MicroZOTL 2

thanks for your remark... I am no technical "connoisseur" though i had read extensively about this Zotl and the " 1 watt " power of this new topology of berning amp can power efficient speakers.... i think that if you had time you must read about this new technology of tube amplification and the experience of some people with the microzotl capacity to power very efficient speakers... in a few words one watt does not equal always one watt... i cannot explain what i dont understand about this berning technology, i only convey the information that is on the internet ...best regards to you and thanks to you and the others for this excellent site.... i am only curious about the ZOTL and i wait here to read some experience of others who know it.. But this possibility to power some efficient speakers is only a + not the main reason for my interest in it...

 

~0.75w into 8ohms isn't going to cut it for most speakers, even if you don't listen super loudly. Not having enough power for the transients and peaks will kill the dynamics of a speaker. Even with the 95/96db @ 1W for the Tekton speakers, I'd be scared of having only 0.75W to work with.

 

FWIW I had an email correspondence with the guy who sells this, and he immediately told me that this had not enough power for my planar HE6.

PS, question, what is 'impedance conversion circuitry'? I'm surprised an OTL amp has output impedance of 2ohms...

 

Thanks! What are the pros and cons with this vs a transformer?

 

magneplanar had the reputation to demand much power than someone think....My friend had one....and my desktop one planar hybrid demand power also....

 

i am here precisely for your review , i like your analysis and rebellious thinking mode ... thanks

 

«I'm using a GG pre and another OTL amp, the Berning microZOTL. I've tweaked my hammers dynamics super 12 considerably. To me, the pairing of GG and OTL amps is a natural (just ask Bruce!) and with the whopping output of the microZOTL at 1 watt, the Hammers sound great. I've measured 97dB SPL out of them with that 1 watt (way too much for my Manhattan apartment) so I expect they'd probably work even better with the OTL 8.»

this a quote of an another forum thread ... there is some others...

 

I would be really surprised if the microzotol could adequately drive the Hifiman HE6. Its in the same power hungry category as the AKG K1000. You are going to need something like 5 to 10 watts IMO. Might be worth looking at products from EC, TTVJ/Apex, Shiit, Leben and CEC. Most but not all do a combined headphone/speaker amp. You could just use a speaker amp and run both your Stax and HE6 from the speaker terminals?

 

I doubt that microzotl will drive optimally the HE 6 also....But i dont want this amp for that purpose, mostly to drive other cans, to use it like a pre amp also.... Only mentioned also that one of his possibility is to drive very efficient speakers, nothing more...

 

People need to hear the unit, then decide for themselves. This is true of any product in audio. It's especially true of high end audio products.

I own the MicroZOTL 2 and I love it. But I don't know whether I'd like something else more. I would love to compare it to something known to be spectacular like a Wells Audio Head Trip, Eddie Current Balancing Act, Eddie Current Studio (not yet released, but I feel safe in predicting that it will be spectacular....could be wrong....doubt it though...) or something of similar stature. I doubt that I'll ever get the chance to do so, or at least not any time soon.

But the point is an obvious one: Until someone hears something, they can only speculate on whether it will suit their preferences; they can't know with certainty until they listen.

 

Must say i'm confused now, as using it as a pre-amp into your Stax transformer would have thought not be enough output to drive. Usually use speaker amp for this.
I watt is not much power at all even for the most efficient speakers. From memory the lowest powered SET amplifiers you would usually use with such speakers are about double the output of the microzolt (2 watts)? Sounds like you need to try your choice of speakers with the microzolt before committing or take the chance it is less than ideal!

 

i dont want to use it with stax trmsformer, i dont have one... i use now the stax basic amp with the Ember for preamp with success....I will like to use the microzotl for pre also with the stax amp and also with my powered speakers...But essentially it is a headphone amp with many + and that count for me...

 

Perhaps something like this would be more suitable? http://www.apexhifi.com/Peak.htm or http://schiit.com/products/lyr-2

 

Blasphemy. They aren't designed by physicists or have unique topology!

 

Saw a review which may or may not be of interest: http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-p...icrozotl-2.0-headphone-amp-preamp-review.html

Not much headphone detail ( Grado's in use) and I see the usual "audiophile" use of speciality cables, power cords, and assorted racks that seem to require a level of religious belief or far better ears than I possess.

Just thought someone might be interested. I found the claim of "essentially endless" tube life new...

Rob