Duo XD with Linear Tube Audio MZ2 - can’t believe what one half a watt can do!

joeinid

joeinid

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I’ve had my MZ2 for a long time but convinced myself that it would never work on my Avantgarde. After rereading a few reviews and one on the new MZ3, I thought what the heck, it just might work.

This morning I swapped a few cables, turned it on and left a little background music playing to let it warm up and open up. An hour or two later I cranked it up a little.

Holy cow, I cannot believe it. It sounds really good. Not Misho Wooden amp and preamp good but good enough to use as an integrated and headphone amp. I am so surprised how well it works. It’s rated at .5 wpc at 14 ohms. My speakers are 18 ohms, so I’m not sure how that changes the power output but damn. For a big percentage of the way I listen and volume that I listen to music at, it’s wonderful.

Another case of don’t knock it until you try it.

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Joe, that’s awesome! My Yamamoto 45 amp is 0.8 watts and drives them fine!


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I just can’t believe it Mike. Freaking Duo XD are amazing.
 
This is why you play the game, I suppose. Anything can happen!

Glad to hear you found another combo to enjoy, Joe. Cheers!


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I've used the MZ3 on the Duo Mezzo's. They gave the Luxman mq300 a good run for the money. But the Luxman just has a bit more body. I'm currently trying the MZ3 as a pre amp to the Luxman.
 
That I’m sure is a great combo. My GAT2 or Misho Wooden preamp on my MQ300 are superb. My MZ2 is a tiny bit too thin as a preamp comparatively or actually I should say the Misho and CJ have a little more meat on the bone.
 
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Yes Jack, there are several improvements over the MZ2 - which is not upgradable. The Microzotl preamp is essentially an MZ3 with a couple of additional features.
 
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Must be with an almost three times more price tag. Mark's pricing is starting to get more in line with what David charges for his own products which takes them out of the bargain arena.
 
I have the latest iteration of the MZ2 and believe it’s one of the great bargains in audio, just under $2,000 fully loaded with the LPS. Every power amp I’ve used it with including Pass amps seems to be a great combination. Now if I only had a nice pair of high efficiency speakers to use it as standalone integrated with like your AGs, Joe. Ah, to dream…
 
On its own, on my Duo, it’s outstanding. Paired with the right amp is awesome too. The MZ2 with my Luxman, SIT3 and Valvet for example is wonderful. It absolutely is one of the greatest audio bargains. I’m surprised how well even its .5W on my speakers works. I still get the itch to move up to the MZ3 but I’ve got too much now. Must resist.
 
Joe, I would imagine the SIT3 must sound wonderful with the Duo. How do you compare the SIT3 with your other lower powered tube amps?
 
joeinid said:
On its own, on my Duo, it’s outstanding. Paired with the right amp is awesome too. The MZ2 with my Luxman, SIT3 and Valvet for example is wonderful. It absolutely is one of the greatest audio bargains. I’m surprised how well even its .5W on my speakers works. I still get the itch to move up to the MZ3 but I’ve got too much now. Must resist.
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Resistance is futile ��
 
RDSChicago said:
Joe, I would imagine the SIT3 must sound wonderful with the Duo. How do you compare the SIT3 with your other lower powered tube amps?
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I love the fact that with the SIT3, there’s no maintenance. Turn on, let it warm up for an hour or so then enjoy. There’s no doubt that, especially for my taste, tubes rule. You get a little more air, a little sweeter vocals, ultimately bigger and more 3D sound stage. But, the SIT3 has a slightly more intimate sound, a little more detail without any harshness and less noise allowing for a little cleaner insight to the music. The SIT3 really does bridge the SET and solid state sound. On my Duo and appropriate speakers, my overall favorite solid state amp.

The Valvet E2 is a close second but it’s a little cleaner, ballsier, a little more open soundstage and definitely more neutral. Paired with a sweet tube preamp the Valvet is awesome.

Mike wants me to try the Viva and I’m sure it’s great.

My Dennis Had 45 amps sound great but I wonder if a company like Viva, Finale, Whammerdyne or even Luxman making a 45, 2A3 or equivalent amp would be glorious with better build quality. Years ago I heard the Whammerdyne Truth amp and couldn’t believe how perfect it sounded.

My Misho Wooden combo just absolutely kills on my Duo XD. The combo is a very slightly more neutral but livelier version of everything I’ve heard before. Tremendously huge and 3D soundstage, dead quiet, amazing upfront vocals with depth and layering. I understand that the Misho Wooden combo was designed with very high efficiency speakers and horns in mind and it shows.

I’m extremely lucky to have the choice of the SIT3 and Misho at a moments notice.
 
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