The Decware Zen TORII MK5 - touches down in Belgium!

*Harley will be away on holiday for 10 days, so please bear with us with any delay on replying to comments*

In this video I share my thoughts on Decware the company, the purchasing & logistics process of acquiring the Decware Zen Torii V amplifier and, most importantly, my impressions of it, its functionality and its sound characteristics. Enjoy.

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[ThomasAndStereo]

When I had the Torri MK5, many of my buddies were blown away by it with the Pearl Acoustics Sibelius combo. It is almost as if the amp was made for the Sibelius. I personally prefer it with the Sophia EL34 because it was buttery smooth and very pleasant to listen to. I listened to the Zen UPO the other day, I think that is my favorite low-power tube amp.

[SteveWille]

Harley, I’d like to second everything you said about Decware and Steve Deckert and add that Steve’s generosity extends even to folks like me that bought the most basic Zen Triode amp (which is an absolute treasure). I live just a couple hours drive from Decware, so after a 14 month wait (an early adopter, I guess, in the current scheme of things), I picked it up in person. Steve spent several hours with me in his workshop and listening-room listening to music, chatting and discussing, among other things, possible explanations for late-night holography including a theory involving the earth shielding the sun 🌞… an afternoon I’ll never forget.

[velchuck]

Harley, I can’t believe that I have ever seen you so excited! It’s like seeing a young boy on Christmas morning getting exactly what he ask Santa for. It really made me happy to see you so happy.😀

[stevenichols]

I love how Harley expresses genuine feelings in these videos

[TombstoneTube]

Sarah and Veronica are very polite, great service. I should receive their 300B in 2 weeks!

[donnuyen]

Your recount of the entire experience is spot on. Everything about this company screams soul. If every business owner conducted themselves the way Steve and his crew at Decware does, the world would be vastly different. I waited 2 years for more Torii MKV and I would do it again without question. As soon as I unboxed it and hooked it up, I honestly had no idea what to expect. And when the sound came out and filled the room, there was an immediate emotion that overwhelmed me that I have never felt before. Everything about the interaction was absolutely pleasant. If you think about sounds pretty ridiculous considering you are waiting 2 years for an item. But it was just that, pleasant. No arrogance. Clear communication and tremendous value for my money.

[LeonFleisherFan]

Congratulations, Harley! This is a wonderful review! I have the 25th Anniversary Zen Triode (only 2.3 Watts, but with voltage regulator tubes for each and every audio tube, which makes it truly unique, like a tube amp running on battery power), and absolutely love it! It's not the only great amp I own, let alone have heard, but agree there's something "magical" about it that is hard to put into words: a very direct, emotional connection to the music that's likely due to the simplicity of its circuit (likely the same you showed for the standard Zen Triode). Yes, it won't drive any speaker, and not in any size room, but I'm surprised it'll play louder than "late night" levels without compression, sounding transparent, large-scaled, lively and lifelike. Besides, those standard 6N1P-EV your amp came with are a lovely, warm sounding input/driver tube that's probably impossible to beat in its price category. I've tried maybe two dozen preamp tubes from the ECC88 / E88CC / ECC188 / CCa / PCC88 / 6N5P / 6N23P / 6N6P families, which all sound different, as do different rectifiers like 5U4G / 5C3S / 5AR4 / GZ34 Metal Base / GZ480 - having said all that, while even greater system synergy and possibly sound quality may be achieved rolling tubes, I find Steve's affordable tubes that the amps come with carefully "curated", he sure knows what he's doing. If anything, don't underestimate the fundamental, and often substantial difference rectifiers make.

[snomofilms]

I live near Decware in Illinois. Their listening room is incredible and I visit it often 😎

[SpyderTracks]

I deperately want to experience a decware, the only thing that puts me off is the waitlist, but the sound is exactly what im looking for. Excellent video as always.

[rongreen]

I desperately want one, thank you for explaining it’s attributes so succinctly.

[gordy]

i have had a torii mk v for about a year now. i love it!!! i had to wait for over a year but it was worth it!!!

[rbhis]

I had the pleasure of meeting Steve and his family at Decfest 2022 while I was still waiting for my 25th anniversary amp. Such nice people - I was even more glad I'd ordered it after meeting them. And then when I got the little amp... oh wow. As you say, I intend to keep this one forever.

[TheCharlesAtoz]

Great review not only on the gear but Steve and his company.

[owenoneill]

Great open and honest review, thank you. My company motto when I was in business was,
''I will turn you down before I let you down''. Regarding electricity. I now live in an Eastern European sea side resort where the population goes from 1 thousand to around 40, 000 in the summer months. When all the aircon units kick in it renders my lowly Naim/Spendor system unlistenable at high volume levels. Clipping and distorted. I have seen the voltage here drop as low as 190v.

[greggb]

I have 2 Zen Triodes on order <3 Going to run them as monos and am super excited! Everyone hates the wait time but to me that just makes them even more desirable. As they say, the best things comes to those who wait.

[rapier]

I've seen content on Deckware but only now have appreciated, and am over the moon delighted, by the realization of Zen, in Peoria.

[LJMcG]

Lovely overview of your experience. The Decware clearly reaches you at an emotional level. It just doesn’t get any better in this hobby. Thanks for sharing. I was informed and entertained. The one-two punch!

[hificave]

Amen! The synergy with the Sibelius, was elegant and luxurious.

[robh]

Great review - I like the fact the tubes are given an easy life! - It's easy to be temped by more powerful tube amps, though you find it needs 'X' tube to really sing and before you know it, its costing hundreds a year to keep it afloat!

[jooter]

Fantastic review Harley!!! You have lifted my spirits more than you know. I’m at the very pointy end of the Decware build sheet and eagerly await my Torii Mk5. I had ordered the Ufo2 but after being on the list for two years took the plunge and upgraded. This is my first serious dive into audio world. I have it fully specked minus Xlr balanced inputs. My question would be am I selling myself short on this option? Also what pre amps do you use ? I absolutely adore your Sebelius speakers and they are definitely on the wish list. We are on polar opposite sides of the world and completely different people bought together by you and people like Steve’s pure passion for making to me some of the most desirable and stunning crafted gear in the world. Keep up the glorious work and brilliant videos.

Kristian