I love the ZROCK technology and the positive effect that it has on audio playback.

I have owned four ZROCK2 previously, sold one to Will, and had one in each of my three systems until the ZROCK3 arrived. One, in my headphone system, had Jupiter caps and no other mods. Another, in my audio/visual system had all the mods, with Jupiter caps. The third, in my main system, had all the mods, with Miflex caps. (I sold one that I had bought previously to use in the headphone system which had the basic caps and the voltage regulation mod. I sold that when I bought the one in my audio/visual system, with the Jupiter caps and all the mods).

I mention all that to show that I am familiar with the ZROCK function and sound. Have been using them over seven years.

The ZROCK3 arrived over two weeks ago and to my knowledge it has the Cornell Dubilier caps in it that Steve discussed with me in email, and all the mods.

Simply put: this component does not disappoint, it brings all the benefits that the ZROCK2s in any configuration do. And it adds one important function: the EQ effects are independent of the additional gain--each can be adjusted independently.

This is a very useful function for me, as I no longer use a CSP3 (or any other) preamp. Shortly after receiving my SEWE300B I realized that its built in "preamp" section was astonishingly good and the CSP3, which I love, no longer was necessary and in fact was difficult to tailor to be transparent and add benefit. This ZROCK3 with its adjustable gain brought back the function of the CSP3 I most missed--another stage where I can adjust gain.

The caps in this ZROCK3 I believe have settled and bring a great tonal balance, seeming to place themselves in between the warm textures of the Jupiter and the modern clarity of the Miflex, a stance that I find very helpful as the foundation of the system's balance. Or, perhaps and, there seems to be a bit more transparency to the sound that may account for the nature of the sound.

If I increase the gain via the control on the back to as closely as possible mirror the increase in EQ the sound is very similar overall to the ZROCK2 "sound." Which I have enjoyed and employed for all these years. But, with experimentation of adjusting gain and EQ separately, different characteristics can be found and introduced--which have led to in some cases a more dynamic presentation, and in others a wider soundstage, and various blends of each. And now in the third week of use I have experimented with different tube complements and found a really nice one by substituting the driver tubes and rectifier tube that I had been using in the SEWE300B with different tubes. . . a new window into the recordings that I am enjoying currently, and that I am beginning to like as much as that I have been using since last summer.

So I'll definitively state that I really like this component, am glad I waited a year for it (done that, got the t-shirt!) and will state that if you already have a ZROCK2 and love it this is as equally fine an instrument for tuning and tailoring, and even adds another level that you may find very useful.

It would be more convenient on the front, yes, but I think there are "sonic" and circuit layout reasons why it is located on the rear. That said I don't find it hard to reach behind and adjust.

And OMG I am totally not ready for a ZROCK4 to be marketed!

I think you'll be playing with the gain setting . . . at least as the unit settles in and seasons and you get the full picture of what it can do. I find it an amazing component, like its previous incarnation.

I find I keep using just a bit less gain. . . abut 3/4 of what I was using with the ZROCK2's fixed gain structure. Flipping great sound!

Nothing like well seasoned electronics!

I hope the ZROCK3 makes many of my CDs manufactured back in the 80s sound better. Many lack bass & midrange. My system is in a fairly large room with much out of my control being an apartment. I should be driving to Peoria soon to pick it up, it's almost done. I'm lucky it's just a few hours away, I've lost faith in shippers that treat packages like a football, which is pretty much all of them.

Are you still finding that you need access to the rear for adjustments? I've got a place cleared for it on my rack, I'll be able to lean slightly to my left to make adjustments on the back.

This will be my first tubed component.

I'll add that I now love my zrock 3 as well. It has been the hardest burn in I've ever experienced. I was ready to return it at 30 hours. Congested, flat, and just lifeless compared to my well seasoned zrock 2. However, now with over 300 hours it sounds glorious and much better than the zrock 2. More space, dynamics, and overall tone. Both models have full anniversary mods. Very happy with them.