Mike Currie, Atma-Sphere S-30 amp and Quad ESL-63 speakers:
"I guess I have been among the most skeptical in thinking that ZEROs would
do nothing for my Quads given that speaker's impedance curve. Though I've had
them set up for only a couple of days now, it is apparent that I was quite
mistaken. The most profound difference is in the mid and upper bass, which has
both tightened up and has become more 'organic'. I never have figured out what
the latter term really means in sound reproduction, but I guess you know it when
you hear it. Deep cello and double bass simply sound more real - and they
sounded pretty damn good to begin with. Two days do not a long term partner
make, but I can say right now that unless some strange deleterious effects show
up unexpectedly, this is the best 'tweak' money I've ever spent.
Congratulations, Paul!" Mike
"The more I listen to the system with the ZEROS in, the more I like them.
Please note that this applies to my new M-60s just as much as my former S-30.
This is a great product and a true bargain."
Jay Min (California), Tenor 75WP OTL Amplifier and Amati Homage Speakers
(4 ohms):
"Dear Paul, Got the ZERO-Boxes. Talk about return on investment. It just has
to be the best $1K I've spent considering all the money that I have blown in the
past 30 years. I only played with them for about 5 hours and can't wait till
they are fully broken in. I am still debating between 3X and 4X and at the
moment I am inclined to use the 4X despite that the mid bass is just a hint
drier than I would like. I have the Amati Homage (nominal 4ohm with a dip of 1
ohm at about 400Hz) driven by Tenor 75WP. The Zero really brings out the best of
the OTL, of Tenor in term of airiness and openness while retaining excellent
control of the bass. I was inches away from dumping the Amati but the ZEROs
sorta save its day. I believe I have talked a few of my fellow audiophiles into
giving it a shot. Thanks.... Jay"
Gary Susott (Kansas), Cary V12 (Push-Pull) amplifier and Magenpan 1.6
speakers (4 ohms):
"Paul, Just thought I would let you know the ZEROs arrived yesterday and I'm
a happy customer. I didn't have much time to experiment or listen last night,
but the initial results were very impressive. I set up my amp and the ZEROs to
double the damping factor because the Cary amp has a high output impedance, a
little more than half the tap value, I understand. A whole new world of bass
clarity appeared. This was not at all subtle. I was hearing surprising bass
depth, space, air, and delineation I never heard before. The overall listening
experience was quite improved. I'll have more time to experiment over the
weekend. It's been a pleasure."
Tim Kirkpatrick (Georgia), Atma-Sphere MA-1 Mk II.2s and Spendors speakers
(8 ohm):
"Well, Paul, I was skeptical. I really wasn't sure that the ZEROs would
improve my nominally 8 Ohm speakers. Boy, was I wrong! I'm using the 2X tap to
make the MA-1s think they are driving 16 ohm speakers. The ZEROs are everything
you advertised them to be--tighter more defined bass, improved mid-range detail,
and extended highs. All in all, the ZEROs just provide a much more realistic
reproduction of the recorded event. I am a thoroughly satisfied customer, and I
will pass the good word along. Thanks again for a great product! By the way, the
ZEROs in the cherry case match my Spendors perfectly and actually look to be
part of the original speaker. Take care!" TK
Gerald Rankine-Galloway (District of Columbia), Conrad-Johnson Evolution
2000 amp (SS) and Infinity Kappa Speakers (4-6 ohms):
"Dear Paul, The ZEROs did arrive yesterday, I have them connected, and they
sound quite wonderful at 3x. The best way to characterize them at this early
stage is to say that they impart a remarkable sense of meaning and
intelligibility to the musical message. Suddenly voices and instruments breathe
as they should, and the system disappears." Gerald
Joe Ranium (Hong Kong):
"Paul, I am very impressed with the ZERO-Autoformers and will be taking two
more for my two other systems, but will defer the purchase for 2 months as I
have spent quite a lot on hi-fi this month. Will be in touch in due course. Best
regards, Joe"
Manuel Vidal (Puerto Rico), Transcendent OTL and Soliloquy 5.3 Speakers
(90dB, 8 ohm):
"If you want to know what difference a 16 ohm impedance speaker sounds like
with our OTL's give Paul Speltz' Zero's a try. I tried various taps and found
that the X2 impedance multiplier sounds the best. My speakers are the
Soliloquy's 5.3, which are an easy 8 ohm load, thus making it a 16 ohm load.
This set up was sounding perfectly well, I thought, until I heard the Zero's. My
preamp is a GG built from scratch and the Bel Canto Design DAC driven by a Sony
7700 DVD/CD player. After evaluating the Zero's I am not sending them back.
Every aspect of the reproduction is enhanced, specially in the smoothness
department. All the resolution,detail retrieval and dynamic aspects are kept but
with much more refinement. The stage is also bigger. I don't really know if this
is exactly as driving a 16 ohm speaker, but I am pretty sure it's very close.
According to the designer, adding this device does not defeat the OTL's prime
design purpose of not having an OPT, though this device works differently to an
OPT."
Stew Glick (New York), Wright/Sound 3.5 2A3 SET amps, driving Quad ESL63
speakers:
"Paul, I received the ZEROs, thanks! I put them into my system and even
though they are not even broken in yet, I heard an immediate improvement in my
stereo. I used the 4x setting on my Wright/Sound 3.5 2A3 amps, driving Quad
ESL63 speakers. The bass is deep and VERY tight, plucked strings have more of a
percussive sound, and the sound is cleaned up overall....it really makes me
shake my head in disbelief that I am getting this kind of sound out of a pair of
3-8 watt 2A3 amps. (I do also use a Hsu VTF-2 sub, but any changes I am hearing
is coming from the speakers as the sub is driven via the preamp outputs). At
this time I have no desire to check out other settings, as 4x is pretty high and
I am not hearing any thinness or the like. I feel like I am getting the most out
of the ZEROs with no negative effects as they are set up now. Thanks for you
help and friendly assistance." Stew
"I'm still very impressed with the sound of my stereo since adding the zeros
into the equation. Everything sounds so natural, effortless, organic. Thanks for
your help." Stew Glick
Jose M. Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), Naim M1.1 (Solid State) amplifier and
Parsifal speakers (8 ohm):
"Hi Paul, Had heard a bit about the ZEROs, but a couple of days ago got a
pair on loan and tried them in my system. WOW, never had anything brought so
much improvement to it. Work best with 2x setting. Do you have ZEROs
available? Thanks." Regards, Jose
Greg Gresham (South Carolina), Rogue 88 (Push-Pull 6550s) and Inersound
Isis electrostat speakers (4 ohm):
"Paul, I just wanted to get back with you on the ZEROs in my setup, they
worked GREAT, they sound there best in the 2.75x tap. I could not believe how
much better this system is with the ZEROs, you hear all the music that seemed to
get lost in the mix before , I have emailed a few people on the web site
Audiogon and told them about this product, well done Paul well done." Greg
Andy Timmons (Maryland), Joule Electra VZN-80 amplifier and 4 ohm Magnepan
speakers:
"Thanks for remembering me Paul, Since we last talked, I was able to borrow
and then purchase my friends pair of original ZEROs. Once again my Maggies
sounded so much better with the ZEROs in-line, but my curiosity still begged the
question, how would the ZEROs sound directly connected to my Joule VZN-80. Well,
after moving my speakers very close to the amp and re-connecting the ZEROs
direct, I got my answer. The system sounded its best with the ZEROs alone. I
didn't realize how quick, accurate and focused the ZEROs could be, and with
absolutely no degrading of the sonics. The soundstage is tighter, more
natural and the speakers have truly disappeared. For me it's the only way to run
my system.
Luis Ponce Leao (Portugal), Atma-Sphere M-50 and B&W N805 4 ohm Speakers:
"The result was very impressive! The sound opened in way I really didn't
expect... a huge soundstage, incredible dynamics and FOCUS, something I always
missed on my system. This was particularly notorious with orchestras that really
didn't seem to "fit" on my speakers." Luis
John Jansky (Minnesota), Audio Research VTM 200 amps and Wisdom Audio
Adrenaline D-75's (4 ohms):
"Hi Paul, I am really enjoying the new version of the ZEROs . The improved
leads do make a significant difference on my mid-range/ high frequency towers. I
have not yet used them on the low frequency drivers. I think I'd like to upgrade
one pair for now. I'm using Audio Research VTM 200 amplifiers on a pair of
Wisdom Audio Adrenaline D-75's. The speakers are 4 ohm and I'm using the 2x
configuration with the 8 ohm output of the amplifiers. The sound is considerably
richer with more low level detail."
Bill Layer (Minnesota), Atma-Sphere M-60 amps and 8 ohm speakers:
"I've applied a set of ZEROs to my (very) original Atma-Sphere M-60 MK.II
OTL amps, and felt like sharing my pleasure with these devices. Simply put, the
Zero and the M-60 are a match made in the stars.. I never thought that hanging a
piece of iron off the back was anything like correct, but I was happily wrong on
that point. Though my speakers are a nominal 8-ohm load, and have reasonable
efficiency - 94dB - the ZEROs puts more controlled power into this system than I
thought possible. With the ZEROs at 2x, not only is the bass notably more
authoritative, but every other part of the range seems to derive benefit as
well. Not to mention that I am getting about 50% more power, overall - the M-60
really wants to see 16ohm load - and that's what it gets from the ZEROs. With
the full tube complement, truly antisocial volume levels are just a volume knob
away - gone is the loosened bass and occasional stridency that I would get
in the past, when I really pushed the system to the rails. With half the tube
compliment, and the ZEROs at 4x, this system remains extremely musical, while
still delivering excellent levels. I can say for a fact, that I will *never* be
without a set of ZEROs for as long as I own my M-60s, and it goes without saying
that will be for a very, very, long time. In terms of hardware design, quality,
etc, the ZEROs are nothing other than a perfect compliment to Atma-Sphere
equipment... and that is saying a *lot*. With Paul's very reasonable demo
policy, you really have nothing to lose in trying out a set - and so much to
gain. I hope these comments will help steer you down the path to more music.
-Bill Layer"
Scott Bayne, B&K M200s (SS Mono Blocks) running into Carver AL-III+
speakers:
"Paul, I just installed the ZEROs. I've got to say the improvement is
dramatic. Thanks for a great product."
Robert A. Ettema (Ohio), Decware SET amplifier:
"Dear Paul; The ZEROs arrived yesterday and the first impression is
WHOWWWWWW ! Thanks, Best regards, Robert A. Ettema"
Adam Berusch (Colorado), Atma-Sphere amps and Martin Logan CLS IIz
Speakers (1-4 ohm):
"THE SOUND: Incredible!!! Even after a very informal setup, the imaging,
detail, transparency (etc) was really something. I had assumed that there would
be little or no bass. Well, I gotta tell ya, the bass was very strong down to
just under 40hz in my smallish room. I have extensive experience with Magnepan,
Sound Lab, and Avant Garde, and this combo blows those others away! This is the
kind of pleasant surprise audiophiles look forward to, but rarely get. I did not
notice any anomalies in sound with the ZEROs installed. I tested the sound using
a variety of sources, including the XLO test disk and The Absolute! Sound space
CD. The sound passed all the tests impressively. Paul - You sir are a mad man!
It's people like you that make this industry far more interesting. Job well
done!" -Adam