West I wrote the review and it has my experience with the amp with several others and with the clears and other headphones. But I will update here as well…
Alex
My bad, I knew that. 
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Wes…no problem, just wanted you not to have missed the review…you know all my talented experiences!!!
LOL!!!
Alex
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There are other reviews posted at my website. Another on the way, next issue of Stereophile. 
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Nice.
I’ve heard nothing but good things regarding your Tuba amp, and I look forward to future products and your continued success. 
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I have been reading about the Tuba all morning, and really want one. I know this might not be a fair comparison, but I wonder how the Tuba compares to the ZMF Pendant.
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Golly gee Wes…I have never heard a Pendant, but I have compared the Tuba to the BH Mainline their TOTL amp, not counting their only made 2 of their $10K Neothoriator…and with the Schitt Vahalla 2 and with the BH Crack. I had the ECP T4 here from Beezar Audio, but could not do a side by side with it…
But having listened with the Tuba I would say it would rank right up there…but as always YMMV…you have to listen for yourself.
The Pendant for $2K is up there in price…and looks like it has more power out…and again your comparing a $649 amp to a $2K amp…both use EL84s, but as we know there is more than using a particular type of tube, its how in the circuit is it used etc…
I would live to test a Pendant etc!
Alex
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So, along those lines of power. I just noticed that the Tuba is a bit on the light side, and may not actually work for me. I plan to use my ZMF Ori ( hard to drive planar), and unfortunately don’t think the Tuba will drive them to the level I want.
Just read this and the Aeolus is on my radar:
I’ve never had a tube amp before, but listening to it was jaw-dropping. Pairs extremely well with an Aeolus. Never heard an amp that sounds this good. You weren’t kidding about world-class. Gave me chills. Well worth the wait!"…
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Congrats! Jim builds great sounding gear that’s built to last. I was just listening
to my Hagerman Audio Labs Castanet last night with my Sennheiser HD 600s and
it sounds fantastic! They’re a great match. I purchased the Castanet a few months
back from Jim (it was his personal headphone amp for over a decade until he replaced
it with a Tuba, which should sound even better). The Castanet is 12 years old and still works great.
Best of luck with your new Tuba!
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I love hearing about that first experience with a tube amp.
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My TUBA just arrived a day early at the front door!! SMILE!
Plugged in and listening…SUPERB!
More later…
Alex
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Jim,
Some folks want to know if the TUBA will drive some planars like ZMF Ori’s, ZMF states:
"Our drivers will get decent volume with most devices, even cell phones. However for the best sonics we recommend 100mW at 300 ohm impedance out and 300mW at 300 ohms is best to max out the driver. Of course it’s OK to have headroom (wattage above max).
ZMF headphones do not require any particular type of amp, be it tube or solid state, but OTL tube amps can typically have higher power outputs at 300 ohm than transformer regulated outputs. "
In the handbook and on your site the power is specd at : 350mW output power @ 32 ohms
There is a HI SE output jack and I have used it with 250 and 600 ohm headphones with no issues for loudness.
Wondering if you could add to this?
Thanks!
Alex
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I have 12 head amps here, and in my review above I contrast many of them and even sold my BH Mainline to help finance the Tuba…its that nice of an amp. Both are parafeed but I always had a love hate relationship with the Mainline, and the stepped attenuator although technically may “better” I got tired of constantly switching to get the volume I wanted. I am a sucker for an analog pot…easy to adjust etc…its just my preference.
Sound wise the Tuba IMO has a signature to me that is very accurate and more SS than a tube amp…the softer amps like the Crack are nice (still have one) but the Tuba just comes across light a light saber, atriculate, and jsut wonderful bass with the Focal Clears…just so sweet. Its very similar to the $2K T4 sound.
Vocals are nice, tonality is wonderful…it also makes the HD600’s come alive…EL 84’s are plentiful from the $200 NOS stuff to modern day Mullards for $40 or so…which work pretty well.
The Tuba sounds Schiit Jotenhiem like to me at times…it has some body and soul of all its own!
This is one of those audio treasures in headphone land!
Alex
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I am curious about the info provided? Is this for the 300ohm dynamic ZMF, or the 50ohm planar from ZMF?
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This was from their FAQ:
With the ZMF dynamics you will be able to get ample volume out of any device. The only catch is that they are 300 ohm impedance so the tone and timbre will vary with what device is used. We love tube amps for these as they match our drivers damping factor well, but solid state amps can work great as well. There is no “right” answer when it comes to selecting an amp, getting the right “match” is very subjective!
With the fostex based headphones:
They will sound the best with amplification. Anything with over 200 Mw in 50 ohms will get you enough volume, the drivers take up to 3W of power, it’s nice to have head-room but not completely necessary. Cell phone and portable devices will work many times, but will not get you the best tone or volume.
The other part was a cut and paste from the Aeolus thread at head-fi.
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With high impedance cans the Tuba puts out 7Vrms.
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Now please post another version with the equipment out of focus, but so we can read what albums those are. I think I see a copy of the Stone’s Satanic Majesties but I’m not sure.
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