Atma-Sphere MA-1 Mk.3.1 Vs. Atma-Sph. MA-2 Mk.3.1

Hello Don. The begnign impedance of the vintage Tannoy DC's makes for the perfect marriage with OTL amplification.

Each and every model of the Atmasphere OTL amplifiers will be more than capable to drive your Tannoy Golds regardless of level you wish to listen at....a superlative choice by the way and a marriage made for each other.

Absolutely no need whatsoever for the additional power of the MA-2 unless your listening in a concert hall.

BTW: It is relatively easy configure the crossover to accomodate biamplification should you choose to go that route.

All the best.

Thanks for your insights Ecclectique...I was told by a friend that my room was too small for the MA-2 but perfect for the MA-1...I just thought that the more power could translate in more dynamics at low to mid volume, something my YBA is not very good at...The music starts to open up only at one quarter volume level...Concerning this, the seller of the MA-2 said : ''Only power corrupts absolutely. The difference between reproduced music and live is largely the dynamic component. You get that with power''

Hi Don. I don't mean to sound condencending, however... to keep things in perspective here regarding the sellers statement of power being the dynamics component to capture the dynamics of live music is way off base here.

To give you some perspective. I grew up listening to Tannoy Reds and Golds from my early childhood until I went to college and left home in the mid 70's.

In the late 90's, we moved to a home with a huge room [42 ft x 32 ft with a 16ft ceiling]

The room was set up as a dedicated sound room for music.

My main speakers are the Tannoy Westminsters [first versions] fitted with vintage 15 in Tannoy Golds with custom crossovers and powered with Atmasphere MA-2 MK-2's.

At the turn of the millenium, a close friend was a dealer for Atmasphere and brought by all kinds of amplifiers to play with. Hi and low powered tube amps... push pull, single ended triodes,ultra linear as well as big s/state stuff from Levinson, YBA, Macintosh etc.
I have had the pleasure of auditioning ever model of the Atmasphere amplifiers in my rig as well as many others.

Regardless of what model of Atmasphere amplifiers were used....I would be willing to wager that very few people would be able to ascertain which model Atmasphere was driving the Tannoy regardless of volume. Each and every model would produce an undistorted sound pressure level that would drive any sane music lover right out of the room.

In regards to your room: If it were me, I would buy the MA-60 or MA-30 and bank the difference. Either one will bring the musicians into your room.

All the best on your quest.

Hello Donfibre,

Buy the biggest Atmasphere amp you can afford and enjoy ..

regards,

I can't deny Ecclectique's assertion given his long experience directly with the question at hand but I have invariably lusted for more power. It is probably a silly leftover instinct when I was first buying good gear and a big amp had 60wpc. I have found with time and experience that it is the overall quality of the amp that ends up revealing greater dynamics and inner detail etc.
It is your money but my own choice of amps is quite conservative powerwise. I use mainly two tube amps a 60 watt integrated and 78 watt monoblocs. The speakers BTW in a big room are 92Db but absolute min impedance is low at 3.6 Ohm despite the nominal 8 Ohm rating. Tannoys do not drop thier impedance like my Focals do. Thus you're safe either way. FWIW I have heard both the 60 watt Atma (on special Coincidents) and the 100+ watt Atma many times and did prefer the bigger one (on Avalons). I have never heard the next one up you are considering.