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Speakers

Will your amps pair well with my low / high sensitivity speakers?

Linear Tube Audio makes amplifiers that range in power output from 1-watt (yes, you read that correctly) to over 50 watts per channel, which is quite a range.

To help guide you, below is a chart listing all of our amps and our recommendations for speaker sensitivity pairing.

It’s important to note that LTA amplifier owners have found great enjoyment using their amps with a variety of speakers outside of the below ranges. The below are guidelines, not rules.

LTA Amplifier Model

Listening environment + Speaker sensitivity recommendations

Critical Listening

Smaller rooms / lower volumes

MZ2

105db+

97db+

MZ3

105db+

97db+

Z10 Integrated

90db+

88db+

Z10e

90db+

88db+

ZOTL10 Mk II

90db+

88db+

ZOTL Ultralinear

88db+

85db +

ZOTL40 Reference

85db+

80db+

Some of the wide variety of speakers that have been heard to work well with ZOTL amplification: Quad 57s, Maggie Minis, Tekton Design, Fern & Roby, Voxativ, Janszen, Decware, Klipsch, Silverline, Spatial, DeVore, Daedalus, Zu, Ryan, Living Voice, Omega, and many others.

If you have questions about your specific speakers, chances are someone we know has tried them. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions about your specific setup.

Also, don’t forget we have a 14-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Related FAQs

The MZ3 is a 1-watt speaker amp... Will it work with my speakers?

The answer to this question all depends on how sensitive your speakers are, what kind of listening you plan to do, and how big your room is.

In any case, you will need speakers that are highly sensitive. Our speaker sensitivity recommendations for the MZ3 are:

  • Critical listening environments: 105db sensitivity and above

  • Smaller rooms / lower volume levels / non-critical listening: 97db sensitivity and above

Horn-loaded speakers, such as Klipschorns, are really your only option at the 105db level. We know from experience and through many customer testimonials, that the MZ3 and horn-loaded speakers make a wonderful combination.

If you have horn-loaded speakers, you owe it to yourself to audition an MZ3 or one of our other lower-wattage amps, such as the ZOTL10 Mk II power amplifier, Z10 Integrated amplifier, or even the ZOTL Ultralinear amplifier.

If you have questions about your specific speakers, chances are someone we know has tried them. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about your specific setup.

Also, don’t forget we have a 14-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Related Products

microZOTL MZ3 Headphone Amp / Preamp / Integrated Amp

Small and mighty. The highest expression of the patented microZOTL technology as a headphone amplifier, a preamplifier, and integrated amplifier in a desktop-sized package.

microZOTL MZ2 Headphone Amp / Preamp / 1-watt Speaker Amp

The second generation of the product that started LTA, the MZ2 remains the reference introduction to the unique ZOTL circuit.

Z10 Integrated Amplifier

For those who demand the best, but want to keep things simple. The Z10 Integrated amplifier delivers the magic, realism, and 3D soundstage of our patented ZOTL technology, all in one (gorgeous) box.

ZOTL Ultralinear+ Amplifier

The ZOTL Ultralinear+ is the latest amplifier design by David Berning: the first ultralinear amplifier not limited by traditional output transformers.

Related FAQs

Will the ZOTL40 Reference amplifier pair well with my speakers?

The ZOTL40 Reference amplifier outputs 46 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and 51 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

To help guide you in speaker / amp selection, we have developed speaker recommendations for each of our amps. It is important to note that LTA amplifier owners have found great enjoyment using their amps with a variety of speakers outside of the below ranges. The below are guidelines, not rules.

  • Critical listening environments: 85db sensitivity and above

  • Smaller rooms / lower volume levels / non-critical listening: 80db sensitivity and above

If you have questions about your specific speakers, chances are someone we know has tried them. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions about your specific setup.

Some of the wide variety of speakers that have been heard to work well with ZOTL amplification: Quad 57s, Maggie Minis, Tekton Design, Fern & Roby, Voxativ, Janszen, Decware, Klipsch, Silverline, Spatial, DeVore, Daedalus, Zu, Ryan, Living Voice, Omega, and many others.

Also, don’t forget we have a 14-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Need more power? The ZOTL40 Reference amplifier can be used as a monoblocked pair configuration to double the power output of each amp. This is easily done at the flip of a switch on the back of the amp.

Related Products

ZOTL40 Reference+ Amplifier

The latest iteration of LTA's EL34-based amplifier, the ZOTL40 Reference+ amplifier is an end-game component for guaranteed excellence in any environment.

Related FAQs

Will the ZOTL Ultralinear amplifier pair well with my speakers?

The ZOTL Ultralinear amplifier outputs 20 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 22 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

To help guide you in speaker / amp selection, we have developed speaker recommendations for each of our amps. It is important to note that LTA amplifier owners have found great enjoyment using their amps with a variety of speakers outside of the below ranges. The below are guidelines, not rules.

  • Critical listening environments: 88db sensitivity and above

  • Smaller rooms / lower volume levels / non-critical listening: 85db sensitivity and above

If you have questions about your specific speakers, chances are someone we know has tried them. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions about your specific setup.

Some of the wide variety of speakers that have been heard to work well with ZOTL amplification: Quad 57s, Maggie Minis, Tekton Design, Fern & Roby, Voxativ, Janszen, Decware, Klipsch, Silverline, Spatial, DeVore, Daedalus, Zu, Ryan, Living Voice, Omega, and many others.

Also, don’t forget we have a 14-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Need more power? The ZOTL Ultralinear amplifier can be used as a monoblocked pair configuration to double the power output of each amp to 40+ watts. This is easily done at the flip of a switch on the back of the amp.

Note for high-sensitivity speaker owners:

You may have heard that the ZOTL Ultralinear was designed specifically for highly sensitive speakers. This doesn’t mean it won’t work with low sensitivity speakers, just that the unique benefits of the ultralinear topology - namely the high levels of detail and slightly more refined, less forward presentation - will be more noticeable in high sensitivity speakers.

Related Products

ZOTL Ultralinear+ Amplifier

The ZOTL Ultralinear+ is the latest amplifier design by David Berning: the first ultralinear amplifier not limited by traditional output transformers.

Can the Z10 Integrated amplifier drive my speakers?

The Z10 Integrated amplifier generates 13 watts per channel into 4ohms and 12 watts per channel into 8ohms. This may not sound like a lot, but the Z10 Integrated can drive 90db and above speakers in critical listening environments to thundering levels.

With less sensitive speakers, the Z10 Integrated would be best suited to smaller rooms or non-critical listening environments (say, a living room) at lower volumes. Being an integrated amp, we see this usage a lot, and thus have no doubts about recommending it for such environments with almost any speaker.

If you have less sensitive speakers (<88db) and you have a large room and/or like to listen to music extremely loud, you may be happier with one of our other more powerful amps.

Note that the above are recommendations, not rules. LTA amplifier owners have found great enjoyment using their amps with a variety of speakers, including Quad 57s, Maggie Minis, Tekton Design, Fern & Roby, Voxativ, Janszen, Decware, Klipsch, Silverline, Spatial, DeVore, Daedalus, Zu, Ryan, Living Voice, Omega, and many others.

Related Products

Z10 Integrated Amplifier

For those who demand the best, but want to keep things simple. The Z10 Integrated amplifier delivers the magic, realism, and 3D soundstage of our patented ZOTL technology, all in one (gorgeous) box.

Related FAQs