2. amps-preamps
  3. 1270037845

Atma Sphere S30 amp

I got my S30 amp yesterday and got in 12 hrs. of listening time with it.

Having started off on this audio journey with tubes I got lost somewhere down the road with SS amps. A friend of mine sent me a demo AA PX25 to try out with my Zu speakers and I was in shock on how organic sounding this little 6W amp sounded and I soon realized ( in 5 min.) I screwed up big time. My amps sounded plastic/fake and after reading a review about the AS S30 being a better all around amp than the PX25 and with more power I bought the amp new.

Even with stock 6sn7 tubes this amp is a keeper for me. I could have had listening to a OTL all this time and feel I wasted alot of $$$ and time on my SS amps. You never know until you buy and try.

This amp is not for everyone but for Zu owners I would encourage you to try this guy out.

Thanks to all you OTL owners who have posted here in the forms and for Pubul57 whose knowledge of these amps made my purchase an easy decision.

Hiphiphorray I am back with tubes and loving it.



128x128glory
clio09
3,355 posts
 
You just helped me make a decision I was struggling with. The S-30 was used in the voicing of my speakers, so I've been wanting to try one. Now I definitely will.

The S-30 would be my third tube amp, along with a Music Reference RM-10 MkII and VAC Auricle Musicblocs. Problem is I don't need 3, so one of the other two will have to go to offset the cost (most likely the VAC, which in some ways would be painful). Decisions, decisions.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,308 posts
 
Clio,

That amp and your speakers looks like an AWESOME combo!
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Don't sell the RM10, you'll only buy it again later. Anthony, are you light loading the RM10? Using the 4ohm tap? Try it, you'll like it.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,504 posts
 

It's all about system synergy. I replaced several highly regarded tube amps with SS amps and boy I can't believe what I had been missing:-) Really!

Now, I had the same thing happen in reverse with different speakers. It is all about the speaker/amp synergy folks. This is not a tube/SS thing IMHO.

I do love tube amps however and will always keep my tube preamp no matter what amp/speaker combo I have.
clio09
3,355 posts
 
Paul, I think I am light loading the RM-10 MkII. My speakers are 12 ohm nominal (no lower than 8 ohm dip) and I'm using the 8 ohm tap. Wouldn't this be the equivalent of using the 4 ohm tap on 8 ohm speakers?

Right now I'm leaning towards selling the VACs as they will fetch a lot more. Problem is you rarely see the 70 watt Auricle Musicblocs for sale and the cost to buy back in to VAC is quite high with their newer products. Can't justify keeping all three. I need to clean the garage this weekend.
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