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
3,360 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.
clio09
3,360 posts
 
I mentioned this in another thread but I have just under $1500 invested in the amp and preamp used in my system right now (new just under $2500). I'm going to go out on a limb and say the sound I'm getting makes their valuation worth closer to $15k.

I'd pass on that $20k plus amp too.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
The RM10 will never break and it will give you 10,000 hours of tube life. Try it, if you don't like it will take you 4-5 hours to sell back on Audiogon. $20K is an awful lot of music:)
dpe
60 posts
 
Pubul57, we're getting a little off the topic with regards to the original post, but how does the RM10 sound with your Merlins?
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Very close to the RM9 Special Edition that costs $9,500 - just a little less sense of scale, to expected with its 162 watts, but they are certainly cut from the same cloth. Now if I were choosing an amp for the VSMs and could only have one, it would be Atma M60s for sound, but that does come at a price of tube maintenance and heat, but it is the best I've heard the VSMs sound, I prefer them to the Joule amps, but others will prefer the Joule - they both mate well with the VSMs. I would think the S30 is not ideal for the VSMs, I think you really need the M60s if you go in that direction.
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