Tube prices must have gone up as I would have sworn it 100 not that long ago. The benefit is that I think they QC the tubes before sending them out.
Also just for everyoneās reference, from Justin:
The Kenzie OG is 10.5 x 8.5"
The Mogwai OG and Pendant are 12.5" x 9.5"
The Mogwai SE is 14.5" x 10.5"
Just in case anyone needed/wanted to know!
6 Likes
The Pendant is a wise choice! Youāre going to love it. Have you seen Resolveās video review? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMW0sn1aoaM&t=293s
2 Likes
I have! I watched it last night once I realized it might actually be an option haha. Torqās review and commentary that the Rad-0 can also work well with it makes it even more appealing.
Just waiting to hear back from Zach about getting the bundle deal as an update to my order of the VCs.
Iām thinking of ordering an ECP T4 amplifier to pair with the Aeolus ZMFās I have on order (also have Atticus).
But I also have MEZE Empyreans and wonder if their impedance is too low to work with the T4. Any advice would be appreciated!
1 Like
@ProfFalkin. Thoughts? or is Black Sabbath still calling to you?
1 Like
I have read the majority of this thread and would just like to say it is feasible to have a Class A OTL that can work well down to 32 ohms. I do believe there are amps that give more tube sound than the Crack and that is an opinion shared by friends as well. The Crack is a good amp for its price and I respect Doc for building tube gear. Tube amps do have more distortion but, they have a life and a soul I just do not find in SS amps and I have owned and built some of those. Tube amps are designed around specific tubes but there are ways to get more tube sound without adding to distortion and if well done, they can be magical, and kind of nice to look at.
Change tubes and change nuance. Part of the problem is there are a lot of new comers to tubes and it can take a very long time to gain enough experience to pick up on the differences. Some hybrids lack that sound, and some amps use tubes as buffers and not gain stages. A few here will be hearing such sound soon, and they may hate it but those of us who have been around a while can think back to the amps we first heard so maybe there is a bit of nostalgia involved. Just one personās opinion. 
PS When selling bunches of kits, you have to find tubes that you can buy in abundance, like GE or Phillips ECG or whatever. $10 6080ās. Put a tube in an amp like a Bendix 6080WB pictured above, with a 1940ās Sylvania and if you cannot hear a difference, then most likely tube amps are not for you. I do not mean that in a condescending way, most people grew up with transistors and are used to them.
8 Likes
I also went and got a bundle of tubes per Torgās suggestion. I have coming:
GE Ken Rad Silver Plate 12AX7
White shield Mullard 12AX7
Raytheon black plate 12AX7
Set of Mullard NOS EL84s
Set of GE NOS EL84s
Amperex Bugle Boy EZ81
Telefunken EZ81
Excited to do some tube rolling once I get the Pendant! Any tube recommendations while weāre at it?
3 Likes
So far, the T4 had paired extremely well with all my headphones. I put the Birmar tubes away for a bit to test out some Mullard 6201. Again, amazing synergy with the hd650 and Auteur. Better bass extension, and a bit more air. I really like this one, but only have about 30 hours on it so far.
The Empyrean works just fine with the T4. They pick up a more cohesive stage with the T4 vs Jotunheim, as one might expect from tubes.
Heck, I was jamming out to some Blues for a few hours with my E-mu Teak and the T4, and it was great.
I really recommend either TomBās recommended Mullards, or the 6201 version, or the Brimar Yellow-T tubes I posted in the T4 thread. I have some Amprex tubes Iāll be trying next, and might have results on those in a few days.
2 Likes
Thanks for the info @ProfFalkin!
Unfortunately it seems heās not taking pre-orders for the T4, so Iām back to the drawing board on a tube or tube hybrid amp. Darn.
Whoa there. Iād recommend not jumping into tube rolling until youāve spent at least a couple of months with your new amp the way it comes from ZMF. Plus, youāre going to have a hard time improving on the NOS tube set that you buy from ZMF. Tube rolling shouldnāt be your focus early on; Iād suggest you just enjoy what your new amp does for the music.
3 Likes
I hear you, and duly noted. My plan had been to play with the stock JJs that come with the Pendant + the NOS tube set and use that for a good while to get a feel for things, and just have these on hand for when I had a good understanding of what the sound was and what I liked or wanted to improve upon (if even possible).
I found some of these for good prices so I grabbed them to have them, but probably jumped the gun a bit. I got excited! I think to your point though, between the stock tubes and the ZMF NOS tubes Iāll be set for a good long while.
2 Likes
Iām particularly interested in comparisons of ZMF cans with Pendant stock, Pendant ZMF NOS, DNA Starlett stock, and DNA Stratus stock. Iāve come across someone selling their Stratus stock in favor of Pendant ZMF NOS.
As in they sold their Stratus to get a Pendant with the ZMF NOS tubes?
He had the Stratus first, then acquired the Pendant with ZMF NOS, then sold the Stratus ā a preference for the Pendantās speed/dynamics over the Stratusā rich sound signature.
1 Like
The ZMF Pendant is great Amp, it is staying in my collection. I have played wide array of headphones thought it.
4 Likes
The relatively short 1-2 week waiting period, pre-amp output, and smaller footprint are appealing.
1 Like
I own a Pendant using Tungsram EL84ās, Mullard 12AU7 and RCA rectifier, and a Stratus Stock tubes.
It would be an easy decision for me which to get rid of and it wouldnāt be the Stratus.
The Pendant is fine, I use mine usually through the 8 Ohm tap.
I prefer the immediacy/prescence of the Stratus over the A&S Amp, I also use it through the 8 Ohm tap on the Verites.
I do find the Stratus can get a bit āsoftā through the 100 Ohm tap, which is why I donāt use the IEC setting with the Verites.
4 Likes
Thanks - this is informative as I make my decision. Iām demoing the Starlett now. On my Eikon and HD650, I prefer the XLR 8 ohm output, followed by TRS output low ohm and high gain settings.
Do you think your feelings would be different if you rolled in some different tubes into the Pendant? Or are the tubes you referenced what you landed on after some tube rolling?
Also you mention not using the Verite with the Stratus. How do you like them through the Pendant? Or did I misunderstand that and you just meant you donāt use the 100 Ohm tap with the Verite specifically?