Atma-Sphere vs. Supratek

Thanks again for all you enlightening comments: this is a great community. Just to let you know: I revised my order and asked Mick Maloney to build me one of his new Grange preamps with the option to switch between 6NS7 AND DHT circuits, which will allow me to go euphonic whenever the mood strikes. The production will take a long time but I hope I will be able to open a box from Down-Under before Christmas. Meanwhile I will keep listening to my The Truth preamp from South Carolina.

Again, thanks for this lively discussion.

I can’t compare the Cortese LCR to the Atma-Sphere, but I can give you my impressions of the Cortese LCR. I won’t say I am a Supratek fanboy because I am not hear to sell you one way or the other. I was in need of a phono stage for a new idler drive table and a variety of stereo and mono cartridges (to complement my DS Audio W2 and AMG table). The DS Audio equalizer is proprietary and fed my ARC Ref 5SE, but I lacked a phono stage for conventional MC cartridges. I took the chance on the Cortese LCR to replace the ARC and function as the phono stage as well as a line stage for the DS Audio and reel to reel. I do not regret the move. I have replaced many of the tubes on the Cortese… all improving it. My best summary of it is it’s very detailed without being analytical… full of life without being sweet and syrupy. Yes, the wiring is ‘free form’. It’s not because Mick is lazy or sloppy. It’s because he has found its best is diminished when tidied up. If you can’t live with knowing the wild hair point to point wiring living inside the case, then move along. If you can appreciate a Jackson Pollock, you might be able to consider a Supratek and it’s sonic qualities. I don’t regret my decision and am not considering another option.

There is visually tidy and electrically tidy and these two doctrines don't necessarily align.