My Big system with Concert Fidelity DAC and Amplifiers

[CFfan]

Hello everyone!
I’m new member of the community and would like to introduce myself and my main system. Unfortunately my English is not so good and mistakes are possible.
All of my three systems consist from Concert Fidelity electronics. The Vertere Turntables I use for vinyl and Audio Note CDT5 and PC with JCUT OPTIMO power supply for a digital.
I prefer to listen Classical music, Opera, Jazz and music with acoustic instruments. Hard Rock and Blues was my favorites when I was younger but I still love them.

Seiji Ozawa. Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

Amplifiers from Japan playing Deep Modern Jazz from Japan.

 

[Uk Paul / Z:Axis Audio]

A warm welcome to the WB forum, and great to hear from another of fan of Masa's sublime electronics, please do let us know what you have and your thoughts on performance. I notice the Alize pre there, keen to know more about this, and how it sits compared to 050 and 080 in particular..

Best Regards,
Paul

 

[CFfan]

Hello everyone!
I’m new member of the community and would like to introduce myself and my main system. Unfortunately my English is not so good and mistakes are possible.
All of my three systems consist from Concert Fidelity electronics. The Vertere Turntables I use for vinyl and Audio Note CDT5 and PC with JCUT OPTIMO power supply for a digital.
I prefer to listen Classical music, Opera, Jazz and music with acoustic instruments. Hard Rock and Blues was my favorites when I was younger but I still love them.

Seiji Ozawa. Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

Amplifiers from Japan playing Deep Modern Jazz from Japan.

A warm welcome to the WB forum, and great to hear from another of fan of Masa's sublime electronics, please do let us know what you have and your thoughts on performance. I notice the Alize pre there, keen to know more about this, and how it sits compared to 050 and 080 in particular..

Best Regards,
Paul

 

[CFfan]

Hello Paul, and thank you for your warm welcome.
This system was custom designed by Masa. I have the Concert Grand loudspeakers from Sean McCaughan and use two pairs of ZL200 for biamping. Then ALIZE has outputs for biamping. Also ALIZE has option to change an absolute phase with remote control. For vinyl listening I use SPA-7 with multi curve equalizer. For digital music I use DAC-040 MK2 without tube output. The system needed the customization because it all have full balance XLR connections. The sound with Alize is very good, but I enjoy with 050 and 080 in my other two systems.
050 works well with DHP-300B and full range MAXONIC.
080 in other system with ZL120 and smaller ESP loudspeakers. For me the Alize has more clear and more fast sound, but it is difficult to compare because Alize plays in biamping.
I will post the video of other two systems later but it also possible to see on my YOUTUBE channel.

Regards.
Vladimir.

 

[J007B]

Welcome to WBF......

 

[Uk Paul / Z:Axis Audio]

Hello Paul, and thank you for your warm welcome.
This system was custom designed by Masa. I have the Concert Grand loudspeakers from Sean McCaughan and use two pairs of ZL200 for biamping. Then ALIZE has outputs for biamping. Also ALIZE has option to change an absolute phase with remote control. For vinyl listening I use SPA-7 with multi curve equalizer. For digital music I use DAC-040 MK2 without tube output. The system needed the customization because it all have full balance XLR connections. The sound with Alize is very good, but I enjoy with 050 and 080 in my other two systems.
050 works well with DHP-300B and full range MAXONIC.
080 in other system with ZL120 and smaller ESP loudspeakers. For me the Alize has more clear and more fast sound, but it is difficult to compare because Alize plays in biamping.
I will post the video of other two systems later but it also possible to see on my YOUTUBE channel.

Regards.
Vladimir.

Hi Vladimir,

The Alize must be a pretty special preamplifier if it can improve on the already sublime 080 and 050. It is really good to hear that Masa is still persuing his goal of pure fidelity, while embracing balanced connection, something he traditionally preferred not to do. What tubes does Alize use btw?

 

[CFfan]

Hi Paul,

I also was surprised when Masa recommended me to use a balanced connection during the last upgrade my ZL200. Hi said that I will get maximum performance from this upgrade if l will go to balanced option. As a result of this, the idea arose to create a fully balanced path from a sources to power amplifiers.

Alize use the same restriction tube as 080 ( EZ81) but another tubes for a gain. It’s 6350 .
I use in my Alize pair of Sylvania 6350.

 

[CFfan]

One more clip with Orchestra. It was performed in October of 1956 and I think was one of the first recordings in stereo

 

[CFfan]

One more clip with vinyl source.

 

[LL21]

One more clip with vinyl source.

Thanks for sharing. Nice sound!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Hello everyone!
I’m new member of the community and would like to introduce myself and my main system. Unfortunately my English is not so good and mistakes are possible.
All of my three systems consist from Concert Fidelity electronics. The Vertere Turntables I use for vinyl and Audio Note CDT5 and PC with JCUT OPTIMO power supply for a digital.
I prefer to listen Classical music, Opera, Jazz and music with acoustic instruments. Hard Rock and Blues was my favorites when I was younger but I still love them.

Seiji Ozawa. Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

Amplifiers from Japan playing Deep Modern Jazz from Japan.

Hi Vladimir,

Fatntastic setup! Are your ZL-200s the new generation FX2 model, all balanced version with new chassis with vibration control, or you had your earlier ZL-200 upgraded by Masa? Is the Alize their new preamplifier that is model above the 080? Its on not their website I think. Thanks!

 

[CFfan]

Hi Vladimir,

Fatntastic setup! Are your ZL-200s the new generation FX2 model, all balanced version with new chassis with vibration control, or you had your earlier ZL-200 upgraded by Masa? Is the Alize their new preamplifier that is model above the 080? It’s on not their website I think. Thanks!

Thank you for your comment!
Yes I have the new generation FX2 with new chassis and extra added transformer input.
The preamp ALIZE has biamping option and absolute phase changing by remote control.
I am waiting to get soon a new phono from Masa with separate power supply. We started this project with Masa about five years ago.
All setup is fully balanced.
Regards

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Thanks for your reply! Was in necessary to use 2 pairs of the FX2 monos as even one pair is quite powerful? I don't recall your ESP having very low impedance deep, or insensetive, if I'm not mistaken. Just curious.

 

[CFfan]

Thanks for your reply! Was in necessary to use 2 pairs of the FX2 monos as even one pair is quite powerful? I don't recall your ESP having very low impedance deep, or insensetive, if I'm not mistaken. Just curious.

I initially used two pairs of ZL120 as Sean advice and the benefits of bi-amping were clearly audible. With ZL200 it is not necessary I think but I already have two pairs.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I initially used two pairs of ZL120 as Sean advice and the benefits of bi-amping were clearly audible. With ZL200 it is not necessary I think but I already have two pairs.

Are you using a vertical bi-amping, or horizontal bi-amp set up? Was there a big jump in sound density and lower freq quantity and definition from the Zl-120 to the ZL-200FX2? The Concert Fidelity amplifier have always been widely praised for their tonality, and musical texture, but earlier model have been know to lack so called "meat on the bones" sound density, and low freq foundation. I only have heard the older ZL200 in other audiophile's system for as short period, so since you have owned both models, would really appreciate your impressions and the differences in your system. Thanks!

 

[CFfan]

Are you using a vertical bi-amping, or horizontal bi-amp set up? Was there a big jump in sound density and lower freq quantity and definition from the Zl-120 to the ZL-200FX2? The Concert Fidelity amplifier have always been widely praised for their tonality, and musical texture, but earlier model have been know to lack so called "meat on the bones" sound density, and low freq foundation. I only have heard the older ZL200 in other audiophile's system for as short period, so since you have owned both models, would really appreciate your impressions and the differences in your system. Thanks!

Are you using a vertical bi-amping, or horizontal bi-amp set up? Was there a big jump in sound density and lower freq quantity and definition from the Zl-120 to the ZL-200FX2? The Concert Fidelity amplifier have always been widely praised for their tonality, and musical texture, but earlier model have been know to lack so called "meat on the bones" sound density, and low freq foundation. I only have heard the older ZL200 in other audiophile's system for as short period, so since you have owned both models, would really appreciate your impressions and the differences in your system. Thanks!

I have compared older versions of ZL120 and ZL200 in this system and it was a big difference in natural and body of sound. It was the reason why I changed the amplifiers.
I have 4 monoblocks now and I think it’s not a horizontal or vertical version of bi-amping.

Bi-amping: horizontal or vertical?

One of our readers posted a comment that should be expanded upon. Vertical vs. horizontal bi-amping. The terms are rather simple, yet they are important. Vertical bi-amping is a practice I touched on yesterday–one channel of a stereo amplifier for the tweeter, the other for the woofer...

www.psaudio.com

Also I have the last version of ZL120 with balanced inputs in my other system.
The system consists of Sony android TV as source, the new version of CF-080 preamp, CF DAC -040 and one pair of ZL120. The loudspeakers are also from Sean but smaller.
We use this system for viewing films and music videos.
I think I have enough of bass and body also but it’s subjective and only my opinion.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I have compared older versions of ZL120 and ZL200 in this system and it was a big difference in natural and body of sound. It was the reason why I changed the amplifiers.
I have 4 monoblocks now and I think it’s not a horizontal or vertical version of bi-amping.

Bi-amping: horizontal or vertical?

One of our readers posted a comment that should be expanded upon. Vertical vs. horizontal bi-amping. The terms are rather simple, yet they are important. Vertical bi-amping is a practice I touched on yesterday–one channel of a stereo amplifier for the tweeter, the other for the woofer...

www.psaudio.com

Also I have the last version of ZL120 with balanced inputs in my other system.
The system consists of Sony android TV as source, the new version of CF-080 preamp, CF DAC -040 and one pair of ZL120. The loudspeakers are also from Sean but smaller.
We use this system for viewing films and music videos.
I think I have enough of bass and body also but it’s subjective and only my opinion.

Thanks for your reply. Can you kindly provide more details on the Alize preamp, as its not on their website, and Ken, Masa's son in law never mentioned this preamp. Can post post pictures of its front and rear or of its inside by any chance? Also, do you have any pictures inside of the FX2 version? Would be very curious to see how did Masa incorporate his idea of vibration isolation. Would appreciate it greatly! Thanks.

 

[CFfan]

Thanks for your reply. Can you kindly provide more details on the Alize preamp, as its not on their website, and Ken, Masa's son in law never mentioned this preamp. Can post post pictures of its front and rear or of its inside by any chance? Also, do you have any pictures inside of the FX2 version? Would be very curious to see how did Masa incorporate his idea of vibration isolation. Would appreciate it greatly! Thanks.

I will try to help you. The thing is that my amplifiers are custom made and their design is different from the original. I will ask Masa to give me information and pictures of original version.
Regards.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I will try to help you. The thing is that my amplifiers are custom made and their design is different from the original. I will ask Masa to give me information and pictures of original version.
Regards.

Thanks so much!

 

[CFfan]

The perfect vinyl record quality from DG but you must have phono with DECCA curve equalization for the right sound.