More people using these amps over here too
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/atma-sphere-class-d-mono-blocks.34493/
Atma-Sphere Class D… Amazing
Today I picked up my Atma-Sphere Class D Amps. These aren’t broken in yet. And they are simply amazing. I’ve listen to a lot of High End Class D. Some that cost many times what Atma-Sphere Class D costs. I wasn’t a fan of any of them. But these amps are amazing. I really expected to hate them. So my expectations were low. The Details are of what I’ve never heard from any other amps. They are extremely neutral. To say the realism is is extremely good is a gross understatement. They are so transparent it’s scary. These amps just grab you and suck you into the music. After I live with them some and get them broken in. And do some comparisons to some other high end Amps Solid State, Tubes and Class D’s, also in other systems I’ll do a more comprehensive review. But for now, these are simply amazing amps.. Congrats to Ralph and his team. You guys nailed on these.
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@milpai That probably depends on the tube preamp. I don't leave any of my equipment on all the time, except my DAC. |
I do the same @mrdecibel for the same reasons. |
No way would I ever leave my kit on if I am not listening. A Black Swan risk, one which is very irresponsible to do. |
@pstores Have you had time to compare the Class D monos to your MA-1s or other amps?
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@avanti1960 Just go to Atma-Sphere.com and click on dealers, pick one close to you and call them or see if they have ordering on their website. |
@celander what are the limitations in the modules? |
It seems to me that designers who build Class D amps from scratch with their own discrete circuits are the players to watch and buy from. Ralph of Atma-Sphere, AGD, and others fall into this category. Those using off the shelf class D modules are limiting their designs to the shortcomings of those modules. |
@snapsc , I'll try to upload a shot in the next couple of days. But, to be honest, it looks pretty much like any other black faceplated piece of equipment. My question: Why do you need pics? Bob |
@mapman We're hoping to have it there in the Classic Audio Loudspeakers room. I won't be there. |
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Mine arrived today. FedEx signed my name for them so I knew they would be on my porch. Hurried home and I was correct, They were on my porch.
Changed out Atma-Sphere M-60's for Atma-Sphere class D. Listened for 5 minutes and left. Seem extended on both ends. A little conjested on vocals. Best class d I have heard. We shall see if any warts appear. Bricasti M1 feeding MP3.
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Well, Ralph has outdone himself and shipped my new Atma Class D amps (with black face plates) sooner than thought. As I am in the middle of putting all my gardens to bed and hopefully overwintering the non hardy material, I have to put their installation on the back burner for a little while. The amps are a bit more compact than comparable Class A, A/B amps, but are quite heavy, -Something I was not expecting, as many Class D amps seem to be quite smaller than these. But, I haven't had any experience with other Class D amps and have relied upon only visual depictions. Once I get them 'run in', I hope to visit my dealer, John Rutan, and schedule a time to demo them, and compare them with other amplifiers.-Of course, if Johnny is willing. I really want to do this as I have heard so much about Class D, and know Ralph is a great designer who would only release a product if he felt it to be of deserved quality. Who knows, maybe my MA-1's will be for sale, soon. Bob Bob |
Power cords affect audio equipment due to voltage drops occurring at 60Hz but also at much higher frequencies. The more feedback you have in an amplifier the greater its ability to reject anything that isn't the signal, such as noise, As a result, the class D is relatively unaffected by power cords at low power levels. But as the power is increased the power cord would be more important. It will not affect the amp nearly so much as power cords affect our tube amps! |
@ johnh Thank you for your fantastic post. Surely this type of post with so much personal experience with a good number of the most relevant currently produced amps is literally the definition of advice that "money can't buy." No pro review I've ever read (that I can think of) has so much valuable info for direct comparison. Amir @ Audio Science Review has good test gear and has tested the Purifi. Purifi tests at the very highest level as does an amp I referred to and owned. Oh, if we could only read test results and make purchases based solely on these tests! But we can't because I owned one of those amps and Ralph's class D is at least 1.5 to 2 clear steps up the food chain in audio performance. (Maybe Ralph's class D would test similarly but I won't be surprised if it does not.) I recently had here a superb $40k DAC and pair of class A $60k/pr mono blocks. I know the designer, who told me personally that he could improve the DAC's static test specs but would not because it would degrade its audio and musical performance. |
What exactly and specifically is the parts cost? Did the deleted post contain an exact and specific accounting of the parts cost? What date was that accounting performed? Is the poster familiar with parts cost inflation in the past year? If the post lacks the # requested above, I submit to readers a potential the poster conveniently ignored for the deletion: there was no factual basis for the opinion expressed as a fact. Even if the # was posted: what is the exact and specific threshold for ratio of parts cost to SRP beyond which a product is deemed "failure?" Readers need to know this ratio to confirm the poster is being consistent and not being derogatory for some hidden agenda. Also, does every single audio item the poster own meet his own criteria? The omission of all this data surely justifies the deletion, a personal attack on the product masquerading as an innocent opinion. Lastly, to imply that any product’s SRP is justified solely by passing the value test described herein is simply wrong. To be polite I won’t say such test is naive, but I can imagine some thinking that. |
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OP typed:
Holy smoke people! Let that sink in. That Pass amp is a current, state-of-the art true class A power amp designed by one of a handful of the most revered and respected SS power amp designers who ever lived. SRP is similar but cost of ownership is not: while idling the XA space heater burns wall current at the rate of about 270W; think of 2.7 100W incandescent light bulbs. I presume Ralph's Cass D burns about 10W if that much. |
@juanmanuelfangioii Easy there sport. No need to go on an ASR attack.
I am a not Donor, much less a super donor.
This thread about Atmasphere amps, and Ralph would likely be the best person to opine on the power cord with his amps. If I was not seriously considering these atmasphere amps I would probably not be as interested in hearing Ralph’s comments.
^This^ is like me asking questions on how a power cord can work, and people say “Try it and see,” or “one has to experience it”… How can you comment on the Herpes with having it? But what if Ralph said, these cords work, or measure better, on my amps?
Maybe we should ask @atmasphere ? And avoid descending into extension cords, which have nothing to do the power cords on these amps... |
@holmz go back to ASR where you wear the badge of honor as a super donor. With you extension cord cables. You guys are like herpes just wont go away. And no I do not have personal experience.
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It sounds like the cables are better than the amps?🤣 |
In comes the Voyger…..sure @kuribo will tear that thing to shreds. |
My reply today is for anyone who may not be totally impressed with Ralph's GaN amps. I don't have them, but I do own a GaN amp (MSRP $3000) for about a year. I have been powering it with a Chinese counterfeit Odin 2 PC and connected from my dac/pre with a Odin 2 XLR. My transport is a Audiolab 6000 (IMO, it is a much better trans than some say, and likely because of their cable choices) with a fake Odin Gold PC. For a couple months I have been thinking about switching them, which I finally did last night. WOW! Today I am ordering another Odin Gold hth |
First of all I want back the more than 90 minutes of my life I spent reading this thread. And I blame @kuribo for his stalwart refusal to accept that Ralph might have a different design priorities, marketing strategy, and business plan then what he believes to be the correct way all companies should act for his benefit. Also I’d like to give @atmasphere a medal for being so long suffering, patient and informative. Also, @kuribo please don’t read my post because I’m afraid it will probably contain things evil, venal and subjective that would definitely not be worth your time :) I actually slogged through this because I have some decent experience with the products in question and wanted to see the background before I posted. I’ve had in my system probably close to a dozen digital amps, going back 20 years to Spectron, Ice Power Amps, Hypex Module Amps etc.. I’ve also many owned super high end solid state and tube amps. Until I heard the VTV I was never completely happy with the Class D amps, for many of the reason people say: grey/cloudy, flat lacking transparency, and just a boring presentation. I’ve owned a VTV Purifi stereo amp with the SparkOS input buffer for almost 2 years. I also had the Orchard Audio Starkrimson GaN stereo amp for a month evaluation and I’ve had my Atma-Sphere Class Ds now for almost 3 months. The AS Class D significantly betters any digital amp I’ve heard in my system. I really love the VTV amp. For the price (now about $1,400) it is pretty much without peer! The Starkrimson ($2500) was so similar to the VTV in sound if I wasn’t listening carefully I’d not be able to tell them apart. On careful listening though, I felt the Orchard sounded a bit recessed and did not have as much macro slam and dynamics as the VTV. Imaging was further behind the speakers with the Strarkrimson, and things like horns as stuff did not have as much dimensionality. The Orchard has a bit more overall bass energy, but did not have the taughtness/ fastness of the VTV. I am making these differences sound much bigger than they were. These differences though are more to do with what my taste is than big differences in quality. I tend to like more vibrant dynamic presentations. I think the Orchard would probably be an excellent match to a big ballsy sounding rock and roll speaker like some Klipsh etc. The Orchard was just a bit more polite and reticent. Both amps were dead silent, incredibly dynamic and without grain or brightness. And the bass is awesome. They do vocals amazingly well. They have wonderful tone on acoustic instruments, especially with things like woodwinds and brass (the Orchard did those things just a touch better than the VTV). They have a palpable reach out and touch quality to the music that is addictive. Highs are airy and extended. They don’t sound harsh or have any fine grain, or greyness/whiteness, flatness or sound boring. While I wouldn’t say they sound like tubes, there is a clarity to the midrange that reminds me of them. For a $1,400 amp, the VTV Purifi will make many many people happy. The Atma-Sphere Class D amps are in another realm altogether though. Take everything I said about the above two amps and add the following. They are quieter and bring out more detail. The blackness between notes etc is replaced by more acoustic information than I’ve heard on my favorite recordings. They are significantly more transparent which reveals more music information and fine touches. On the music I know best, I've discovered new instruments/backup singers in the background. They are incredibly even handed and neutral in a way that puts the focus on the music (they are not sterile). The bass (which took many hours of break in to fully mature) is simply incredible, I am hearing more in the 25hz to 35hz range than I’ve ever heard from my speakers. The speed of attack is so instantaneous and fast it adds to the feeling of transparency. the tonality of instruments is also excellent as well. The soundstage goes further back and is very defined. Even my TV streaming source sounds more detailed with more depth. Dynamics are increased. Movies really pound and soar with the right soundtrack. I’ve heard some Atma-Sphere setups over the years, and by my recollection, there is a bit of similarity of sound. Mainly that transparency and even-handedness reminds me of past experiences with Ralphs amps. I would say that for my musical and audio values, the Atma-Sphere’s sound twice as good as the VTV :) So I think they are a VERY good value.
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@sngreen you mean dealers? |
Your first statement above isn't correct. Amplifier designers do not limit their designs on account of a limitation in loudspeakers- everyone I know in the business, whether tube or solid state, is trying to wring the most performance out of their product that they can. Amps aren't perfect for their own reasons, for example no-one is going to ever get rid of distortion no matter the speaker. IME/IMO when you try to work synergies in your system you wind up with more distortion. For example bright amplifiers are often so due to unmasked higher ordered harmonics; they might get paired with dull speakers in an attempt to be tonally neutral. Since the brightness comes from distortion rather than a frequency response error the result is often less than stellar- there will be some musical cuts that will bring out the weakness in this approach sooner or later! Better that each bit in the system stand on its merits rather than its weaknesses.
FWIW our pricing tends to be less expensive than our competition because we price to a formula rather than what the market will bear. You really have to just actually price everything out. Don't forget to include labor (and all that comes with that); all the work including the board assemblies is done by hand. You can see from the splash page on our website what that is about. A class D amp is a very different thing from a tube amplifier but once you understand the differences (for example, surface mount components) you can see that craftsmanship is still a thing.
The gain of the class D and the input impedance (100K balanced or single-ended) are both easy for any preamp made. |
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@ddafoe in my system I found the Atma-Sphere Class D was slightly better than the Pass XA30.8. I am hoping soon to put the XA 60.8’s in my system soon. And will be trying them a friends system with the XA60.8’s. But that’s my system and a few of us opinions. We had shared to the Atma-Sphere was slightly better all the way around. Was the your perspective in your system? |