Zen Turns Twenty

[Michael Rothacher]

Twenty years ago this month, the big guy gave us the amp that launched a thousand DIYers.

The Zen amp brought the minimalism of the SET movement to the solid-state crowd all in a nice, easy-to-build (and understand), low-voltage project. Hundreds and hundreds of copies have been built, along with many more hundreds of variations. Zen let us "think different", have a little fun, and brought countless hours of listening enjoyment and education.

Happy anniversary, Zen! And many, many thanks, Nelson. Will there be cake?

🙂

 

[drjbf1]

Yes, many, many, many, many, many thanks Nelson!

 

[Zen Mod]

😉

to some , Zen brought peace of mind ...... way of escape from fifilystic approach to music

I stumbled later to Zens , prior having same experience with toobz and iron ..... but then I had all fun of the world with Papa's 3 and 7-legged fuses

he really thought me that gadgets are really of secondary importance ......

 

[Soundhappy]

Happy anniversary, Zen! And many, many thanks, Nelson. Will there be cake?

🙂

Thanks Mr Pass Vive Le Papa !!!
20 Years of ZEN Class A Topology
😀😛😀 😎 😀😛😀😀😀

 

[jdg123]

for those of us who missed the boat...

I am coming at this from the far side having just built a Bride of Zen preamp and never having built any of its potential mates. Does anybody out there want to sum up the whole Zen cycle so I might find an entry point? My Bride is lonely, I guess...

 

[vdi_nenna]

Here's a good starting point: https://www.passdiy.com/project/amplifiers

or

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass...published-amplifier-circuits-nelson-pass.html


The Zen Amp was in my first issue of Audio Amateur. What a way to go!

Cheers!

Vince

 

[Zen Mod]

MR

hope you don't mind :

Zen Turns Twenty . Papa’s gift to Greedy Boyz | Zen Mod Blog

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

 

[jdg123]

Looking for opinions based on hindsight

Thanks Vince.

I found this helpful too: http://www.sounds.wa.com/reference/guide_draft.pdf

But what I am looking for is a point of entry that is defined by what works out best with 20 years of hindsight.

I know for sure that amps need to be matched to the right speaker too and no one has that data in total. I'm just looking for a direction things progressed to. It seems to my dizzy mind that the Aleph J is the ultimate progeny of the First Watt exploration. I'm just looking for opinions 😀

 

[Dennis Hui]

I still have my mostly-finished original Zen (no top plate since I ran out of
metal --- really need to fix that). I still use it from time to time.

Thank you Mr. Pass!

Dennis

 

[Michael Rothacher]

Thanks, ZM. That cover is burned into my memory!

🙂

 

[Zen Mod]

😉

 

[AudioLapDance]

Simple opamp headphone amps and the Zen was my intro to DIY audio!

I think the Zen was the 'knock on the door' for many and the impetus for lots of websites like diyaudio.

Cheers Nelson , thanks for 20 years of DIY!

 

[moe29]

A little dusty, but still works. Thought i'd just post a couple of pics in honor 🙂

 

[Soundhappy]

*****Let's go *****20 Years of Zen Amp ***** Party is Open***** Happy Birthday *****

 

[bogdan_borko]

20? Time for a wife! 🙂

 

[audio101fan]

Wow! Cheers to more than two decades in enhancing our lives with their invention! 🙂

 

[Nag]

Dear Team,
As per Mr. Nelson Zen is an excellent amplifier.
Which zen version require less transformer power requirements. for 10watt output.
Thanks,
Nag.

 

[Zen Mod]

old notes , evidently not complete ones :

F1 100W diss/ch 10W/8E/ch

F2 75W diss/ch 5W/8E/ch (10W/4E/ch)

F3 100W diss/ch 15W/8E/ch

F4 80W diss/ch 25W/8E/ch (buffer)

F5 60W diss/ch 25W/8E/ch

just go to firts watt / articles , download all pdfs , make same list for all Zen amps and you'll have it

 

[6L6]

Remember the Amp Camp Amp (ACA) is also a Zen.

 

[Blues]

13 years ago I made mine using a nail and a hammer!