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Atma-Sphere MA-1 amps

How good are these amps? I have 200w Class A mono blocks and have been eyeing these for sometime. What are your thought on them and hwo do they sound?

TIA
128x128jtwrace
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Emailists,
The Atmas take FN4 Fusetrons. I am not aware that there are premium versions for these beasts on the market.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Honest1,
all I can say at the moment, that both amps are true to the music. Speaking of the Atmas, the amps give you a sort of middle of the hall placement with most classical recordings and a midrange which is impeccable, adding nothing, taking nothing away. However, if things get really loud, they do clip on the Sound Labs. The VTL's with their 600 pentode watts don't, they move you closer to the stage, are more powerful in the lower bass regions, something you don't miss though with the Atmas, because their blend between mid , highs and lows is almost perfect. Listening to the VTLs is like changing your seat more to the front, closer to the music, which is represented most realistically. I still have to find something to fault them. But getting that close, also in a real concert can have its drawbacks, you tend to concentrate on details, instead of taking in the entire "gestalt" of the music, which the Atmas achieve beautifully.
In listening to jazz-combos, the VTL throws the happening right into your room, with absolutely uncanny realism and rocks teady players in excellent three dimenionality. The Atmas are a tad more polite, also again here a little more laid back, but in their way just as musically convincing.
Both amps are excellent achievements I would say, at least to my ears.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Has anyone tried the SED 6as7? How does it compare to Ralph's Chinees tubes? Anyone try 6080s? I'm using GE 6080s and it sounds wonderful, but want an extra set of 6as7s for backup.
bellemusique's avatar
bellemusique
68 posts
 

I have received two days ago a new pair of MA-1 MK 3.3 fully loaded (with VCaps and Powerboost add-ons). It is not even properly burned-in yet, but I’ve just had the most spectacular listening experience in my life! I’m thrilled!!! MA-1 & MP-1 MK 3.3 are impressive, outstanding and totally fantastic! I’m listening to them with a pair of old pairs and heavily modified Soundlab A3. The synergy with A-3 is exceptional. The sound of Atma Sphere combo is simply spectacular and stunningly beautiful. It outperforms by light years anything else I’ve had or listened in my life. Please notice, I’m far away from being a beginner in the audiophile world. I owned EAR V12, 509, 912, Quad II forty, eighty, 606, 909, I have tested or used a couple of McIntosh, Primare, Jadis, PassLab, Spectral, and many fine machines I do not remember any more. I was afraid of the heat coming from 38 tubes, but finally, it does not heat so much. I find it acceptable in my moderate-size listening room. My other concern was the size of A-3 and the synergy with MA-1 (many audiophiles buy very powerful transistor amplifiers to drive them) but their curved shape actually works just fine in moderate size room and the synergy with MA-1 is the Perfect Match! I will receive in a couple of weeks a new DAC from Abbas audio, but even now, on my budget CD player, I have the most fantastic sound I have ever experienced in my life (my previous DAC was Big 7). I fully and totally understand how privileged I am to own Atma Sphere gear. If you have money to buy it, do not look elsewhere! If you live in Paris area and you would like to listen these magnificent amplifiers, feel free to contact me, I’ll be happy to invite you for a listening session. As many other guys do, I like to listen and compare various gear. This time, I’ll gladly compare some new DAC, turntable, cables (I use Magnan’s and WhyNot), but in a matter of amplification, for me things are settled. I will not bother to try listen anything else anymore. This is a definitive purchase for me. I am in a state of Nirvana. Truly exceptional amplifiers and pure and utmost joy.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,803 posts
 
@twodolphins  If you have older Sound Labs, prior to the 'toroidal 2' backplate, there are some simple modifications that can be done to improve their impedance and efficiency. This makes them sound better too! This involves removing a resistor in the crossover. Contact me offline for more information (or look into getting the backplate updated by Sound Lab).
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