Zesto Leto Ultra II line preamplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi R turntable & Kuzma 4Point 11" tonearm; EMT TSD15 N MC phono cartridge.
Digital sources: Asus laptop, Denafrips Ares II DAC.
Preamplification: Shindo Allegro.
Power amplifiers: Mytek Brooklyn AMP+, Shindo Haut-Brion.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity O/93.
Cables: Interconnect: Shindo Laboratory, Triode Wire Labs Spirit II, Furutech GT2 Pro USB cable. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: Triode Wire Labs Obsession NCF power cord, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Kuzma Plastis 65 isolation platform, IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Salamander five-tier rack; IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under preamp, turntable, power amps); mahogany blocks (2" × 2" × 0.5") under boards; 3"-thick studio-treatment foam damping (ceiling, walls).
Listening room: 12' L × 10' W × 12' H, system set up along long wall; suspended wood floor, 6"-thick walls (plaster over 2×4), wood-beamed ceiling.—Ken Micallef

COMPANY INFO
Zesto Audio
3138 Calle Estepa
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 807-1841
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
mememe2's picture

The preamp costs 11K US. "A small, nine-button plastic remote handles input, volume, "Presence," mute, mono, and gain." Why do so many costly upscale bits of hi end equipment come with cheap remotes? Is this one even backlit? It always reflects negatively on the perceived value of a component. You don't get faux leather seats in an upscale Honda.

Ortofan's picture

... line-level preamp in perspective is to consider that, for essentially the same price, one could buy both the Luxman CL-38uC preamp and the matching MQ-88uC power amp or the McIntosh C22 preamp and the MC275 power amp.
Both preamps include phono stages that can accommodate MM and MC cartridges.
KM should do a review of either one or both combos in comparison to his Shindo set-up.

https://luxmanamerica.com/product/cl-38uc/
https://luxmanamerica.com/product/mq-88uc/

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/C22-Mk-V
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/amplifiers/MC275B

mosfet50's picture

I don't get it. I have been buying and using very sophisticated electronic equipment for decades and I never once had a manufacturer say you have to run it 200 hours before it works right. Not only does this equipment cost more than a lot of audio equipment but it goes down to levels well below human hearing.
This is why I want DBT. I want someone to prove that they can hear the difference in two pieces of audio equipment (except speakers) comparing out of the box to run 100 hours. I want people to prove they can hear the difference in cables in a DBT too. So far no one has been able to.

windansea's picture

I like the subjective opinions, but it should be backed up with some DBT. Trust but verify. If the $10K pre can't be distinguished from the $1K pre, from a pro reviewer with golden ears, then why spend the money?

X