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SOLD: Zesto Andros 1.2 Phono stage

Discussion in 'Closed (Archived) Sales' started by brencho, Jun 9, 2017.

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  1. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Thinking of selling my Zesto phonostage to try something different. It's in excellent condition, and looks and sounds wonderful. George Counnas is a great guy and makes some incredible gear. He sounds (and is) Greek but lives and makes his gear in California.

    This phono retails for ~$4700 with four JJ 12ax7 tubes. I'd sell for $3,000.

    For additional bucks, I'd throw in some really nice tubes for tube rolling, all purchased NOS from Brent Jessee. I've probably used them for only 50ish hours. All are wonderful low noise tubes. Included would be a pair of Mullard 12ax7 long plates ($350 retail), pair of Telefunken 12ax7 smooth plates ($180 retail) and pair of Amperex 12ax7 made in Holland for Hammond organs ($280 retail). The tube set would be $500 more.

    Not in a rush, but I thought I'd put it out there in case any vinyl nuts were interested.

    IMG_5013.JPG

    IMG_5016.JPG

    IMG_5017.JPG

    IMG_5031.JPG
     
    brencho, Jun 9, 2017
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  2. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    Oooh. If only....
     
    Wfojas, Jun 10, 2017
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  3. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Maybe if you sell your table willy ;) haha man this hobby is evil.

    Also side note I'd like to keep the NOS tubes with the phono but after a week I'll consider selling them separately!
     
    brencho, Jun 10, 2017
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  4. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Zesto is sold to a vinyl lunatic on audiogon.
     
    brencho, Jun 19, 2017
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  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Oh good. Worried you might not be able to dump this overhyped piece of gear.
     
    purr1n, Jun 21, 2017
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  6. brencho

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    Haha I read "piece of..." and thought you were going to end that sentence differently. The zesto served me well while I had it but ultimately I felt that it was a little soft and a little lean sounding and didn't have as black a background as the phono that replaced it. Post swap, music got tighter and cleaner, more dynamic, more impact and fuller sound, and a quieter background. @Bill-P heard both and I think agrees with that summary. What's your take on it??
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2017
    brencho, Jun 21, 2017
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  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL. I didn't want to ruin your party - better to let you figure it out yourself. First of all, it's not a bad phonostage per se. It's just that much better can be obtained for the same amount. Secondly, I don't like the 12AX7. It's a "weak sounding tube. I know there isn't much choice because there aren't enough types of tubes with sufficient gain, but every piece of gear that I've heard with the 12AX7 has that sense of "weak". Granted some implementations are better than others, but one 12AX7 to another 12AX7 is a recipe for weaksauce. It's like casting Jude Law as Sir Lancelot. It works on some level, with the British accent, but Jude Law bedazzles, he doesn't chop you with a sword or impale you with a lance. It's supposed to be Sir Lancelot instead of Sir Dancelot.

    The good aspects include the adjustability, the soundstage, the microdynamics. However, like you, I found it weak, that is soft and fuzzy. I also felt that ultimate resolution came up a bit short, especially for a tubed piece of gear. It's also fugly. It's like LA meets China design.
     
    purr1n, Jun 21, 2017
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  8. sfoclt

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    Ryan Philippe as Bob Lee Swagger
     
    sfoclt, Jun 21, 2017
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  9. brencho

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    LOL Yeah those weak british jaw lines! I haven't heard enough 12A*7 implementations to comment, but agreed on the Zesto. That said, the T3 uses those tubes and will punch your dick off if you let it get too close (but it's a hybrid design so...)
     
    brencho, Jun 21, 2017
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  10. sfoclt

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    Did you choose a permanent replacement?
     
    sfoclt, Jun 21, 2017
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  11. Wfojas

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    And you were wondering why I didnt jump on it.
     
    Wfojas, Jun 21, 2017
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  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I will always see Ryan Phillipe as that character in that Bill Gates as evil mastermind movie.

    I was wondering too. If you got it, then it would have been like you guys passing around a used condom.
     
    purr1n, Jun 21, 2017
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  13. Wfojas

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    Not that theres anything wrong with that. But I am pro choice.
     
    Wfojas, Jun 21, 2017
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  14. brencho

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    Yeah i think it'll be as permanent a replacement as anything could be. Picked up a lightly used EAR 88pb. Using 3x Mullard 6922 and 1x Mazda 7308 right now, subject to change though.
     
    brencho, Jun 21, 2017
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  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Heck, I'd take your 88pb, run over by truck, as long as it still worked, over that Zesbo.
     
    purr1n, Jun 21, 2017
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  16. brencho

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    The Zesbo that sounded quite good was the new Tessera but show conditions etc etc etc. Also the price tag hurts to look at.
     
    brencho, Jun 21, 2017
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