Atma-sphere 3.0 to 3.1

We've got a lot of people that offer their favorites there, personally I don't play with the NOS tubes that much- I buy LPs and CDs instead :)

The Ken-Rad and Sylvania metal-based chrome-dome get the highest marks in that location, followed by the round-plate Tung-Sol, RCA red base, and the Western Electric.

The 3.1 update is a change to the voltage amplifier. It affects all our amplifiers. The change reduces measurable distortion- by about 90% at full power.

Distortion has two audible properties in audio circuits, the first being that it causes harshness. The second is that it can mask underlying detail. So eliminating it (if done without using feedback) will make the amp both smoother and more detailed at the same time, and that is what people report when they hear this change.

Because it only affects the voltage amplifier circuit of the amp, its relatively inexpensive (if you already have the MkIII), but like we do anytime one of our products is updated to the latest level, the warranty is reactivated.

Elberoth2, if you use a set of ZEROs, it will be outstanding. The Sashas don't need a lot of power but the M-60 does not like 4 ohms. The ZEROs fix that and will get you double the power that you would have without them on that speaker, and you will have fabulous bass authority!

Elberoth2, I've been listening to the Sashas with MA-1s a lot recently. They seem to work quite well together and is what I based my comments on the Sashas on over on the Speakers forum.

If you run the amps with less than the full complement, due to the low impedance of the Sashas the ZEROs will be helpful. Its a nice way to reduce the heat if you don't need the power and the Sashas seem actually fairly efficient. When I've been listening to them the VU meters on the amp barely move.

Pubul57, thanks, I'm glad you like it. The 3.1 update reduces distortion at full power by about 90%; that translates to additional transparency with smoother delivery- its amazing how that can affect things, even in the bass, although a string bass has lots of high frequency harmonics.

Passives work fine as long as you don't have any interconnect cable. Otherwise they tend to limit bass and punch as you turn the volume control down. That's why we offer the option for the M-60s.

The MP-1 is specifically designed to control the interconnect cable, and as a result the cable between the preamp and amp is not critical and you can run really long lengths (+50') too. That allows you to keep the amps right by the speakers and run short speaker cables.

Yes, lower output sources work much better with passives. Its beyond me why so many DAC manufacturers insist on putting so much output voltage in their equipment- my guess is that they have no idea, no clue on how amplifiers work.

The volume control setup is about $1200.00. Its a custom-built part. Of course you can put in cheaper parts and do quite well but they don't seem so sound as good...