Article: Review: Linear Tube Audio Z10e Integrated Electrostatic/Magnetic Headphone/Speaker Amplifier

[davide256]

LTA's use of David Berning's patent makes them very good as a pre. I bought the Microzotl 2 when they were first sold only intending to use it as a headphone amp

but it completely eclipsed the pre amp sound quality of the Prima Luna Prologue Premium and Conrad Johnson PV10A I had then. Their later gear costs more but

as pre amps and headphone amps they are very special for life like performance recreation.

[davide256]

On 2/4/2020 at 2:17 PM, MarkS said:

Agree 100%. My main rig is similar to yours, but I’ve always wondered about a system built on horns or other high efficiency speakers with an integrated like this and a dac. Such a system would only require one balanced input, just like the review unit. 

In the FWIW column, my inefficient Magnepan 1.7's sound better with the 1 watt of the MZ2 than they do with the 100+ watts of a MC Hafler DH200. So quality of the amplifier counts for a lot. Granted a large room will demand a bigger amp

[davide256]

1 hour ago, PR-F said:

 

 

 

Hey Dave - I'm new to the forum. But I saw ur comment on Magnepan and LTA Z2.. Are you talking about the 1 watt headphone/intergrated amp... that I happened to own.  Alway thought Maggies need lots of power/ current. U think magnepan LRS would work in my 10x12ft. room say 80-85 db peaks.....

They do, but with a good PS for the MZ2 that 1 watt class A can be pretty nice if you avoid Mahler and Fender bass guitar 😁 I have discovered that as a pre the MZ2

was throttling dynamics, I've put the Hafler back into the system with a passive pre, the Hafler is far better without the MZ2 as pre.

 

The problem with maggies is they are so transparent and current hungry it can be easy to hate your electronics.