Eddie Current Zana Deux S

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

  1. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    Specifically for Pavane (my experience), the rest is an extrapolation.
     
  2. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Okay. Well ZDSE is supposed to be warmer, so I suppose a more neutral DAC would work.

    My favorite pairing with the Starlett was actually @famish99 's NAD C510 (vs BF2), which is more neutral.
     
  3. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    That was my thought @ColtMrFire - ZDS is warmer, so a more neutral DAC keeps it from being too warm, dark.
     
  4. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    Time to try it with Wavedream.
     
  5. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Christ, this amp makes it hard to get anything done!
     
  6. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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  7. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Can the Zana Deux Super be quiet enough for ortho iems that are 102dB sensitivity? I experienced some real magic with these iems out of an OTL amp despite what everyone says about OTL and orthos. And lately j've mostly been listening to these iems and want the magic!
     
  8. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    I haven't measured my ZDSE (yet.) No time right now, too many loaners in the queue.
    However, I tried the following:

    1) Focal Clear, 55R, 104 dB SPL / mW
    2) Etymotic ER4P-T, 27R, 106 dB SPL / mW
    3) Westone UM2, 27R, 119 dB SPL / mW

    with these three DACs:

    1) yggdrasil A2
    2) gungnir A2
    3) Auralic Aries (not something I enjoy but for comparison only)

    Only the UM2 picked up any hum or hiss. However those noises were sins of commission by the DAC, and then only at insane volume settings that would blow up ears and using the ZDSE High position. Gungnir had the most hiss, Aries the least. All had a slight ground loop hum, again audible only at insane volume settings. Low position reduced the above to nearly inaudible with UM2.

    Using a more reasonable sensitivity headphone, even the DAC noises were inaudible. With no input to ZDSE and volume set to maximum, there is no noise audible on the UM2 and certainly not on the Clears or ER4P-T.
     
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  9. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I'm being offered a ZDS that was modded with a Goldpoint stepped 24 point attenuator. But I'm getting it to use with my modded S12 ortho iems which will likely always be at the very beginning of the pot.

    Anyone have any idea if I'd have enough range to get the right volume with a stepped attenuator and not want to be between steps using 102dB sensitive iem's? It's a huge amp to ship to find out the silly volume pot "upgrade" won't work for me.

    Thanks for any advice!
     
  10. MellowVelo

    MellowVelo Friend

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    I once had an amp with a 24-step attenuator. At the time, I used Grados, which have a sensitivity of about 100dB. I could never get the volume dialed in correctly, and it drove me crazy. I sold the amp, and ever since, I’ve only used volume pots.

    If I were you, I wouldn’t mess around with the attenuator on your IEMs.
     
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  11. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    A) The Hi/Lo switch helps - but may not get you all the way there.

    B) The pot / attenuator would have 6 wires to solder; so just buy an alps blue velvet (they are cheap) and restore it back to original if the stepper sucks for iem.
     
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  12. RestoredSparda

    RestoredSparda Friend

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    Yeah, that will most likely be hard to find the right volume step with iems.

    Like @Mr.Sneis said, you can fairly easily just solder in an alps, or go crazy with a stepped unit with 48 steps.

    Just get the same impedance as the stock pot. Most likely 50 or 100kohm.

    Honestly I'd buy it, sell the Goldpoint and put in a different attenuator, or have someone do it for you. I'm more than willing to do that for you but shipping would be a bastard most likely.
     
  13. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    I also forgot, use a 6sn7 rather than the 6sl7 will have lower gain as well.
     
  14. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Does anyone know what the original pot is? Impedance and make?

    I wonder if a TKD pot would make it sound worse....
     
  15. RestoredSparda

    RestoredSparda Friend

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    Last edited: Nov 28, 2022
  16. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    Yea, 47 / 48 is about the minimum without going nuts trying to set the volume where you want it
     
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  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Do the two 6D22S / EY500 / 6EC4 rectifier tubes need to be matched pairs for the ZDS? I just bought a few kinds and I don't think they're matched pairs so I need to cancel if they need to be. I assumed they would, but then I'm not sure since they are rectifier tubes.

    I wound up buying the one with the stepped attenuator and a local friend is going to put in a TKD pot for me (after I make sure the amp is quiet and sounds good)

    thanks!
     
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  18. ecline56

    ecline56 Almost "Made"

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    6D22S do not need to be matched. The tube is a half wave rectifier. One tube does the top half of the waveform and the 2nd tube the bottom half of the waveform.
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I just received a pair of 6C33C-B power tubes I bought on ebay. I was hoping they would be different kind than the pair that came with the amp, but otherwise I'd at least have a backup.

    but I tried them and they are really scratchy sounding. Is this normal for these weird tubes to be scratchy sounding at first and I have to leave them powered on for a day or something to break in? Or are they defective?

    I wish there were more options for this tube for molding the sound of the amp.
     
  20. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    based on my experience the driver tube - 6SL7 has max impact on sound.
     

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