LECTOR ZOE

Pre owned. In excellent condition. No visible signs of wear. Includes remote control, manual, and original packaging.

The ZOE tube preamplifier is conceived as a design that blends tradition with innovation, engineered to deliver highly refined signal control and exceptional musicality. It employs two dual triodes operating in pure Class A and introduces a parallel/shunt power supply—an uncommon technical choice in the audio world due to its complexity, yet capable of providing virtually zero-ohm energy to the circuit. In this configuration, no active devices are placed in series with the power path: the voltage drop is handled exclusively by high-quality passive components, while an active element connected in parallel draws the current required to maintain a stable output voltage. The result is a completely feedback-free design that avoids the typical limitations of series regulators and their high output impedances, offering sound reproduction free from compression, coloration, or harmonic stiffness.

This architecture, similar in operational nature to a Class A amplifier, demands large transformers and substantial heat-dissipating capability, yet it rewards the listener with uncommon tonal purity. The gain stage, also fully tube-based, uses a pair of military-grade ECC802S valves, valued for their robustness and their ability to deliver current with exceptional stability. Thanks to the SATC circuit, the unit can accommodate a wide range of dual triodes, allowing the user to tailor the sound by selecting their preferred tube type. Maintenance is equally well considered: the large plexiglass top panel can be removed simply by undoing four screws, making tube replacement easy, while a small front window allows a view of the illuminated internal circuitry.

ZOE provides five line inputs, two main outputs, recording outputs, and a dedicated home-theatre bypass that completely circumvents the preamplifier circuitry when the unit is powered off, making integration into complex systems simple. A mute/operate switch, an automatic power-on delay, and remote-controlled volume ensure intuitive and convenient everyday use.

In listening, the design philosophy becomes immediately evident: the shunt power supply reduces its sonic footprint to near zero, revealing only the character of the tubes operating with impeccable linearity. The result is natural, dynamic, and airy sound, capable of reconstructing a stable and detailed three-dimensional soundstage, with a lightness and precision that invite extended sessions. Words can describe it, but ZOE prefers to communicate through music—hearing it is the only way to appreciate its full quality.

Technical specifications:

• Type of unit: tube stereo preamplifier
• Harmonic distortion: THD < 0.1%
• Input sensitivity: minimum 220 mV for 98 dB SNR; maximum 5 V
• Signal-to-noise ratio: –98 dB (A-weighted) IEC268; –80 dB < 220 mV
• Amplification stage tubes: ECC-802S; gain 14 dB
• Frequency response: 15–100 kHz ± 1.5 dB
• Output impedance and level: 250 ohms; minimum 2 V RMS
• Line inputs: 5 stereo
• Recording outputs: 2 Rec Out; 1 passive-volume output
• Main outputs: 2
• Selectable mains voltage: 100/110/230/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 50 VA
• Dimensions (W × D × H): 400 × 300 × 105 mm
• Net weight: 7 kg