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Parasound Ztuner, Part 4

162.205.183.92

Posted on June 13, 2020 at 08:48:15
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 7291
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
In 1996, San Francisco's KYLD, then on 107.7, provided major competition for KMEL. KYLD played more Eurodance, Freestyle, and Hi-NRG. Moreover, KYLD seemed to promote a more local touch. Commonly, KYLD would broadcast live from shopping malls, clubs, record stores, and parking lots. From these events, Buffy's "Give Me A Reason" became popular.



At home, I had the Parasound T/DQ-1600 tuner. Unlike "classic" tuners, the T/DQ-1600 was on the lean side. Not bloating the images, it was more transparent and open, with "blacker" backgrounds. This sonic personality was a very good fit, for our beloved dance music. You wished that more audio products, if they had to err, would lean towards this side.



Back then, my main sport was bowling. At Classic, Japantown, King, and Sea Bowls, we loved grooving and bopping and singing to "Give Me A Reason." Then you'd go around, and wish that your car stereo were as open and celestial, as the Parasound T/DQ-1600.

I held that T/DQ-1600 for at least a couple years, but I have no idea what happened to it, where it went, or who took it. But now that it was gone, I missed that T/DQ-1600. Parasound's half-width Ztuner sports a stiffer, more "professional" innate sound. As such, it does not possess the "magic" of either a warm "classic" tuner, or the night sky of the T/DQ-1600.



Uh oh. The printed spec for the Ztuner's fuse is small, slow-blow 500mA (or 0.5A). However, this unit came with a 250mA (or 0.25A) fuse.



In summer 1997, KYLD switched to 94.9, where is still resides. In the mid-to-late 1990s, we audiophiles were still arguing about, for example, after-market powercords. If we had been told about after-market fuses, we would have had a cow. Had audiophile fuses been available then, maybe we could have tilted the T/DQ-1600 further to our liking.



In a way, you wish it weren't true. However, the Ztuner is affected by your choice of fuse. We do have some in the small, slow-blow, 500mA value. So let's get cracking.



With the Audio Magic Premier Beeswax, the Ztuner's instrumental textures become more naturally organic, and the images become more full-sized. Overall, the music is like biting into solid but soft foods. However, while the images are larger, the soundstage's dimensions did not expand, especially at the top (height-wise). Thus, the sound is crowded. You yearn for more precision, space, and breathing room.

The Hi-fi Tuning Gold brings about better imaging, nice rounded transients, and lower levels of fatigue. If you are going to use the Ztuner to provide all-day background music, such as in commercial or retail properties, this is a good choice. But if you are a solo audiophile listening from the sweet spot, this sonic personality may cause you to lose concentration and attention. "Give Me A Reason" or other music, you wish the sound were punchier.

In some ways, this is the best we've ever seen the Synergistic Research Quantum Red. Broadcasts are cleaner, with emphasis on the music (versus the space). This could be a good match for food courts and casual restaurants (at least before COVID-19). However, "Give Me A Reason" is not as incisive as it should be.



So we saved the best for last, the long-discontinued Hi-fi Tuning Silverstar. As it does in all other gear we have tried, the Silverstar tightens and focuses the imaging. It allows the Ztuner to be as resolving as it can. You may not have known that some radio stations had this much tightness, control, and direction of bass waves. As you switch from station to station, you come to realize that they do not all sound the same. Now you more easily see which stations apply too much compression, have a tiny monophonic soundscape, suck out ambiance, and allow energy and rhythm to droop and lag.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

 

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