Vist us at our next show
T.H.E. Show Newport Beach June 1st - 3rd 2012 room #524
Show Partners: WyWires,TAD, Merrill Williams Audio, Tri-Planar
also showing in room #1011 One World Audio, #529 George Warren Precision Sound & #417 Fritz Speakers
Reviewed by Paul Seydor - The Absolute Sound - April 2012
"Its sound is unbelievably smooth and velvety; harmonically rich, full, and vividly textured; marvelously rounded, tactile, and dimensional, with great body and solidity; and completely natural in its musicality and freedom from any of the usual sonic hype, audiophile style." Read entire review
2012 Buyers Guide to Vinyl Playback - The Absolute Sound
Read entire review scroll to page 80 and 103 for editors top picks.
Reviewed by Ray Seda - Dagogo - March 2012
"The sweetness and delicate nature of the Zesto Andros PS1’s delivery in the midrange and highs are almost counter-intuitive to its ability to also very competently amplify and deliver the sheer, explosive low frequency energy and dynamics that the record playback system sends to it." Read entire review
Posted by: Robert Harley in the avguide, January 18th, 2012
Jonathan Valin later in this report describes having a rare “epiphany” in certain rooms, in which the system so totally disappears that the music seems to just exist independently of the hardware. I heard this in the Perfect8 Technologies/BAlabo room along with Jonathan, but also experienced it in the Zesto Audio room at T.H.E. Show at The Flamingo. The Zesto system included the company’s Andros PS1 phonostage, Avid Volvere turntable, Origin Live tonearm, Dynavector XV-1S cartridge, Lindemann electronics, and TAD Compact Reference loudspeakers, all connected by WyWires cabling with Acoustic Field room treatments. The system, put together by Zesto, Lindemann, and retailer Audio Revelation, was absolutely jaw-dropping in its presence and realism.
Robert Harley's Best of Show
Best Sound (cost no object)
The new Hansen E series (Emperor and Prince), TAD/Zesto/Lindemann, Wisdom LS4, Magico Q7 with MIT cable, Venture Ultimate Reference, Perfect8 The Point Mk. 2 driven by the incomparable BAlabo electronics, and Talon Phoenix driven by VAC all produced great sound, but if forced to choose just one system that was “the best of show” it would be the stunning MBL 101 X-treme. Read entire review
Reviewed by Michael Peshkin - StereoMojo - Jan 2012
"If you have a significant investment in vinyl and an analog front end that merits the best of the best phono preamps, you should by all means audition the Zesto Andros. At its price, its performance competes with much more expensive units. In appearance and sexiness, there’s nothing that comes close." Read entire review
Reviewed by Dr. John Richardson - StereoMojo - Jan 2012
"It’s physically beautiful, adaptable to many different cartridges by merely accessing the switches on the back panel, and most importantly, it will do real sonic justice to your valuable vinyl collection." Read entire review
Reviewed by John Fritz - StereoMojo - Jan 2012
"Owning a phonostage with state-of-the-art sonics? Wonderful! Owning one with balanced circuits and infinite adjustability? Outstanding! Having those adjustments not be tiny, cheap dip switches but high quality knobs and switches on the BACK so you don't have to open the case to make adjustments in real time? Amazing! Having it look like it belongs in a Museum of Modern Art? Unbelievable!" Read entire review
Robert H. Levi - Positive-Feedback Online - November 2011
"As a brand-new company whose first product is a made-in-America phono stage, Zesto has introduced a break-out product and brought to market a winner! Their Andros tube phono stage sports tons of flexibility with bold musicality at an unheard of price point for this level of performance. I am shocked by what they have managed to include for the audiophile under $4000! Plus, the Andros is a world beater in quietude, a wonderful attribute for a phono section. I wish more designers paid attention to this when they design phono stages, particularly tube designers.
I think that you will love the sense of reality the Andros delivers; in addition, the flexibility of its controls, all placed externally for a change, are similar to units costing $10,000. Soundstaging is extraordinary, too. The Andros both over-delivers and under-prices the competition. If you need a phono stage, I wouldn't wait for the price to go up on this beauty. It begs the question, why spend more than the cost of the Zesto Andros PS1? The Andros receives my highest recommendation and top-choice rating for a phono stage anywhere near this price!" Read entire review
The Zesto Audio Andros PS1 Phono Stage
By John Atkinson • Posted: Oct 20, 2011
Zesto Audio was a name new to me, but their versatile Andros PS1 tubed MM/MC phono stage ($3900) was getting great sound from Billie Holiday's "Day In, Day Out," played on a Thorens TD309 player ($1900) fitted with a Dynavector DV-20X2L cartridge ($850). The rest of the system comprised a ModWright LS 100 tube preamp ($3495) and ModWright KWA 150 solid-state amplifier driving Fritz Carbon 7, Rev.5 speakers ($1795–$1950/pair), wired with WyWires.
by James L. Darby - Publisher - StereoMojo
Great turntables need great Phono Preamps and this new entry from Zesto
looks and sounds like it could be a real winner. We certainly can't think of a more beautiful looking phono pre.
THE ANDROS PS1
As impressive as it looks from the front, when we turned it around and saw the stunning rear panel
and its comprehensive, easily accessible controls, we were mightily impressed.
Key Features
The Circuit is specifically designed to provide sufficient amplification to match your cartridge with the rest of your system.
Each unit is hand built "Made in the USA".
50 hour factory burn in on all circuits and vacuum tubes.
A low Noise level of -75dBu allows the quietest passages of you music to be heard.
The output circuit is designed to drive your cables and isolates the output from the influence of the next stage.
RCA connectors are high quality, Gold plated, recessed with an isolated ground.
Isolated ground RCA connectors plus the Ground On/Off switch will allow you to choose the best ground configuration.
Recessed RCA connectors are durable and will hold up to the typical Audiophile who loves to change their configuration.
All switches and knobs are easily accessible, nothing hidden inside to adjust.
8 position adjustable MC load switch from 20 to 1000 Ohms
Accommodates both high and low MC output cartridges
Elegantly designed 16 gauge steel enclosure to help isolate the electronic “chatter” from nearby equipment.
Award winning Isonode anti-vibration feet
On/Off power switch conveniently mounted on front side panel
Easy to read large type on back panel
Price is an impressive $3,900.
Again, we have been chosen to do the world's first review of this new product. It is actually on its way to us right now
Report By Clarke Robinson
Zesto room was rated #2 of the top 5 rooms at The Cal Audio Show
Four friends, each the owner of a small (one person, in most cases) audio company, all showing together to split the cost of the room. The result? One of the most nicely balanced rooms of the show.
It all stared with a Thorens TD 309 turntable going in to the Zesto Audio Andros PS1 Vacuum Tube Phonostage Preamp ($3900), one of the most full-featured phono preamps I've ever seen. Then on to the ModWright LS 100 tube preamplifier ($3495) and KWA 100SE power amplifier ($3995), and all held together with WyWires cables, custom designed with special attention low capacitance and high bandwidth (ranging in price from $849 to $1299). Finally, Fritz Loudspeakers Carbon 7s ($1750) brought Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Steely Dan out in to the room in a way that made listening irresistible. Somehow a pair of Carbon 7s followed me home from the show...watch for a full review soon.
Smooth highs, enchanting midrange, and bass that, while it didn't flap my pant legs, wasn't missing, either. All in all, a well sorted audio system that made listening a joy.
Read entire article
Easy on the Eyes and Ears: Fritz Speakers, ModWright, Zesto, Thorens, WyWires
The attractive Fritz Speakers Carbon 7 ($1750/pair) were matched with ModWright KWA 100SE power amplifier ($3995), ModWright LS 100 tube preamplifier ($3495), Esoteric SA60 universal disc player ($4995), Zesto Audio Andros PS1 MM/MC phono stage ($3900), and Thorens TD 309 turntable ($1900). WyWires provided the speaker cables ($1299), interconnects ($849-$1299), and power cords ($329). Room treatment was by GIK Acoustics and ASC. Steve Blinn Designs contributed the equipment rack ($1899). Billie Holiday’s
Songs for Distingué Lovers (priceless) provided the mood.
The two-way, reflex-loaded Fritz Carbon 7 has a claimed 87dB sensitivity and 8 ohm nominal impedance. They use a 7” carbon-graphite-fiber/paper-pulp composite cone and a 1.1” soft-dome tweeter. The Zesto Andros phono preamp has a distinct 16-guage steel enclosure and uses four ECC83S vacuum tubes. All WyWires cables are customized to your system and made in the US.
The sound here seemed well-balanced and tonally correct from top to bottom with a fine sense of rhythm and pace. Very easy on the eyes and ears, just the way I like it.
Alive and Kicking: Report from T.H.E. Show Newport Beach
Robert Harley
"A more straightforward approach to vinyl playback was embodied in the Andros PS1 tubed phonostage from newcomer Zesto Audio. The PS1 offers separate mm and mc inputs, up to 60dB of gain, and a wide range of cartridge loading via rear-panel trimmers and balanced inputs. I’m surprised that more phonostages don’t offer balanced inputs considering that a phono cartridge’s output is inherently balanced. The hand-built Andros PS1 is available through dealers or factory direct for $3900"
Zesto Audio founder and designer George Counnas
shows off the tubed Andros phonostage.
Robert Harley, Editor-in-Chief for The Absolute Sound (left)
with George Counnas, President Zesto Audio
Bob Levi (left), President of the LAOC Audio Society. George Counnas (center) and Mel Jay (right), VP of the LAOC Audio Society
