Atmasphere preamps

I had owned the MP-1 for better than two years. Amps were A-S MA-2's. The match was very satifying. The amps need to be balanced. The phono stage should also be balanced. Ralph Karsten has prided himself on the phono stage, which he told me the piece was designed for. As a line stage the MP-1 was very musical, and with the MA-2, very detailed. For a short time I had a pair of Classe CAM 200's driving the A-S preamp. I found this to be a mismatch. As is typical, inserting the piece in your system proves most practical.

Ralph Karsten is a very nice person. Very knowledgable and honest. He can probably provide very useful info regarding various pairings. ie, I have the M602.2's which I am using with a Ys Audio Audio Experienced Balanced A1. Ralph has given me excellant advise regarding tubes, wiring, equipment supports, etc., and all of it was right on the money, even though I am not using one of his pre-amps (which, I would LOVE to own), or, his modded, tricked out Empire TT (also WAY COOL!).

Thanks for your helpfull responses. I am considering the MP-3 to use with my lamm LP-2 phono stage. Is the linestage in the MP-1 that much ( if at all) better than the MP-3, being that the MP- 1 really is supposed to be an all out assault phono stage that just happens to have extra inputs. Thanks in advance.

I have an MP-1 with AS MA-2, and the combination is astounding. Just so much better in almost every respect than other preamps I have tried, including the much vaunted Mark Levinson 32 reference preamp. I cant, however, comment on the MP-3, but would certainly endorse the MP-1 as a wonderful linestage preamp.

Thanks Springbok 10, I am looking for a tube Preamp which portrays good texture and decay , and does that dimensionality and space thing. It is o.k. and maybe welcomed if it is not dead neutral and slightly warm. I believe all good preamps at this level should be well designed so that they are quiet enough and give great detail, but it is that extra magic which I am after. I was in Montreal last week and listened to the Jadis gear and in the context of the system which I heard it, there was that magic musicality that eludes many of us, regardless of the money we spend. Again , all my comments are I M (humble) O.