2. amps-preamps
  3. 128359-41

Amps Atma-Sphere M-60 Mono blocks OTL design

I just purchased a used OTL Atma-Sphere M-60 mono blocks that I have sent to Atma-Sphere to be upgraded to the current model 3.3 and I also added the option of a higher quality power supply and V caps.

I have sold my old trusted Eggleston Andra 2’s speakers and have built some monitors using Aurum Cantus ribbons (102db) and Aurum Cantus midwoofers (90db) that are both rated as 8 ohm nominal. I have a DEQX Premate and will be crossing over to (2) JL Audio F-113 subs at 80hz.

Currently I am using a solid state high power stereo amp (Pass Labs) that I used with the Andra 2’s.

The Atma-Sphere M-60 is rated at 60 watts class A and is said to work better with higher impedance loads.

It will probably be a few weeks until I get the M-60 and was hoping someone could provide opinions of what to expect.

I listen to late 60 early 70’s classic rock music mostly. Sometimes loud.

ozzy

128x128ozzy
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

Ralph,

I am not  disputing that you have very loyal and long term customers at all. I'm merely stating that given the nature of some audiophiles there is always some degree of movement between various choices of components including amplifiers. Tube to solid state, Class A/AB to class D, single chassis to mono blocks and back and forth it goes. Some former OTL owners are now SET owners and certainly the converse is also true.

Charles

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,806 posts
 
@charles1dad , I think you might misunderstand. People hang on to their equipment, sometimes for life **regardless of the equipment**. To say that it "never goes one way" as you did earlier must be seen by a reasonable person as incorrect. That's all.

I was simply illustrating from personal experience that this is so.

The most common theme I hear when people actually tell me why they sell our gear (the second most common theme being they bought speakers our amps won't drive) is that they are downsizing or simplifying their setup (although its unclear what the latter means; if simplifying the signal path, the only amps I know of that have a simpler signal path are the First Watt DIY amps which have a single output transistor as the sole aspect of the signal path). As tube amps go we only have one gain stage which is about as simple as it can get.


charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

I understand their are people who hang on to their components/speakers for life. in addition to yours there are "lifer' ARC,CJ, Krell, McIntosh etc. They exist but don't make up the majority of the audiophile community. I suspect many more of them over their life rotate through much equipment. 

Charles

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,466 posts
 

Atmasphere, charles1dad,

I think you are both right.

I went from Krell (KSA250) to Pass Labs (X350.5) to now the Atmasphere M-60's.To my ears each change has brought significant improvements in sound quality enjoyment.

That's not to say that sometime in the future, something better may come my way, but I am really digging the M-60's.

ozzy

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Ozzy,
Thanks and I sure you understand my observatIonal comment.   Read the threads on Audiogon and many other audio forums and they're full of people discussing their various journeys through the maze of audio equipment over the years.  

At some point some do finally find what they've been looking for.  Relatively few build their first system and retain all the initial components for life. That's all I am pointing out. A friend of mine has the same Audio Research power amplifier he bought new in the 1980s.  He's the exception rather than the rule. 
Charles 
More to discover