Zellaton Stage Klassik Placement Guidelines

MylesBAstor · Sunday at 8:55 AM

abeidrov said:
Sorry, just edited my post. Do you suggest trying a different amplifier or something else?

I know a lot of people don’t see amplifiers as that important. Some are even puzzled by the emphasis on amplifiers in contrast to front-ends. Mind you not that I agree. Both are important.

But I think it’s important to find and match a sonic amplifier’s strengths to the speaker’s sonic strengths. In the case of the Zellatons, it’s important to find that amplifier with good bass, exhibits linearity across the frequency spectrum, is very transparent and most of all is fast. (Not being etched or hyper detailed either.) Yeah, I know that’s a tall order. That way you’ll really exploit and realize the speaker’s electrostatic-like qualities, quietness and settling qualities and neutrality. And they’re there with this quasi-wide bander speaker.

The Zellatons will reveal what’s going on upstream—but without being ruthlessly revealing. So you find you’re listening to more of your music collection than with many other speakers. You know the textbook symptoms. You listen to the same 100 LPs that sound great but others tend to be avoided. Not with the Zellatons.

abeidrov · Sunday at 9:40 AM

MylesBAstor said:
I know a lot of people don’t see amplifiers as that important. Some are even puzzled by the emphasis on amplifiers in contrast to front-ends. Mind you not that I agree. Both are important.

But I think it’s important to find and match a sonic amplifier’s strengths to the speaker’s sonic strengths. In the case of the Zellatons, it’s important to find that amplifier with good bass, exhibits linearity across the frequency spectrum, is very transparent and most of all is fast. (Not being etched or hyper detailed either.) Yeah, I know that’s a tall order. That way you’ll really exploit and realize the speaker’s electrostatic-like qualities, quietness and settling qualities and neutrality. And they’re there with this quasi-wide bander speaker.

The Zellatons will reveal what’s going on upstream—but without being ruthlessly revealing. So you find you’re listening to more of your music collection than with many other speakers. You know the textbook symptoms. You listen to the same 100 LPs that sound great but others tend to be avoided. Not with the Zellatons.

You are certainly right, and there maybe many other amps, which are a better match to Zellatons than Gryphon Mephisto, but what I hear now is so much above everything I heard before, I need some time to adjust to the current level of performance before introducing more changes to the system.

Also, if you know specific amplifier brands I should try first, please, share your experience or PM me if it’s more convinient.

Thanks in advance,
Aziz

vinyl_mike · Sunday at 10:06 AM

MylesBAstor said:
I know a lot of people don’t see amplifiers as that important. Some are even puzzled by the emphasis on amplifiers in contrast to front-ends. Mind you not that I agree. Both are important.

But I think it’s important to find and match a sonic amplifier’s strengths to the speaker’s sonic strengths. In the case of the Zellatons, it’s important to find that amplifier with good bass, exhibits linearity across the frequency spectrum, is very transparent and most of all is fast. (Not being etched or hyper detailed either.) Yeah, I know that’s a tall order. That way you’ll really exploit and realize the speaker’s electrostatic-like qualities, quietness and settling qualities and neutrality. And they’re there with this quasi-wide bander speaker.

The Zellatons will reveal what’s going on upstream—but without being ruthlessly revealing. So you find you’re listening to more of your music collection than with many other speakers. You know the textbook symptoms. You listen to the same 100 LPs that sound great but others tend to be avoided. Not with the Zellatons.

Myles is spot on. My Tenor 350 monoblocs were fantastic with the Wilson Alexandria speakers. They were dynamic, brought a touch of warmth, and they tamed the sometimes “edgy” Wilson tweeter. However, with the Zellatons they sounded slow, thick and somewhat lifeless -- they were just not a good match. Zellatons need something fast, transparent and extended. From my personal experience, Soulution and Stellavox mate well with Zellaton.

abeidrov · Sunday at 11:40 AM

What about CH Presicion? Is it a good match?

microstrip · Sunday at 12:26 PM

abeidrov said:
I’ve just put back my Transparent Reference SC, and I do not hear any degradation in performance, like I did with the Grandinote speakers. Maybe I’m lucky, and the specs difference between Wilsons and Zellaton is not big enough to warrant sending the cable to Transparent for re-adjustment? Any thoughts?

Usually the Transparent Audio cables are tuned for the output feeding them - changing just the speakers does not need any tuning.

AudioLibertarian · Sunday at 2:51 PM

abeidrov said:
What about CH Presicion? Is it a good match?

It will be up to your sonic preferences. I think the Mephisto will provide a crucial (to me that is) fuller mid bass density with these speakers, but then CH might provide other benefits more to your liking. I would try Symphonic Line amps from Germany, at least RG7, or RG4 monoblocks if you can. It also depends what kind of music listener are you, more into audiophile records, or pretty much anything. The designer of Symphonic Line also builds speakers using Gorlich drivers, so they match well, but your Mephito can hold its own in my view.

Audioarts · Sunday at 7:22 PM

Judging from your videos, I’d stay put. I know it’s anathema for audiophiles to actually believe they’re done, but perhaps take your time to adjust to the new speakers before considering new equipment.

I sold and installed your very same Zellaton Stage Klassik speakers to legendary producer Rick Rubin for his home in Malibu, and he used them with a modest Hegel integrated…..

AUDIOARTS NYC ZELLATON STAGE LOUDSPEAKER INSTALLATION FOR LEGENDARY RECORD PRODUCER RICK RUBIN – Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

Rick Rubin’s Zellaton Stage’s – Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

AudioLibertarian · Sunday at 8:37 PM

Audioarts said:
Judging from your videos, I’d stay put. I know it’s anathema for audiophiles to actually believe they’re done, but perhaps take your time to adjust to the new speakers before considering new equipment.

I sold and installed your very same Zellaton Stage Klassik speakers to legendary producer Rick Rubin for his home in Malibu, and he used them with a modest Hegel integrated…..

AUDIOARTS NYC ZELLATON STAGE LOUDSPEAKER INSTALLATION FOR LEGENDARY RECORD PRODUCER RICK RUBIN – Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

Rick Rubin’s Zellaton Stage’s – Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

View attachment 162685 View attachment 162686

He has since sold those Stages I believe, kinda wondered which speakers he'd gotten in place of the Zells. The reason I know is , I was going to purchase that very same pair from his agent, but did not follow thru. I also recall he had the FM Acoustics amp there sometime. Rubin does have great "ear" , love his amazing Red Devils Live album, as well as Cash's late series.

Audioarts · Sunday at 9:06 PM

AudioLibertarian said:
It will be up to your sonic preferences. I think the Mephisto will provide a crucial (to me that is) fuller mid bass density with these speakers, but then CH might provide other benefits more to your liking. I would try Symphonic Line amps from Germany, at least RG7, or RG4 monoblocks if you can. It also depends what kind of music listener are you, more into audiophile records, or pretty much anything. The designer of Symphonic Line also build speakers using Gorlich drivers, so they match well, but your Mephito can hold its own in my view.

Agreed on Symphonic Line and I would even suggest the digital (assuming cd playback is envisioned as a source), as it mates really well with Zellaton. Here’s a top cd player Rolf Gemain provided for my client in NY.

abeidrov · 2025-12-09T09:27:39-0600

Trying to compile a list of amps that I may try with the Stages in the future.
So far I have:
Soulution
Symphonic Line
Conrad Johnson
CH Precision (maybe?)
Anything else that will definitely work?

I put CH in the list as I am on good terms with local CH guys, and can easily arrange for an audition. Also, I’ve already heard CH M1.1 monos in my room with Sashas and compared them with Mephisto. So I know what CH excels at. I do not think CH 1 series is a good match to WA: you need to increase the negative feedback setting to provide better control of the speakers, and it makes the presentation lifeless. But Zellatons are an easier load, so, providing you can keep the feedback setting at 0, it might be a good combination.

AudioLibertarian · 2025-12-09T17:09:53-0600

abeidrov said:
Trying to compile a list of amps that I may try with the Stages in the future.
So far I have:
Soulution
Symphonic Line
Conrad Johnson
CH Precision (maybe?)
Anything else that will definitely work?

I put CH in the list as I am on good terms with local CH guys, and can easily arrange for an audition. Also, I’ve already heard CH M1.1 monos in my room with Sashas and compared them with Mephisto. So I know what CH excels at. I do not think CH 1 series is a good match to WA: you need to increase the negative feedback setting to provide better control of the speakers, and it makes the presentation lifeless. But Zellatons are an easier load, so, providing you can keep the feedback setting at 0, it might be a good combination.

As Gideon has suggested, try to get the full picture of these speaker's strength and weakness (if you find any) for some time, as your current system is quite good, and the Mephisto amp is certainly competitive with any amps listed above. If you have decided to keep these Zells, just enjoy your music for awhile, you may find that there is little to be desired at all....

However, if you feel you must experiment further , in my experience the following amps might sound excellent to you with Zells, and are sufficiently different sounding from Mephisto in your current set up to warrant change:

Jadis monoblocks with EL -34 tubes, Jadis DA 88 with EL 34 tubes,
Ensemble Massimo Fuoco Integrated, or Ensemble Massimo Evivo amplifier (don't be misled by their relatively "small" size, as their sonic performance is as good as any listed here, for speakers like Zell Stages, in a room with dimensions like yours)
Orpheus Labs
Pilium amps (good luck moving these around alone though

)
Analog Domain from Germany
Aries Cerat amps
Mastersound Pff 100 monoblocks from Italy, and even Mastersound Monoblock 845 (only 845!)
AVM 8.3 or monos from Germany
Trilogy monos from UK
Naiu Labs Ella MK3 from Germany (obscure but musically very neutral sounding unit)
Dartzeel amps
You should explore SA Labs, Audio Note UK , or Kondo units using 845 or EL 34 tubes.
JMF 6002, Goldmund, or any FM Acoustics (new or used, if you can afford those of course

)
Viva tubes amps.
The list above should keep you busy for a veeery long time

.

I'm sure you already know that there will be other variables that will effect your system's sound, such as preamps, cables, etc, so this masochistic trip to find the "best" in this hobby of ours might never end.....

abeidrov · 2025-12-10T05:59:31-0600

AudioLibertarian said:
As Gideon has suggested, try to get the full picture of these speaker's strength and weakness (if you find any) for some time, as your current system is quite good, and the Mephisto amp is certainly competitive with any amps listed above. If you have decided to keep these Zells, just enjoy your music for awhile, you may find that there is little to be desired at all....

However, if you feel you must experiment further , in my experience the following amps might sound excellent to you with Zells, and are sufficiently different sounding from Mephisto in your current set up to warrant change:

Jadis monoblocks with EL -34 tubes, Jadis DA 88 with EL 34 tubes,
Ensemble Massimo Fuoco Integrated, or Ensemble Massimo Evivo amplifier (don't be misled by their relatively "small" size, as their sonic performance is as good as any listed here, for speakers like Zell Stages, in a room with dimensions like yours)
Orpheus Labs
Pilium amps (good luck moving these around alone though )
Analog Domain from Germany
Aries Cerat amps
Mastersound Pff 100 monoblocks from Italy, and even Mastersound Monoblock 845 (only 845!)
AVM 8.3 or monos from Germany
Trilogy monos from UK
Naiu Labs Ella MK3 from Germany (obscure but musically very neutral sounding unit)
Dartzeel amps
You should explore SA Labs, Audio Note UK , or Kondo units using 845 or EL 34 tubes.
JMF 6002, Goldmund, or any FM Acoustics (new or used, if you can afford those of course )
Viva tubes amps.
The list above should keep you busy for a veeery long time .

I'm sure you already know that there will be other variables that will effect your system's sound, such as preamps, cables, etc, so this masochistic trip to find the "best" in this hobby of ours might never end.....

No more Aries Cerat for me, I think it lacks the speed needed for Zellatons. Mephisto is a rocket compared to AC. Pleasant sound, but not my cup of tea.

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