oatmeal769

Thanks. At this point with everything else, it kinda makes sense to me to 'just do it' while I'm in there, even if some of them don't need replacing. Still though, between all that, the choke, and maybe the balanced out, I think I'll see some real improvement.

Great. I'm going to have to do a little research on understanding the last bit, but I understand the gist. I can do that on my own though, you've already been more than helpful! I'm feeding a balanced TRS 10K ohms input from this unit. I don't really think I need more gain, I'd just like to ensure no hum from lighting, electrical, etc.. Also, I'm feeding the input with active pickups they have 200 ohms output impedance. Should I put a resistor on the input? .

LOL, that could very well be too! Some of those old resistors though are brittle, and I think one or two might even be cracked. Has the color code changed in 35 years? Can I just match up the colors and replace any that are chipped? I'll re-post it as two separate JPG files in this post, that should fix it. That is just placing a transformer in line with the PS? Not only that, but put my face on metal microphones - attached to completely different devices on different AC circuits, Amazing I'm not dead... Can I just solder or screw the third wire on the chassis? Outstanding, I didn't know it was that easy. The input side shows (+), (-) and (CT). CT would go to the chassis ground as well, right? Excellent, thank you, I will post there as well.

I'm sorry if this isn't exactly the forum for this, but I think my amp is probably REALLY similar to a headphone amp, and I trust Hi-Fi heads more than musicians... I have a 35 year old Alembic F2-B stereo pre-amp for instruments. I play my bass guitar through it, and nothing else sounds as good to me to this day. It is based on the input section of a Fender Showman Guitar Amp. The last few years I've noticed the sound seems to have progressively dulled and lost it's life. The unit also has a little hum, and is pretty noisy. I was wondering if anyone could take a look at a picture or schematic (I have both) and suggest the items I can replace which will restore it, maybe even make it sound better than new. All the resistors, etc. came with it, and it may have been re-capped back in the 80's but nothing has been done to it since then. Not only that, but it has an old 2 prong electrical cord with no safety ground - That can't be good when beer gets spilled on it. I'm really good with a soldering iron, understand very basic electricity etc. but stop WAY short of saying I know electronics. Schematics give me the willies, but I think I can get through this one... If I have to. It really isn't too bad. This would be my biggest electronics project though, so I kinda need some hand holding to get started Also, I'd REALLY like to make the main output a balanced 3 conductor connection instead of the unbalanced 1/4" one currently there, is that possible? All of the other gear in my rack is balanced in/out. I feel like I could do some good by increasing the signal by 6dB (which I think is what the next item wants to see anyway - a balanced signal. Also, I use the rig in some really noisy environments! If this isn't the place for this, N.P., but could someone suggest where a better place to post might be? TVMIA !

Beautiful system all around! I loved the BA at CanJam as well.

You know, now that I see a picture, I heard one or two people's rigs using these Can Jam probably because they're so compact. I'm pretty sure I saw one at the mini-meet a couple weeks ago too. No offense to loyalty, but if you haven't heard one, check the PS Audio. It is an instantly noticeable improvement over the average DAC I heard. At the mini meet, we compared one AB/X with a DAC magic, and another whose name I cant recall now...( all with a Zana Deux as the reference) and we all thought it wasn't even close. Until recently I didn't think a DAC made such a huge diff, but to make these EC amps do what they're capable of, you gotta feed 'em with a high end DAC.

Nor_Spoon, I think I'll be looking for a Mullard, a Valvo, and possibly a Brimar pretty soon, have any you'd like to donat... er.. I mean sell?? Jeffrey - These later models are all relatively the same aren't they? I know he was doing some tinkering with rectification tubes on earlier ones.. As far as the Pico, can you tell me where to read about the pico, and does it compare favorably to the PS Audio? Velo, what do you think? That'd be funny if I picked that up from you as well.

Agreed! Therefore... I'm now the proud new owner of Zana Deux #90, and I'm really stoked! It's nice to own a handcrafted piece of art like this. Unfortunately, the bottleneck (ZERO DAC) is quite apparent. You can easily hear what the amp 'wants' to do though. So, I was going to mess around with modding it, but research shows results to be dubious at best. I saw dsavitsk's comments on the 'Lampizator' mod, and decided it's best not to polish a turd. I think I'll just save the time and money and wait for a good deal on a PS Audio DL III. Either way, I'm really happy with my Zana, and I know the pain of the expense will be long forgotten in a few years when I'm still enjoying it! I'm also very glad I took time to listen to other offerings in the same range, because now to my ears I know I made far and away the best choice.

Oh, big time, Going up not so much, but man, as soon as you go back down you're like, "How in the hell..."

Yeah, My ears couldn't tell much difference once the cost was over a grand, when I heard them at can jam. They all sounded very neutral and transparent - Maybe if I really gave a couple longer listens... But I immediately heard a very big difference between a good one like the PS Audio, and the Zero DAC which I'll be stuck with for a while! I hope I'll at least get some of what I bought the Zana for.

Thanks you guys. For a minute I was like "Why don't they mind their business.." But now I figure it's just other audiophiles who know the urge and are looking out for a fellow nutcase in an awful economy. *sniff* I really think I'm okay though. I work for an Electric Utility, and shuffling around a lot in temporary stuff is kind of normal. As long as people need electricity, I'll be ok. Besides, I got it barely used at a great price, I think if I really had to I could sell it for about a hundred bucks less easily. Unfortunately though, My plans to buy a good DAC to go along with it at the same time would have come out of my 'primary fund' and yeah, that'd be foolish. So now I have a huge bottleneck in my system. Oh well, good motivation to start pestering them for another assignment! I didn't think a DAC made such a huge difference until I heard what I did a couple weeks ago. It's really just as important as the amp isn't it?

Oh! Forgot a tidbit of information - I already have over half saved for the down I thought I was going to pay on a new one. (I found a used one over on the other site!) I will have to sell stuff and scrounge so as not to tap into what I have to get me by. It's a risk, but not a huge one. I knew the layoff was coming for about 3 months, so I've been saving for it. it just means ramen noodles, and no PS Audio DLIII DAC for a while. It is bad here though. We're at 15% in LA county, and everywhere you look, vacancies, business spaces for rent, etc.

Why?

Thanks. It's gonna be tough!

Don't know, is he here or on the other? I'll look through the classifieds here, but if anyone knows him could they ask? I heard them too, I really liked the BA as well, but I didn't get a chance to really listen with Senn's. I think I heard the HP-1000 as well, so not a real good comparison for me. Off the top of my head though, I'd say there wasn't enough of a difference to me personally to warrant the extra cost. I'm really gonna have to scrape for the ZD, I just got laid off.

Wow! He's single, isn't he. I wonder how it sounds! I would think that'd be better served by doing a REAR loaded straight line exponential...

I can also see myself as using the ZD as a pre-amp to a traditional stereo system in the not so distant future as well. Has anyone done this? How does it sound? I wonder if the ZDT is better for that, or if it only allows the ability to drive a small set of efficient speakers...

To my ears, the ZD is about the best I've heard so far across a broad spectrum for general listening. (There may be others that do certain things better) Do you think the ZDT 'sounds' better, or is it that it 'measures' better? I only care about the former. The $300 difference isn't a big deal when we're already in the $2K range, but maybe it just comes down to whether one likes some transformer sound in the mix, or more of a pure tube sound?

Besides, where in the world would I find a used one? I don't think I've seen one ever...

Why do you say that?

So, I'll start. What's the deal with the 4 pin connection, and slew rates being improved? Is it by virtue simply of the 4-wire connection, or is it a byproduct of having the two transformers as well? Does it have the same virtues of a balanced setup as far as greater separation and less crosstalk? Please feel free to wax on to a non technical type, I'm here to learn. Do I need to consider a ZDT rather than a ZD if I have no plans to run speakers off the amp?

Yeah, I'd like to have a fresh thread about the ZD amps too, I have lots of questions. I'm about to put a down pmt. on one as soon as Craig gives me the word. If there's still interest, we prolly ought not continue hijacking this thread. http://www.head-case.org/forums/headphone-amplification/6772-new-zana-deux-zdt-balancing-act-thread.html#post257440

This is almost exactly the rig I'm aiming for. I'll be going for the non-transformer version though. What do you like about the transformer version versus the traditional? Any advice on deals, etc.? I already contacted Craig, a new run is starting soon, but it could be a few months before I get a Zana. I'd hate to wait that long! I'm also hearing lots of different prices on the PS DL3. The 800's I will wait on for a while, but I'll probably get some eventually. What is the 4-pin doing for you? is it just a more solid, locking connection?

Yeah, it does actually. Hmmm.

Just noticed - You guys are Colorado folk - I grew up in Colorado Springs, spent 25 years there. Also, I think the Audio GD amp I heard may have been a Phoenix, which apparently costs a lot more, rather than a C2C. That would explain some things...