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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
dpe
60 posts
 
Pubul57,

Wow you went from a CAT JL2 to the M-60s?! That really says a lot about Atma-sphere's OTLs.

I too have Merlins (actually we almost have identical configurations with the exceptions of the amps). I've had both the Joule VZN-80 and Berning ZH270 (as well as the Ars-Sonum), but never an Atma-sphere OTL. I would have loved to hear that JL2 or a Vac PHI 200 at this point. The Merlins with the most recent lead free mods are incredibly resolving(!), if that's what you like, and with the Berning it makes the sound even more transparent and up front. I can no longer listen to a lot of my favorite CDs because of the recording, and I'm torn as to whether this is a good thing! I told Bobby that I want my lead back, but instead of selling the Merlins, as I mentioned before, I'm moving away from OTLs and will be seeking more warmth. Still I'm curious about the S-30.
dpe
60 posts
 
Clio09,

I listened to the Jazz Modules on Saturday. I brought along my Berning ZH270, but unfortunately I wasn't really taken with Jazz Modules and Berning combination. The highs were slightly bright and thin, and I was still missing a lot of the spaciousness and loftiness of the mids. Jazz piano is my thing. In an email reply, Duke mentioned that he voiced them using the S-30. I would expect the S-30 to be a bit more resolving than what I'm looking for. I much preferred the Jazz Modules paired with a 10 watt 6v6 pp amp and would further like to hear them with a 300B or 845 amp. I'd keep your VAC, but that's my preference and I seem to be in the minority on getting more out of the mids (Merlins included).
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Dpe, you might want to try the Music Reference RM10 MKII for a little more "tone". I think you can get them for $1,000 or so, PLEASE don't let the low price fool you.
dpe
60 posts
 
Pubul57, thanks for the advice. That's 22K cheaper than Bobby's suggestion: Audio Aero Prestige amplifier.
clio09
3,360 posts
 
Dpe,

Interesting thoughts on the Berning/Jazz Modules combo. I was always intrigued by Berning and like the Micro ZOTL. Perhaps they just don't match up well in this instance.

The VAC amps do offer nice mids, although the EL-34 models more so than the KT-88s IMO (I have owned the Avatar SE and Williamson 35/35). The fact that they are highly compatible with the Jazz Modules is a plus too. One thing I am considering is keeping the Musicblocs and converting them to EL-34. VAC has indicated this is easily doable.

Pubul57 is right about the RM-10MkII. This has to be one of the best amps out there in the 25 - 50 watt range. You can't argue with the used prices either. Amazing benefit to cost ratio.
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