Kharma Ceramic 1.0 speaker with Atma Sphere Amps ?

I auditioned the CE 1.1 (the newest) with Lamm's 6C33C output tube based (18-wpc) monoblocks about 3 months back but I ended up buying the CE 2.2 just because of cost and also size due mostly to WAF.

I just received (FYI - I'm the 1st owner in USA or so I'm told, but serial reads US-002 -- oh well!) the Kharma CE 2.2 just three weeks back. I'm driving them with a Graaf 13.5B tube preamp and a Graaf GM-20 OTL (20wpc) stereo amp. My frontend is a Copland 289 HDCD. The CE 2.2 are 89-db, 8-ohms nominal speaker, 1-db less than the CE 1.0's.

The mids and the highs are fabulously liquid but base extension is not as pronounced as I would like. The Lamms did slightly better in base than my Graaf, I think. But last week while my amp was at the shop getting a capacitor replaced, I had opportunity to use a pair of SS Musical Fidelity 50-wpc monoblocks (these amps are the size and shape of a couple of roles of Bounty paper towel). This is when I realized what these speakers are capable of in terms of based extension. I'm now sure that the 20wpc, even though they're OTL watts, are simply not enough to truely reveal the base capabilities of these (not so efficient) speakers. By the way, let me also mention that unlike many here, most of what I listen to is NOT classical or Jazz, although I like them just fine. I listen to a lot of "Bosa Nova" and "Lounge" style music -- don't crindge you purists!

Even though I have not heard the Atma-Spheres but at 140wpc of these highly regarded OTLs I'm sure you'll be in audio nirvana especially, if you don't mind the 10-degree rise in your room temparature. However, if you can afford it I'd say go with the 75-wpc Tenors.

Me too, I'm out once more looking at amps. Never ends, does it...

Good Luck!!

FWIW, I have owned the Lamm Ml-1's and now own the Tenor's. They are both outstanding amps....I prefer the Tenor and the purity of the OTL design. I have used both with Kharma 1's, Audio Physic Avanti III's and Speaker Art Proklaim II's.
To answer your direct question, I think the MA1's would be an excellent match with the Kharma.

by the way, I meant to mention that I owned the Kharma 2s for a while and a good friend is a dealer for Kharma and Lamm this is how I have had a chance to listen to them so much.

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I think the Lamm 1.1 hybrid monoblocks make these speakers just sing

The Lamm hybred are nice on the 1s but the ML1 (90w) are much better all around. You can't believe the base you get from the ML1 though the hybred does a little better in this regard. I had the M1.1 hybred at home with my 2s and this was definately the best I heard the 2s but the 1s preferred the ML1.

These guys have me all hyped up about the Tenors. I have always planned to eventually own the Lamm, and this may still be the case, but when the time comes I will be definately checking out the Tenors since they are using the same 6C33C tube but I will have to be wowed to change the impression Lamm has made on me. As a interim I am considering the Joule Stargate...seem to have the same signature I am assuming from the 6C33C again.

Sorry, I have ignored the the MA1 is 1/2 the money as the Lamms and Tenor so if 10k is your retail limit you probably will be hard pressed to find something better. Bottom line is you can't go wrong any of the ways mentioned in this thread and you will love the 1s...Kharma has not gotten its due in my opinion and Stereophile really did a disservice to the 2s when they reviewed them.

With the music you listen to, you will be extrememly happy.

good luck and good listening,
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