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  1. #1
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    Tweaking matters

    Last year, about mid-year, I bought a Parasound Zamp V3 45 wpc into 8 ohms and I also bought the matching Parasound ZPre2. Both units had been on my wish list so I finally went through with the purchase. I had modest expectations for their musical presentation given their price point.

    When I got them of course I put them into action and I was so very disappointed with the SQ. I was embarrassed to post about the purchase. I had plugged them in using the supplied stock power cords and I thought it just sounded awful.

    I simply placed them on the shelf as audio jewelry and had not bothered to turn either unit on since last September. Then about 3 weeks ago my buddy from Florida (WM) sent me his Emo XDA-1 to test out. I went ahead and dusted off the Parasound gear to see if the tone controls on the Zpre might be helpful. Yes, it was. But all that experimenting got me to swapping power cords, a variety of I.C's and finally taking both units my audio dealers home to test out with other gear. I thought after swapping out the power cord on the Zamp was crucial in unleashing it's potential but I needed verification.

    As it turns out that little Zamp is a bona fide gem! Yesterday, I put the Zamp into play with Belles LA-01 Pre, Meridian G08 CDP, Benchmark DAC, Blue Marble speaker wire, I.C's, power cord, and some very inefficient home made Usher clone tower speakers.

    I was comparing the Zamp against the Belles 350A (I think it was V2) 250 wpc and I was very surprised how nearly identical the Zamp is in performance to the Belles.

    The only difference, besides watts, was the Belles had a tad slower pace and audible shifts in pace. The Zamp held a steadier more constant pace. Detail, insight, tone, soundstage, depth of bass, and warmth ....I could not tell the Zamp apart from the much costlier Belles. The Zamp can not only hang with higher end audio gear but actually is right at home with higher end components. I paid less than $300 for the Zamp, new.

    Had it not been for my buddy sending out the Emo I would not have given the Parasound gear a second chance but as it turns out putting an excellent power cord (currently I am using WW Gen 7 Electra Copper on the unit) I would never have discovered what a gem the Zamp is. I am planning on getting a second Zamp to use as mono blocks (no smirking!). The Zpre is a different story but the gist of my rambling is the Zamp is a steal just put a quality power cord on it!!
    Last edited by LeRoy; 03-31-2013 at 07:34 AM. Reason: typo
    My audio lab:
    Qinpu A-6000 MK ll Integrated Amp
    Blue Marble Audio Speaker Wire
    Tannoy Mercury V4
    HHB CDR-850
    Grant Fidelity DAC-11/Phillips 7DJ8 tube

    Parasound Zamp V.3/Parasound ZPre2 Preamp
    Signal Cable Analog 2 Speaker Wire
    Dali Ikon 2 mk 2
    Marantz SACD/DVD DV6001
    Stello DA 100 Signature DAC

    HT:
    Arcam AVR 200
    Signal Cable Classic Speaker Cable
    Mirage Nanosat
    Rel R-528 Subwoofer
    Marantz SACD/DVD DV6001

    Various power cords, I.C.'s, optical, coax, and analog cables.

  2. #2
    Phila combat zone JoeE SP9's Avatar
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    Yep! Everything does make a difference.
    ARC SP9 MKIII, VPI HW19, Rega RB300
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    Behringer UCA222, Emotiva XDA-2, HiFimeDIY
    Accuphase T101, Teac V-7010, Nak ZX-7. LX-5, Behringer DSP1124P
    Front: Magnepan 1.7, DBX 223SX, 2 modified Dynaco MK3's, 2, 12" DIY TL subs (Pass El-Pipe-O) 2 bridged Crown XLS-402
    Rear/HT: Emotiva UMC200, Acoustat Model 1/SPW-1, Behringer CX2310, 2 Adcom GFA-545

  3. #3
    frenchmon frenchmon's Avatar
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    Yes sir...its those WW power cords man!
    Music...let it into your soul and be moved....with Canton...Pure Music


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  4. #4
    AR Newbie Registered Member
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    hello .......

  5. #5
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
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    Yeah that is on my short list of things to do now that I got my new amp, I love my Pass Labs amp but the power cord that they provide from the factory is not up to the standards of the amp. I am delighted with the performance of my amp but a better power cord would improve things I'm sure.

    Marantz SR5008(HT)
    Nu Force P8 Preamp (2 channel)
    Pass Labs X150.5(2 channel)
    Adcom 545 mk2 power amp(rear channel amp)
    Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S Mains Speakers
    Dayton 8" HO custom sealed subwoofer(2 channel)
    Yamaha NS-c444 center channel
    Emotiva ERD-1 surround speakers
    JBL e250p subwoofer highly modified
    Samsung 46" LED TV
    OPPO BDP-83 blue ray/multi format player
    ps-audio NuWave dac (2 channel)
    Dell I660 music server running fidelizer windows 8 audio optimizer
    PS Audio Quintet power center



  6. #6
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  7. #7
    M.P.S.E /AES/SMPTE member Sir Terrence the Terrible's Avatar
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    While I can see some limited value of high quality cords, interconnects, and speaker wire, I think focusing on them is an exercise in majoring in minors. Room acoustics, proper speaker placement, and a speakers flat on and off axis power response is much more important in the grand scheme of things. Changing a cord or wire is at best a subtle improvement. However improvements in room acoustics can yield a huge improvement in sound, something that is not so subtle - and a great overall value as well.
    Sir Terrence

    Titan Reference 3D 1080p projector
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  8. #8
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Terrence the Terrible View Post
    While I can see some limited value of high quality cords, interconnects, and speaker wire, I think focusing on them is an exercise in majoring in minors. Room acoustics, proper speaker placement, and a speakers flat on and off axis power response is much more important in the grand scheme of things. Changing a cord or wire is at best a subtle improvement. However improvements in room acoustics can yield a huge improvement in sound, something that is not so subtle - and a great overall value as well.
    you are very right in that there are a lot of things that can be done in a persons room to do a big improvement in the sound quality of their existing equipment in that room without changing a wire or cord. I know these treatments work because I have helped set up sound studios for music recording in my past and have used things like sound deadening panels and bass traps can do much to improve a speakers response and overall sound plus their are many other things to consider. But I have recently done some "playing" around with speaker cables in my system and their are differences that can be heared when a person changes interconnect cables or speakers cables for sure at least in the analog form, I really have not heard much differences when changing digital cables whether they are coax or optical, and that would make me believe that digital cables being that they are in the digital domain would probably not benefit from better cables to the level of analog cables like interconnects or speaker cable. I can kind of see that if you think about the fact that analog is a electrical signal especially at the speaker cable level and digital is just a transmission of 1"s and 0"S which would not seem to be affected as much with what cable you used as long as it is a good cable.

    Marantz SR5008(HT)
    Nu Force P8 Preamp (2 channel)
    Pass Labs X150.5(2 channel)
    Adcom 545 mk2 power amp(rear channel amp)
    Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S Mains Speakers
    Dayton 8" HO custom sealed subwoofer(2 channel)
    Yamaha NS-c444 center channel
    Emotiva ERD-1 surround speakers
    JBL e250p subwoofer highly modified
    Samsung 46" LED TV
    OPPO BDP-83 blue ray/multi format player
    ps-audio NuWave dac (2 channel)
    Dell I660 music server running fidelizer windows 8 audio optimizer
    PS Audio Quintet power center



  9. #9
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Sheesh, nobody has a sense of humor here!
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  10. #10
    Forum Regular
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    May 2009
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    Helotes,TX
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    Yes, I'd like to have that guy's tweaking J.O.B. I might even want to volunteer for O.T.
    My audio lab:
    Qinpu A-6000 MK ll Integrated Amp
    Blue Marble Audio Speaker Wire
    Tannoy Mercury V4
    HHB CDR-850
    Grant Fidelity DAC-11/Phillips 7DJ8 tube

    Parasound Zamp V.3/Parasound ZPre2 Preamp
    Signal Cable Analog 2 Speaker Wire
    Dali Ikon 2 mk 2
    Marantz SACD/DVD DV6001
    Stello DA 100 Signature DAC

    HT:
    Arcam AVR 200
    Signal Cable Classic Speaker Cable
    Mirage Nanosat
    Rel R-528 Subwoofer
    Marantz SACD/DVD DV6001

    Various power cords, I.C.'s, optical, coax, and analog cables.

  11. #11
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Nov 2006
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    Now that's what I'm talking about!
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

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