I was yesterday drawing plans for the Zaratustra II’s chassis and was wondering how I might use it. The Zaratustra II turned out to be a little Monster, efforts-wise and expanses-wise. I hope it will demonstrate some results that will rectify the efforts and the expanses.

Anyhow, among any other thing that Zaratustra II will be testing there is a major quest that I have from this amp: will Zaratustra II be able to compete with Super Melquiades LF channel. This is very interesting to learn as I think it will be methodologically a relatively “frank” experiment.  Melquiades and Zaratustra in a way are similar amps: well, as closed as two-stages tube and two-stages hybrid could be….

In the Melquiades DSET the dedicated LF transformer that runs full power down to 7.5Hz, the low impedance of the 6C33C, a large reserve in the Melquiade’s LF power supply and the most important - the single-ended operation in A1 is the key that make bass so differently … different.

However, the Zaratustra II has own tricks in the sleeves:  up to 200W on class A1, it has good total current capacity (up to 60A stably and up to 90A in picks), it does not differentiates if it is 8R or 4R load – according to Dima’s tests – there was no measurable difference. Dima drove with Zaratustra II a load of 0.8Ohm and he claim that it was insultingly stable – the amp lost juts 20% of output but according to Dima nothing else changed in it. The Zaratustra II can drive 0.5R with no problems.  Furthermore, according to Dima nothing changed in the Zaratustra II when he drove with these amps a 8uF capacitor…  (BTW, did I mentions the Zaratustra II will be smaller then Lamm 1.1?)

So, would Zaratustra II be able to compete with Melquiades DSET driving the LF arrays of my Macondo? A DSET vs. high currant amp. SET dynamic vs. unlimited (for my room) power. Make your bets….

be wrote:

Will you show some diagrams? Could be interesting even if it turns out you dont like it.

be wrote:

20H/.5A amorphous? Who makes that?