Bride of Zen or Balanced Zen Line Stage?

[Mach_Y]

First off, I am very glad I stumbled across this board in cyberland 🙂 The amount of technical knowledge I have read in some of the posts is astounding...

Anyway, I have decided to build a preamp 🙂 I am undecided on the Bride of Zen or the Balanced Zen Line Stage. Balanced inputs / outputs are not necessary since I do not own any equipment that uses them. That being the case, it would seem the Bride of Zen would suffice. However, if the Zen Line Stage made with the balanced inputs / outputs is a large improvement over the Bride of Zen, then I am tempted to go that route.

Any suggestions on which route to go would be greatly appreciated. Also, any help with choices on parts or help too. This will be my first true DIY from scratch anything, so I'm a little nervous 🙂

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mach_Y]

well, without any input I am going with the Bride of Zen 🙂

 

[cp642]

Try the BOSOZ ( balanced line stage ) highly recomended. You can have two inputs and outputs, balanced and unbalanced. 😉

 

[Mach_Y]

For the increase in cost of parts, is there enough of a difference in sound though?

 

[cp642]

Let's just see it this way, for the slight increase in cost ( i should say 🙂 ) you'll get a balanced to unbalanced converter, unbalanced to balanced converter and of course a pre-amp. The sound????.......fantastic

 

[Mach_Y]

True... but being true to the Zen idea of less is better, none of my equipment is balanced, so I should eliminate those parts. Which would seem to leave me with the BOZ, correct?

 

[cp642]

If you should read the article carefully you can use it unbalanced to unbalanced. Just use a phase of the input and a phase of the output. I have the balanced inputs and outputs in place, in case i decided to go crazy and built myself a 50W SOZ 🙂 have fun with it....and your ears will thank you for it....

 

[cp642]

so I should eliminate those parts. Which would seem to leave me with the BOZ, correct?

You don't .....it's a different circuit all together a BOZ is AC coupled, BOSOZ is DC coupled

 

[Tony D.]

I built both of the Zen linestages and I think the BOSOZ is superior using either single ended or balanced connections.

The difference is worth it in my opinion.


Tony D.

 

[PassFan]

bosoz

If you choose BOSOZ pay close attention to the article as one side of the input circuit must be grounded for unbalanced operation. No big deal but just be aware. I realy enjoy mine.