Atma-Sphere vs. Supratek


I placed an order last year for a Supratek Cortese LCR preamp; it will still be a few months until it will arrive at my home in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile I keep reading good things about the Atma-Sphere MP-1 and Mp-3 instruments. Can anyone voice an opinion about those two brands, both hand-made tube machines in a similar price range? I listen to all kinds of music, including opera, mostly on vinyl [Basic 2200 Signature with Vector 4 arm and Benz Micro LP-S cartridge, Sunvalley phono stage with EMIA SUT, MSB Platinum Signature CD transport and DAC, LinkwitzLab NCore6 active crossover/amplifier, and Linkwitz LX521.4 open-baffle speakers (best speakers I have ever heard)]. For preamp I am currently using Ed Shilling’s The Truth. For me a natural-sounding soprano voice is the pinnacle of well reproduced music.

128x128reimarc

@reimarc  My apologies for my part in getting your thread off track. 

I'll repeat my first response to you:

Try both. Your system deserves it. You deserve it. Report back. 

No one here can advise you. If you can get both units in for evaluation, evaluate. And choose.

We don't have your components, your room, your preferences, your experience, your unique ear-brain combination.

In isolation, should you only get one of the two/three options in...whichever unit it is, will still be good. 

Listen. Choose. 

OP asked about AS vs Supratek, I mentioned issues with messy wiring and possible issues with reliability. Is questioning messy wiring and possible issues with reliability not allowed? I have no knowledge of either reliability or sound quality and have made this clear in my posts. Does this forum exist for free and open discussion, which may include questioning build quality and assembly of certain components? I've criticized components I've purchased in this forum, should I be accused of bias for that?

 

Here are internals of some AS equipment, https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=otl&m=37370 I will leave it to others to judge assembly practices.