New Zesto Bia amplifier

[Puma Cat]

The new Zesto Bia amplifier will debut at RMAF.

Looks beautiful. If it sounds as good as the Andros phono stage or the Leto preamp, it should be stunning.

[cmalak]

Stephen...looks very nice. Here's a link to a quick description: Zesto Audio Unveils New Bia 120 Class A Stereo Power Amplifer | Ultra High-End Audio and Home Theater Review

[jdandy]

Stephen.......60 w/p/c of Class A tube amplification has to be sweet. Hopefully we will get some feedback from one of AA's members on how it sounds at RMAF. I find it interesting that each of its left and right channel speaker outputs is independently fused.

[DonBattles]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......60 w/p/c of Class A tube amplification has to be sweet. Hopefully we will get some feedback from one of AA's members on how it sounds at RMAF. I find it interesting that each of its left and right channel speaker outputs is independently fused.

I've not read up on it but with fuses for each channel maybe it's wired like mono blocks?

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......60 w/p/c of Class A tube amplification has to be sweet. Hopefully we will get some feedback from one of AA's members on how it sounds at RMAF. I find it interesting that each of its left and right channel speaker outputs is independently fused.

Dan,
I will be sure to audition it at RMAF and report back.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Dan,
I will be sure to audition it at RMAF and report back.

Stephen.......I was hoping you would do that. I'm thinking a full stack of Zesto Audio equipment, the Bia 120 power amp, the Leto preamp, and the Andros PS1 phonostage preamp will deliver a formidable performance.

[Puma Cat]

Dan, I've been hearing the Andros phonostage for a couple years now, and it's a beautiful sounding phono stage. I'd love to have one, perhaps if my employment situation is more stable a year from now. The Leto preamp also sounds fantastic, the only caveat for me is that it only provides 11 dB of gain, which is not enough for my system (even the 19 dB of the CT-5 is marginal gain).

But it will be good to hear the complete setup, George and his charming wife always put together a simple, straightforward room that sounds lovely and musical.

Clearly others agree: TAD, Zesto, and WyWires | Stereophile.com

[Puma Cat]

Dan,
The Bia is, in fact, a dual mono design located on a single chassis. No doubt explains the two fuses on the back panel.

Interestingly, my very first stereo power amplifier, the Harman-Kardon Citation 12, was also a dual-mono design outputting 60 Wpc. As a side note, this amp was the very first amp that Nelson Pass ever made, assembling the kit amp. I have one that works very nicely after a fair amount of repair, and it sounds remarkably good today. Excellent tight bass, and a very natural presentation.

I just called Jeff Whitlock today, and am going to arrange an in-house demo of the Zesto when I get back from my photo holiday to the Grand Tetons starting tomorrow.

[jdandy]

Stephen.......An in-house demo will be fantastic. That's the way to really get the opportunity to hear a component.

There are six fuses on the rear of the Bia 120, one each for all speaker output terminals. That's what I find unusual. I have seen separate fuses for dual power supplies but this doesn't seem to be the case with this amplifier. It appears to me that the outputs are being protected by the fuses.

[Ritmo]

A beauty! I like Zesto gear. Very nice and musical. Beautifully made. Not outrageously priced.