Continuing The Journey

Best Speakers For Decware Zen Mini Torii 2
Best Speakers For Decware Zen Mini Torii Phone
Best Speakers For Decware Zen Mini Torii 3
Decware Zen Amp

With suitable speakers, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed. And Decware gives the original owner a full lifetime warranty. My highest rating, next to the smaller, uglier but slightly better sounding Decware SE84C+. Using adapters, the Mini Torii can take a wide range of cheap, easy to source and very good sounding tubes. We have a Decware Mini-Torii, and can say that the synergy between amp and speakers, which at that time were a pair of Heresies, was really ideal. Tremendously musical and crystal clear without any harshness to speak of.

In my earlier look at the Decware SE84C Zen Triode amplifier, I examined and recognized the petite amplifier’s subtle but efficacious tonalities and excellent contrasting dynamics during low to medium volume levels in the company of the Klipschorn. Still, the persistent dynamic compressions and loss of soundstage coherence during higher listening levels reflected its unsuitability to drive most speakers. Thus, I concluded with the speculation that a pair of them in monoblock configuration would probably be the more realistic option.

Disagreement from Steve Deckert’s customers surfaced in the Decware online Forum, and I responded to one reader’s opinion in the following abridged excerpt:

“I might have been exerting overly demanding expectations upon the Zen Amp. Yet as a reviewer, I believe I have attained the task of scrutinizing the product under review to the best of my ability. And to summarize and answer your last question, while the SE84C has impressive merits in its design, for the merits and shortcomings of its coupling to the Klipschorn, the single Decware/Klipschorn was not an ideal combination playing music to my expectations, leading me to believe neither will it be for the average room/listener.”

I was initially looking at the Zen TORII MK3, however after reviewing a number of posts here, some other Decware products from the SE84C+ and TABOO to the MINI TORII have been highly recommended for driving an efficient speaker. I would be driving a pair of Klipsch Forte II's at 99dB. Decware would obviously be your ﬁrst choice for getting the best quality tubes for your ampliﬁer. Page 11: Input Sensitivity O W N E R S M A N U A L HEAT The TORII JR. Has been designed like many Decware ampliﬁers with a non-ventilated chassis and a black steel plate to hold and distribute heat evenly throughout the ampliﬁer.

As I further my investigation of the Decware SE84C in monoblock configuration, allow me to reiterate Steve Deckert’s claim as outlined in the Owner’s Manual.

“…it is usually a given that no other part of your hi-fi system is capable of surpassing the fidelity of the SE84…You would have to spend around $10,000 on a cost no object front end to actually hear the fidelity this amp is capable of…you will never be able to actually hear the amplifier, it only passes signal (no coloration’s) so whatever you feed it is what you’re going to hear.”

Monoblock Operations and System Details

The second SE84C Zen amplifier Decware sent me was also pre-wired in the standard stereo mode. Users can reconfigure the units to monoblock operation by following 2 steps clearly outlined in the Owner’s Manual.

The first step entails strapping each SE84C’s left negative speaker output to its right positive speaker output via a single jumper cable. I used my banana-terminated Van den Hul MCD 352 speaker cable for the reconfiguration strapping. The speaker cable then connects to the left positive and right negative terminals.

The second step requires that the left channel output from the preamp be presented to both the left and right inputs of the newly reconfigured left monoblock, and similarly, that the right channel output from the preamp be fed to both the right and left inputs of the newly reconfigured right monoblock. Although the Manual suggested the use of a Y-adapter to facilitate this, I made use of the Audio Note M3 preamplifier’s two pairs of RCA outputs to accomplish the task.

Once put into operation, I found the second SE84C to have roughly 10% lower maximum output than my own unit, necessitating judicious volume matching. Thus, for the duration of this review, I set the new SE84C to maximum output while lowering that of my unit a little. Also, the second speaker binding post polarity arrangement was curiously the reverse of my own unit on the second SE84C.

Since the last Decware Review, the 47 Lab Flatfish/Progression digital system has replaced the CEC TL1 belt-drive transport and Wadia 27 Decoding Computer system as my presiding CD reference, taking the helm with my Sony SCD-777ES SACD player.

Audio Note’s double conductor 99.99% litz copper screened AN-La served early on as the main speaker cable, with its own single conductor 27-strand 99.00% litz silver SPx and Virtual Dynamics’ Nite speaker cable providing additional insights. 2 pairs of Granite Audio #470 silver interconnects performed the connections from the M3 initially, with VD’s Nite interconnects taking turns afterwards.

In order of efficiency, the Klipschorns (104 dB/8 Ohm), Audio Note AN-E SEC Silver (94 dB/8 Ohm), Loth-X BS1 (94 dB/8 Ohm) and Genesis VI (90 dB/6 Ohm) were used to evaluate the Zen monoblocks.

The new SE84C went through a minimum of a 60-hour burn-in period before the audition began.

Audition

The first set of speakers I paired the twin SE84Cs with was the Klipschorns, and I promptly started off with the first classical SACD release from Deutsche Grammophon, Beethoven Symphony No. 9 [DG SACD 471 640-2] and Sony Classical SACDs The Rite of Spring [SS 089062] and Requiem [SS 000707], all at breathtakingly high volumes.

Best Speakers For Decware Zen Mini Torii

This time, I am glad to report that I was not able to reenact my negative experience related to one Zen in stereo operation. Dynamic compression was all but eliminated, and the hellish snare drums from Verdi’s Requiem landed thunderously through the 15-inch bass of the Klipschorns, attesting to the dynamic compatibility of the match. For the record, a half past 9 volume setting on the M3 was already loud enough due to the K-horn’s superior efficiency.

The coupling also possessed microdynamics that helped to preserve the DG SACD’s inherent subtleties in instrument depictions during passages of all magnitudes, diligently reflecting the DSD-processed medium’s finer texturing and delicacy over the Redbook CD edition. Despite a residual violin coarseness typical of DG’s analog masters of the 70’s, the DG SACD offers the first high-resolution presentation of the Ninth that is deeply rooted in the finest classical tradition with interpretation authority and sonic might.

Whitney Houston’s soaring voice in “I will always love you” from the Bodyguard soundtrack [Arista 07882-18699-2] came through with a highly potent mixture of body and dynamic transients. The Decware/Klipschorn system showcased Houston’s incomparably adaptive and elastic vocals with both tender delicacy and festive vibrancy. There was also a meticulous retrieval of dynamics from the vocalization and instrumentation, as the supporting band was heard in contrast to the singer in discernible clarity without the slightest suppression of vocal cues. This song represents pop singing at its best and continues to raise goosebumps after all these years with its rare combination of expertly and spontaneously exercised singing in both subdued and liberated manners, complimented breathtakingly by lyrics of passion and sacrifice.

Best Speakers For Decware Zen Mini Torii 2

Trumpeter Tiger Okoshi’s 20-bit K2 CD Two Sides To Every Story [JVC 2039-2] also validated the twin-SE84C coupled Klipschorn’s dynamic competency with a rendition of the trumpet’s soulful liquidity and incisive spontaneity in “Yesterdays.” Despite a less vivid tonality and simpler texturing when compared to the solid-state 47 Lab Gaincard S, the Zen induced from the Klipschorn a most full-range and believable depiction of trumpets and brass alike.

This time, the SE84Cs were also able to vanquish the Loth-X BS1. With this dual mono configuration, they produced undaunted dynamics at very high volumes in my medium sized room, pushing the minimonitors to impressive, unprecedented sonorities. Because of the lower sensitivity of the Loth-X in contrast to the Klipschorn’s, the M3’s output had to be consistently set at near 11