2. amps-preamps
  3. 1019593429

Really dumb question about Atmasphere amps

Hi,
Recent upgrades of my system left me really satisfied (AP Virgos, BAT VK-60, Placette passive and an AudioNet ART V2 CDP) and I don't feel a pressuring need to run out and get something better. However, in some distant future I might consider an upgrade to some monoblocks and the Atmasphere amps seem to be very well regarded.
But one thing about them really strikes me as odd and I simply wondered: why do they (at least the MA1 model, I looked at) have their XLR/RCA inputs in the front? Seems very unpractical to me. Must look quite funny too, running your IC from the back of the system to the front of the amp (also unnecessarily increases the length of your ICs). How do you Atmasphere owners cope with that?
pipetman
pipetman OP
45 posts
 
Zaikesman - that is exactly what I thought. Maybe you can just turn the amp around - would look a bit funny, though and biasing wouldn't be to easy ,either.
franks
151 posts
 
Finally, I get to answer a question on Audiogon with a definative answer. This is not a "dumb" question. How do I know this? Because I asked exactly the same question to Ralph Karsten (head of Atmasphere) when I first saw the S30 at the HiFi-99 show in Chicago. The reason for the layout is to keep the signal path as short as possible. The input connectors are right next to the input tubes which are just in front of the output tubes so the signal path is a "staight line" of sorts. With most owners of the monoblocks this is a non-issue as they usually have the amps on separate stands near the speakers. My S30 is on my equipment rack, sideways, using 1 meter interconnects.

FWIW, I'll second the sonic opinions already voiced. Great sonics, great bargain.
timchen
93 posts
 
Can one provide me the web site of atmasphere?
my Virgo is 4 ohm, and I wonder whether it will match with
atamsphere or not?
thanks

Tim
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Tim, go to the "Manufacturer List" area of A-Gon for links.
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