Eddie Current Zana Deux S

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

  1. RiddleyWalker

    RiddleyWalker Friend

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    The ZDS I bought back in January came with the same 6SN7 as well. I had always just assumed it was the stock tube. Today I emailed Craig about it to see if I could get a 6SL7 replacement, but he denied my request since I had waited too long to report it to him and he had “no way of knowing how the 6SN7 got in there”

    So those who purchased the ZDS recently should check to make sure they got the proper 6SL7 tube. If not, contact Craig ASAP, because there’s apparently a time limit on him sending a replacement.
     
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  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yeah. Signs of senility setting in. Let me give him a hard time about this. He's being Cranky Craig.
     
  3. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Hey guys, I am coming from portable audio and very recently purchased a HD800S. I was scouting for amps when I came across the ZDT Jr. on Massdrop and I joined the drop after reading some impressions here on SBAF. I kept coming across people mentioning the ZDS. So I got curious and read some impressions on it, and now I am kind of tempted to get one. But its kind of out of my comfortable budget (meaning, I'd have to sell some stuff and scramble pennies to be able afford it). Given the situation, I am concerned about the amp's running cost and additional investment. Does the ZDS require additional investment, in the form of tubes or other parts to work well with the HD800S, or will I be fine with the stock config?

    This is my first tube amp (or a desktop amp for that matter), so I am open to advise regarding, if I should stick to the ZDT Jr. and climb the ladder gradually, or if I should try the BW2 or anything else.

    Thanks for your help!
     
  4. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    I didn't really like the new production JJ 6SL7 tube that came with the amp brand new. I would suggest buying an older tube. I have an HD650 and a lot of the NOS tubes I've come across make the amp too warm sounding for me, but I think it would be good for the HD800. Good thing is although the older tubes may be expensive, you really only need to "roll" one tube on the ZDS. One of my favorite tubes is an old RCA that I commonly find for less than $30. There are tubes like the Mullard ECC35 that are very expensive though.

    I do suggest you listen to one first. It's a wonderful amp, but it would be smart to know what you're buying.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2017
  5. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Thank you. That was very helpful.
     
  6. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    @EagleWings What DAC are you using? I know common wisdom says to get nice headphones, then nice amp, then nice DAC.

    But that common wisdom is from Mid-Fi users.

    Without a good DAC, a great amp will sound okay but not great. The entire chain is very important.

    From a Schiit Eitr and Modi Multibit--an excellent combo mind you, but still the peak of Mid-Fi--the Eddie Current Super 7 sounds a little slow, a touch congested, and a bit glossed over.

    From a fully modded Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII SE+ coming from a Lynx AES16e, the S7 sounds incredible. Glorious soundstage, hefty slam, very good detail, and clear.

    The point is, if your DAC isn't very good, the ZDS is not going to reach its full potential and you might end up disappointed.

    An advantage of climbing the ladder gradually is that you'll acquire an understanding and appreciation for what each component offers. And, you're less likely to mismatch chain quality and hold back whatever your best piece of gear is.
     
  7. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    @Luckbad thanks for this input. I will be using my Lotoo Paw Gold as the source to feed the ZDS. It may not be Yggdrasil material, but it is quite good.

    Btw, everyone seems to have very high regard for the ZDS. What makes this amp special than other similarly priced tube amps?
     
  8. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    BECAUSE Craig, the engineer it’s an alien from planet anunaki, and uses special quantum soldering into ununobinatium silver wires. And the power suply has meta acrilato that enhances the electromagnetic field nearby.
    Just fooling around man. Because the sound it’s excepcionally good, without being gooey or mushy like woo audio or similar. And the soundstage is huge! Enjoy
     
  9. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    THIS is what I felt about the ZDS. HD800 has a really wide soundstage, but people don't talk a lot about its soundstage depth. The ZDS has excellent soundstage that is wide, but even deeper. Many years ago I didn't know what it meant, now I prefer a deeper over a wider soundstage.
     
  10. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Picked up a Zana Deux from @CEE TEE over Thanksgiving, and as the holiday mandates, give thanks I did. To Craig for birthing it, to Ceetee for selling it, to @Mdkaler for driving it down from the Bay Area and to @Melvillian for letting me borrow some tubes to try out (without which I wouldn't have had a driver tube when the amp arrived). Apparently this amp has a sordid history, having spent time with the likes of Ceetee but also @Vansen ...... Happy to add to its sordidness.

    This thing sounds incredible. I had heard it on several occasions and always loved. Glad I took the plunge this time. Soundstage is like few others in terms dimensionality, layering and sense of space, instruments tend to hang suspended in the air, which is a feeling more common to speakers (and I'm not comparing the two obviously). Despite that, there's physicality to the sounds, they sound real and convincing and like they're being made by humans playing on real instruments or using real voices that emerge from chests and throats or clapping real fleshy hands. It's dynamic and impactful and definitely not boring or soft. Sounds very natural and like I want to listen to music at night when everyone's asleep and I can't just listen to speakers. Like sitting in a very comfy leather couch that you want to sink into and yet keep tapping your feet. So uh, happy thanksgiving everyone.

    Chain is either 1) Eitr to EAR DACute to Zana Deux to hd600 or modded hd650 or 2) VPI Classic 3 to EAR 88pb phono to EAR 868 pre to ZD (should try tape out on the ZD to skip it's preamp function).

    Pix or it didn't happen...

    zd1.jpg

    zd2.jpg
     
  11. Mdkaler

    Mdkaler Friend

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    The first time I heard the HD800, they sounded wide but all over the place. If the ZDS is anything like its brother Af, the HD800 sound would actually "make sense." As in the direction, position, spatial cues would sound lively; like real live.

    Meanwhile in real life...
     
  12. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    @brencho That is one impressive rack!
     
  13. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    What is the current wait time for a Zana Deux S to be delivered once the order is placed? Thanks!
     
  14. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    these are usually built in runs so it would depend on that. You do better contacting Judi at EC
     
  15. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Ha thanks man! @bazelio helped me figure it out and my wife helped me build it cause she loves to do that shit. Turned out really well. Just wish I could fill the posts with sand or something but otherwise it's great!
     
  16. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @brencho I'm sure CEE TEE told all you this, but... I replaced those two big soda can tubes in 2015, and they probably haven't seen much since then. Also, Craig "rebuilt" much of the amp internals in 2015. We sent him some scotch in gratitude, too. That ZD is closer to a ZDS than any other ZD out there based on the changes that were made to it when it was "rebuilt". At least that's what I was told. The transformer has a tenancy to get loose inside the power supply during transit.

    I should've never sold that amp.

    zd.jpg
     
  17. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    The posts can be filled with sand. We'd need to epoxy the bottoms with something like JB Weld. Then fill.
     
  18. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    @Vansen Yeah I'll check out the PS soon but good thing it wasn't shipped since that would probably increase the likelihood of that happening! I'll PM you with some other things.
     
  19. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Yeah true that could work. Big job, maybe over the holidays...
     
  20. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Get a lock nut for the transformer, unless you like some cardboard under it. ;)

    Not sure how much more an 8020 would weigh with sand though, shouldn't be a lot, given how small the middle hole is.
     

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