Massdrop x Eddie Current ZDT Jr. (Official Thread)

That's what I thought. The comparisons to ZD are in terms of tone. Nothing wrong with that. The tone is neat, and so easy to listen to, even with Green Day at big volume. But that headstage stage thing that goes out of your head and out in front is soooooo neat. And so elusive. And so 2K+ amp. And why the $1K to $2K amp zone is a dead man's land. If you want that depth you gotta go big. Even getting just a taste of that deep headstage is elusive.

 

This certainly looks very interesting ...pity Massdrop does not ship to South Africa. We have a vibrant and growing headphone community but is sadly left out of great deals like this one. Will wait for a rebound sale unit then ...

 

So, the prophesies just keep coming

 

Just need an updated Bifrost Multibit in Black to stack with this. Should arrive in the next 6 months I reckon.

 

Sorry about this "how does it compare to" question, but any comments on this amp compared to a Mjolnir 2 with WE396A tubes? Assuming using good tubes in the ZDTjr, is the ZDT Jr "better". Headphones are the Utopias.

I realize I might just be chasing minimal enhancements, and the next stage for me should be a major amp upgrade, but just curious ow the MJ2 and the ZDTjr compare.

 

Hey wait, I thought there was another 'Good things happen to people who wait' prophesy that hasn't come true yet. I'm patiently waiting for a new shiny affordable dac

 

It's not so much a prophecy as it's almost guaranteed that a company is going to keep improving its products or creating new ones to stay in business. Schiit gen 3 amps will eventually come, it's just a matter of when.

 

The first one is already here with Magni 3.

 

True, it's good to know that early testers believe the new products improve price/performance significantly over the current versions and are not minor upgrades. I'm fine waiting for a few extra months for a better product.
Right now I am looking to buy a dac and at least I know something that a few trusted members (and not paid reviewers) consider as good is coming up and I am fine waiting for that.

 

(Man replying on a phone is so annoying. Posted the reply with just the quote above...)

Just happened to have heard both MJ2 stock tubes and ZDT Jr today. And I agree with what @Hands said. Two very different amps. Almost opposite tonality and presentation.
MJ2 has some powerful in your face bass, not very fast but hits hard. Macro dynamics are good but at the same time tends to overshadow fine details. Stage is decently wide and shallow, not very coherent.
This is where the ZDT Jr shines. Very coherent staging, decently wide and deep. May sound holographic and 3D if you aren't comparing it to totl tube amps. With the Yggdrasil, it pushes through some fine details I have never heard before. The mids are very smooth/lush, imo the best aspect of this amp.

I suspect the Utopia has better synergy with ZDT Jr, or any dynamics in general, though I never heard the Utopia through it. It might be a side grade to you, just different flavors.

 

Has anyone tried it as a pre-amp? I have a system where space is tight and it would be nice to be able to have the ZDT Jr. do double duty.

 

Hijo de mierda this thread got derailed.

Surprised there are still ZDT Jrs. available, but then again, I can understand people's reluctance to wait. Would probably jump on this if it had the amazing EC depth they're known for, but I'm probably better off waiting and pinching pennies until I can afford a ZDS or AF.... agh, f**k me sideways I really want the ZDT Jr.

Don't suppose it'd be kosher to put up a WTB ad on here in a few months if anyone changes their minds?

 

You won't have to. There will be plenty for sale by mid July at a discount.

 

Fingers crossed, but straight-up expecting that is bound to disappoint me by then, haha. I plan to be cautiously optimistic about availability by then.

 

Thanks @Hands! While I don't doubt that the Jr will be pretty much an all-around improvement (at least insofar as staging goes) compared to what I'm used to, there's just a sense of knowing I'd be satisfied with something higher up the ladder holding me back.

Not really considering a Valhalla 2 right now due to reported lack of macrodynamics (and I'm honestly not the biggest fan of its looks), but the fact that shipping stuff from the USA to the Philippines is a massive pain in the arse also helps, haha.

Thanks though, I was somehow under the impression its staging was merely satisfactory as opposed to good.

But yeah, @Marvey, the fact that lots of the trusted ears on here gravitate towards a certain sound seems to reinforce others' perception of shill-iness. Need to put a disclaimer on the top of the site because the 1000% biased thing might still be a bit too subtle.

... Eh. I suppose I could always sell at slight loss to the local circle if I opt not to keep it (which is unlikely). Bah. Decisions.

 

I am sorry @Lyer25 but you have the wrong idea. If you are searching for that kind of sweet rich leathery warm sound you may be happy to find a taste of it at a reasonable price in this amp. Otherwise, in my opinion look elsewhere. If you don't know what the sound I am talking about is, then no one can help you figure out if this amp is for you.

Also, I don't think everyone on here has similar preferences to Marv and Hands etc. Personally I am not a fam on warmer amps to begin with and also felt this amp sacrificed a few things I cared about such as slam, attack and soundstage.