View Full Version : XTZ A100D3 Divine
Floyddroid
20-12-2014, 22:28
I needed an amp for my second system which is connected to my telly. Something to play music BR's and DVD's and possibly even connect to a processor to achieve surround sound. I didn't want to spend a lot as i don't use the system anywhere near as often as my big system. I put me thinking cap on and put it to the AOS chaps to see what they would recommend. having read lots of favourable things about the XTZ amp i put the feelers out. fellow Art Of Soundite Twotone came to my rescue and sold me an XTZ Z100D amp which arrived at my house in absolute mint condition. I tried it initially in my main system and it sounded ok. After a week or so i plumbed it into the system that it was intended for and it blew me bloomin socks off.
Driving my Ruark Talisman III's via a TEAC CD-3000 SACD/CD player and Panasonic BD35 Blu ray player it simply sings. Granted my Techie doesn't sound as detailed or musical via the on board phono stage but it wasn't half bad! It leaves you scratching your head wondering how this can be achieved at it's RRP let alone what i bought it for. Absolutely incredible. I just wish that XTZ made a surround processor i could connect to it. (Answers on a post card please with sensibly priced suggestions. If anyone out there is considering a device like this i would suggest they look no further. Buy with confidence. I would also note that it simply loves Ruark speakers.
Cheers Twotone, a true gent!:)
Agreed, I loved mine and kinda regretted selling it. Only ever ran it class A, AB had more welly but lost a little of the magic. Phono stage was pretty good too IIRC - certainly not far off my MF X-LPS.
Only thing is needing to be a weightlifter to hoik the bloomin' thing on to the rack. Built well it is.
I.ve been using one as my go to power amp for about two years now. Can't be faulted as a power amp, I'm less sure about the pre-amp section but it is certainly not poor. The power amp section is the really good bit though so if you have the integrated try it with a different pre amp, active or passive. Although as a power amp I *think* I just heard it bettered today by Alan's (Firebottle) DIY OTL valve job.
Thanks Steve, certainly a fantastic amp, I loved it but it certainly doesn't get on with Alan's Firebottle phono stage in any guise.
I tried it with the 'ordinary' Firebottle MM phono stage and it didn't sound much better than the XTZ's own phono stage, in fact it was a bit shite then I tried it with the Firebottle MM/MC plus version with upgraded wiring and both amps just didn't get on with each other which is why I sold both.
I tried the Firebottle Plus with my Quad 34 pre & 306 pa combo and it was absolutely stunning with them.
Tony
Ali Tait
21-12-2014, 20:02
I.ve been using one as my go to power amp for about two years now. Can't be faulted as a power amp, I'm less sure about the pre-amp section but it is certainly not poor. The power amp section is the really good bit though so if you have the integrated try it with a different pre amp, active or passive. Although as a power amp I *think* I just heard it bettered today by Alan's (Firebottle) DIY OTL valve job.
More info on the OTL please..
Thanks Steve, certainly a fantastic amp, I loved it but it certainly doesn't get on with Alan's Firebottle phono stage in any guise.
I tried it with the 'ordinary' Firebottle MM phono stage and it didn't sound much better than the XTZ's own phono stage, in fact it was a bit shite then I tried it with the Firebottle MM/MC plus version with upgraded wiring and both amps just didn't get on with each other which is why I sold both.
I tried the Firebottle Plus with my Quad 34 pre & 306 pa combo and it was absolutely stunning with them.
Tony
Alan was here today and we tried the Firebottle phono into the XTZ in an attempt to replicate the issue you had but we were unable to.
Ali That OTL is a bit special. First of all I thought it was no different to the XTZ but after a half-hour or so I started noticing how 'right' it sounded. I could have listened all day, I said as much to Alan.
Alan was here today and we tried the Firebottle phono into the XTZ in an attempt to replicate the issue you had but we were unable to.
Ali That OTL is a bit special. First of all I thought it was no different to the XTZ but after a half-hour or so I started noticing how 'right' it sounded. I could have listened all day, I said as much to Alan.
How did the Firebottle (which one BTW?) sound with the XTZ Martin, I'm presuming it wasn't the XTZ integrated?
How did the Firebottle (which one BTW?) sound with the XTZ Martin, I'm presuming it wasn't the XTZ integrated?
It was my one which is MM only, I think one of the first couple made. My XTZ is the integrated version but I run it with a passive pre so I only use the power section normally. We put the links back in and used it as an integrated for the test, with the Firebottle plugged into the Aux input. We only listened for a short time, adjusting volume and muting to see if we could get it to play up in any way but it didn't, it sounded pretty good, better than the XTZ MM stage I thought, although we are dealing with small degrees here.
Ali Tait
21-12-2014, 20:48
Alan was here today and we tried the Firebottle phono into the XTZ in an attempt to replicate the issue you had but we were unable to.
Ali That OTL is a bit special. First of all I thought it was no different to the XTZ but after a half-hour or so I started noticing how 'right' it sounded. I could have listened all day, I said as much to Alan.
Aye, look forward to hearing it in January.
It was my one which is MM only, I think one of the first couple made. My XTZ is the integrated version but I run it with a passive pre so I only use the power section normally. We put the links back in and used it as an integrated for the test, with the Firebottle plugged into the Aux input. We only listened for a short time, adjusting volume and muting to see if we could get it to play up in any way but it didn't, it sounded pretty good, better than the XTZ MM stage I thought, although we are dealing with small degrees here.
My MM FB had the serial no 001 Martin, the very first one made I believe, I bought it on here from Paul but he put a resistor in to suit my cart and it sounded fab with my Rega Brio-R but with the XTZ it sounded like a different amp, the upgraded FB Plus sounded amazing with the XTZ when it wasn't making mad sounds but that was only for very very short periods, I only really heard the FB plus properly the other night with the Quads and it was fantastic but the Quad pre's MM phono board has been modded and it sounds pretty decent to my ears however the FB plus was just a bit more 'special' IMO.
I tried the FB Plus into every input of the XTZ integrated and the problem was persistant in every output, I also tried it with an old Sony integrated amp and there were absolutely no issues at all with the Sony, in fact it sounded great with that amp too.
With the Quad's it was in a different league though.
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