A friend of mine recently purchased an MP-3 to match with with MA-1 amps, and he says the combination is astoundingly good. I don't think he'd mind my quoting from his email to me, in which he said: "The combination of the ..., the Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp, and the Atma-Sphere MA-1 MkII amps offers a degree of clarity and focus, neutrality, transparency, speed, resolution of detail, imaging, and dynamic range hitherto unknown to me. At the risk of lapsing into audiophile-review-speak, the delicacy of textures and timbres and overtones, the harmonic richness, is a wonder to behold." |
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I own Atma-sphere MA1 amps (12-tube w/upgrades)--fantastic sounding amps (purchased on A-gon). Merlin VSM MM are my speakers of choice (an outstanding bargain!) and listen only to vinyl (Hagerman Trumpet phono pre--another great sounding piece).
I have used several lower cost preamps but am currently using the AES DJH Super Preamp (a Cary product). With NOS tubes this thing sounds terrific. Yes, I'd like a MP3 or especially a MP1, but that requires a little more cash that I can swing at this time. Maybe when my kids get out of college they will buy their old man a MP1!
The DJH is sometimes offered on A-gon or you can call Kevin at Upscale Audio (I purchased mine there).
Feel free to email me at jsturg@epowerc.net for more info.
Jim |
I use them with a Klyne 7 Line Stage. Excellent match. |
I am using the M-60 Mk2.2's (recently upgraded) and would recommend going with an MP-3 preamp. Also use balanced interconnects between the two.
As for speakers, there is someone on Agon advertising a pair of Peak Consult InCognitos. I am also using these speakers, and can tell you that the synergy is spectacular! A relatively unknown speaker here in the USA (quality Danish built), and if more people knew about these speakers, they should have sold a long time ago. [Please note that I have no financial interest or association with the seller.]
The MP-1 is an absolute KILLER pre-amp, but it takes up a lot of real estate (2 boxes), and it uses many more tubes than the MP-3, making tube rolling a more difficult and expensive proposition. |
