Atma-Sphere with which speaker cables?

Though I've never tried the combination, I would think the Alpha Gore Goertz would compliment the Atmas well.

In my experience, cabling is one area that can definitely accentuating their positives of the Atma Sphere amplifiers, while mitigate the deficiencies. I have found cabling, in fact, to be more critical with Atmas than most amplifiers. Briefly, I think the Atmas are great in terms of bass extension, but can tend towards leanness in the mid/upper bass region, which can give things a sound colder and more clinical sounding than I prefer. The amps are very open, detailed, and fast sounding. But, on the other side, can sound tipped up or harsh.

After trying different things out, I find a cable which takes all of this into account gives me the most satisfaction. I've searched for cables on the warm and romantic side. JPS (great mid/upper bass and easier to take in the presence region) and Coincident (nice, warm sound) suit the bill well to my ear. But, again, I think the Alpha Core would be worth your consideration.

I tried the Goertz Alpha Core with the AS and they are very good. Very fast, dynamic with excellent bass. The Dominus is just more lush and rich in the upper mid-range and the backgrounds are blacker.

The choice is very simple. The Atma-Sphere are right from sound. When you don't like what you hear, it is not the amp.
I use XLO Sign. for lots of years with them. It's ok.

Trelja,

Which Atma-Sphere amps do you have? I just purchased a pair of used Hurricanes.

I also have the Canary CA-903 4-chassis linestage, Audio Aero Prima (new 2006 version) and Coincident Super Eclipse III speakers.

I'd like to get your opinion, or anyone else for that matter, regarding a suitable IC and speaker cable.

Thanks,
Mark

Hello, Mark.

I have the M60 MK2.III. This is my third, and best pair of M60s.

I also have a pair of Coincident loudspeakers - the Digital Master, with matching Troubass subwoofers. Have used them together with my Atmas a great deal.

Basically, my thoughts are as I said above. In my opinion, with this combination, one must be careful so as not to spotlight the weaknesses of the amplifier, which can really impact the presentation negatively. The key is to try to allow the speed, openness, and extension to come through, without putting forth harshness and lack of soul.

Running into the Atmas with a balanced IC is always a good move, as it pays benefits in the distortion/noise floor areas. I don't always do so, but please allow me to suggest that once you find your flavor in cabling, even if your preamp is single ended, have the cable constructed with a pair of XLRs on the end that goes into the amps. I have two cables with RCAs on one end, and XLRs on the other, and they always reinforce in me that this is the right way to go with these amps, even if they are not my favorite sounding cables overall.

I've found that more romantic cabling and driver tubes to work best for me, in that they flesh out the mid/upper bass which imparts the warmth I require. But, with some of these cables, such as the JPS, you do lose ultimate bass (and a good bit of treble) extension and impact at the very, very bottom, which is surely a tradeoff. Coincident's own cabling mates very well with the Atmas, yet the CST and TRS give radically different portrayals. I find the Coincident cable can sound too slow and lush with many other combinations, which kind of makes me wonder if they still aren't Israel's reference amplifier, and the cabling is possibly designed to form a synergistic match between the amp and speaker. TRS is flat out the weirdest cable I have EVER encountered in the audio hobby. When it works, as it often does in this combination, I find it works spectacularly. And, when it doesn't fit into a system, I find it fails just as spectacularly.

Based on what some people I really trust have done, I'd like to try the Alpha Core and the Purist Audio also.