't want to DIY.

 

Listening to some Mendelssohn on the HD600s on this amp tonight has been a real treat. I just closed my eyes and let the music take me away. It's not an EC super amp but it's damn good. This really is a baby ZD.

I've been sick for over three weeks and my hearing just fully fully recovered tonight and I don't feel like I shortchanged my ears in the least.

 

Mine isn't going on loaner (except to @CEE TEE) since it's my main amp right now.

As far as tube rolling, Marv's made it very clear: DO NOT. These were designed with exact tubes in mind. Don't f**k with the stock setup. Enjoy it as an awesome little amp at it's price point and don't futz with it.