Atma-Sphere MP-3 Mk. 3.3 vs. VAC CPA-1 MK II or Avatar Super - Recommendations

@noromance : Don’t know what is passive/ active switching but compared to VAC & Atma, Shiit look like babies. No offense, but I don’t think they’re in the same calibre.
@gdnrbob: MP-1 looks impressive but I don’t think I can ever be able to afford it, even used. :)
Pound to pound, tube to tube, MP-3 seems too light, too small, & too Solid Statey compared to both the VAC models. Isn’t the sound directly proportional to the weight of the transformer & tube used?

There’s another thread comparing both Avatar models. 

@hitsofmisses Agreed. However, the reason I suggested the Schiit passive (it has an active JFET option) was because you only have two high-level sources which could be fed into power amp(s). You do not necessarily need a massive preamp or an integrated as you have the Halo. While the Schiit doesn’t look much, it is a lot better than its price suggests.

What about Linear Tube Audio, Backert, Audio Research, or Don Sachs?  Why so limited?

My budget is around $3000 & I’m only considering getting a used one. I haven’t seen any Backert or Don Sachs in the used market. And for that much money, I think the used models from VAC or Atma would perform better than the new ones from the other two.


Besides, there’s a limited userbase that can attest to Beckert or Sachs over the ones I shortlisted.

Isn’t the sound directly proportional to the weight of the transformer & tube used?

No- that simply has nothing to do with it. Things to look for: a simple signal path, available tubes (some preamps use tubes that are no longer made), whether or not the unit has regulated power supplies, construction quality.
If you have a simple signal path its likely that the circuit will be more transparent with wider bandwidth. The power transformers simply have to provide the needed voltage and current such that they can do the job. Any excess capacity that the transformer might have doesn't affect the sound- it simply means that the product is heavier without other benefit.

Now damping **can** affect the sound as it reduces microphonics and a good damping system does add weight.