Cool!! Looking forward to hearing more about it. Linn and Naim have that effect: the more you listen and gain familiarity, the more you like. P.S. Connected to my preamp: a phono preamp, a DAC, an SACD player, and an FM tuner, so 4 in total as of now.

I have 3: phono pre (xlr), dac (xlr) and laserdisc player (se)

Currently my preamp is a headphone amplifier with one RCA and one XLR input. My tuner is on the RCA input, My DAC is on the xlr input. The Dac functions as a Digital preamp, it is connected to my streamer my CD player and my television through an Optical switch. If I want to connect more RCA connections I have a little RCA switch box with six connections. I've decided my preamp doesn't need a phono input, because then I can geek out on a phono preamplifier.

Sacd speler, Bluray speler, tuner, cd speler, tv.

5x input. 1x Output

Another great video. All the Best.

Your up close video helped me to decide to buy the I Zero. Mine is a silver front color, the reminds me the old Japanese gear, from the 70s. I'm playing music with Devore Fidelity Gibbon 3XL, so delicate, few watts makes beautiful music! Thank you.

They are more than a dream setup! So beautiful, they are pure art. The Chinese Lacquer, wow! Thank you so much for your coverage. Great week.

A pair of walnut veneer LS3/5As is crossing the Pacific right now with my name on them. The Audiopheliac KZbin channel recently reviewed them, and I had seen some earlier reviews too but they wouldn't have been great for my old house. Now I've got a very nice room that contains my LP and CD collections but requires the speakers to be fairly close to the listening chair. I'm glad to see how they have been packaged, and I'm looking forward to receiving them before all hell breaks out with our idiotic tariff-happy re-elected felon (I am sorry that the US has become so stupid).

Is this like the lumin x1. I saw this and that looks really good anyone try x1?

I am just wondering regarding the Denafrips unit that you purchased. Did it come with a users manual and a power cord? I just received a unit from a seller on Aliexpress. The unit came in a sealed box. I was overjoyed as it arrived 5 days earlier than the initial estimate of arrival. Upon opening the carton, there was no manual and no power cord! This was disappointing.!

For the price , the Misson, its the BEST

How is the Denafrips Avatar performing? I have read about a few issues but ordered one anyway. Hopefully it will work fine.

Bluray dvd player (sony, whatever) plays also sacd and dvd audio. For about 100 euro.

Its nice with a good looking and well planned rack where you get all players organized and easy to reach! But dont try to convince me that it would effect the sound, except for the turntable (vibrations).

Thanks for video. Which is your way to set on power amp ?

I wouldn't even consider buying a slot loader, nasty solution to a problem that didn't exist. Even my Sony Minidisc recorder has a loading tray :).

Get this algorithm. Eat it.

Fosi v3 is better !

gapless playback on either of these?

This re-view is already better. But still you hold on to preconceived notions. This amp is meant to roll opamps. Just like tubeamps come with standard cheap tubes you will want to put in your preferred flavour. It's nice to have high sensitivity speakers for low power tubeamps, but the negatives often outweigh the positives. Often expensive and not neutral and once you chose that path you're stuck in a niche. I know because I've been there for over 30 years. Now that I made the change to class D my 300B is just standing there. Not guzzling power. And the sound is better. Also: sacd is all but dead. Players never come with a dac that does the DSD format justice. Also: that's my old turntable. 😊 With a silver SUT and saphire shibata mc cartridge my ZA's really show off what they are capable of.

I bought for £5 in 2004 a pair of Goldman’s LS35A’s from an electrical store they were v good 😑

I really don't understand why you are wasting your time with this Chinese garbage. I see other serious audiophiles messing with this Chinese crap. I think you are not normal in the head!

Hoi ivar. Ik zou de versterker ook gewoon origineel houden. Heb je de decware versterker niet meer die vond ik geweldig klinken bij jou. Maar je bent weer lekker bezig met de hobby. Fijn weekend. Gr André de vries.

I have the Sony Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player which will play SACD On sale now for $230 I just use it for audio and classical music but also Blu-Ray concerts and Blu-Ray music The Blu-Ray Dark Side of the Moon sounds incredible I don’t have any SACDs but if I find one I am ready

God, I love the view you have from your place. I’m in a cottage on over four acres of property so no neighbors, only trees and the property owner’s main house, but it’s perfect for playing my music when and how loud I want. What’s the latest on the tube amp issue? I miss you starting a vlog off with one of the many ways you brew your coffee. I need some more barista😊

is it the 5 amp or 10 amp you want the 10 amp power supply. you don't need to change the opamps but double them up just put another one on top you'll need to solder the pins. what is the sensitivity of the Linn speakers? I don't think it's a sensitivity is the problem it's the resistance of the speakers 16 ohm is too much

Speaker cables more expensive than the amplifier. LOL These amps are aimed at the entry level, so they have to be as cheap as possible. You can upgrade later with op-amps extra amp, also a different power supply can help (Gan version). It really helps to draw people into the hobby. Regarding the XLR on a streamer. Cheapest is probably the Eversolo DMP A6. for 7 to 800 euro's. A cheaper option would be to use a DAC with XLR output (under 200 euro's already from SMSL (D6S)or Fosi (ZD3)). You can use the digital output of the streamer you already have to feed it.

Pairing the Z A3 with an affordable, balanced DAC might be the right solution for a competitively source. I have a WiiM mini connected to a Gesheli labs DAC that has balanced output going into my amplifier. The mini was seven dollars on sale and the DAC can be purchased for $250 without any upgrades and that does include a balanced in input. This combination sounds fantastic! I am not sure if these products are available in your country, but there should be comparable alternatives.

Hi. What's the most noticeable differences in sound after few months in-between Emission Labs and Psvane ? did you have a chance to use any other 300b since?

Hello Ivar. How does your Arcam FMJ CD23 compare to the Audiolab 6000CDT transport & Denafrips Ares combination for playing CDs please ? Would you say one is better than the other or about the same ? Are they both good ?

These should be set into a book shelf to produce more bass .

What vibratings are coming from the equipment? These arnt engines. The only things moving will be a cd player or record player snd they have built in dampening so any thought that we need thick heavy shelves is snake oil.

Een user heeft beschreven, dat met een omweg het DSD signal naar een externe DAC kan gaan, het inderdaad omstandig, daarom koosik voor een SONY SACD speeler uit de ES serie

Loved the video, Ivar. Thanks for the time you put into each one, and I’m adding a comment for the algorithm👍🏻 The line of very small but powerful class D amps like Fosi can’t compare aesthetically to look of the larger pieces in your setup, but it’s nice to know it’s an option where space is limited…or should one’s tube amp act up and an easy to hook up test amp is needed😊

Wow, you bagged a Pontus II. Looks amazing! Looking forward to your review. I'm with you: I have a Sony SACD 5 disc carousel so I can play the 3 SACDs I have. 😊 So it's a bit tricky to export the SACD signal. If your Marantz outputs DSD through HDMI, you can get an HDMI to I2S converters and use the I2S input on the Pontus. Just be aware that not all HDMI to I2S converters support DSD, and good ones can get expensive. Good luck and great video!

You have a very significant fire load with the electrical kit and foam and cushions close together under that board! Should there be a fault resulting in a fire, you may not realise until it’s too late! 💥🔥

A few changes there, mate! It will be interesting to hear your opinion on the Fosi amplifier compared to the valve amp you were using. You didn't fancy going for those Fosi monoblocs, then? One thing I'd say about the vid: the background music gets irritating pretty quickly. Only my opinion of course and for all I know, every one of your viewers may love it. It's just that lots of KZbin vids do this and it's just not needed in my humble opinion. All the best.

Hoi ivar. Jammer dat er een storing in de audion zit. Maar dat gebeurt met buizen versterkers helaas. Afgelopen zondag was geweldig en overdonderend wat een set was dat. Dit hoor je maar 1 keer in je leven en de mannen van audioexpert zijn geweldig. Misschien wil je mij een appje sturen heb een nieuwe telefoon en was een heleboel nummers kwijt inclusief het jouwe. Ik wens je een heel fijn weekend. Gr André de vries.

I would love you trying better DAC your system deserves it! thx

The Geerfab D. BOB breakout box will allow you to legally get the DSD layer from your sacd into your Pontus and played as DSD. It’s available at Music Direct

I think SACD has some kind of DRM preventing a digital output. PS audio does have a sacd transport, but that only works with their own DAC. Basically it is a sacd player in two boxes. When you Search for "sacd external dac" you will find some less than legal solution with a box from China.

I do that also. Can't stand ugly jewel cases and stickers.

nice video comparison

Really nice video, Ivar! Seventeen enjoyable minutes to take my mind off the upcoming chaos.

Wonderful video!! Thanks for the sound clips. Seeing all this new gear makes me want some new speakers! Sorry the show was not as good as you would have hoped. I thought some of the clips sounded quite nice, even through yt's compression. That said, I do understand your aversion to all the high frequency energy, which seems to be the standard now. Cheers!

Oligarch audio.

Well, the Elgar sounded ok, all of the rest was truly dreadful! Screeching tweeters, no true low bass, and distorted mid-bass. I even hear some classic, crossover phase suckouts! Yikes! Dan

So what are your thoughts on the Medus DAC? I’m looking for a new to me DAC. Thanks.

Nice video. Have a nice weekend 🎵🎧☕☕