Atma-Sphere M60 monoblocks + ML ESL 11 = Inferior combo


Hi guys,

Today I borrowed home a pair of pure OTL-Tube M60 mononblocks to combine with my ML ESL 11s (which base are partially driven by a Class-D amplifer of 275 watts) with very poor results. Unfortunately, although the M60s where only to cater for the diaphragm panels (at least in theory), when combined with the speakers, the soundstage collapsed, vocals felt muffled and absent deep into the sound picture, almost hidden away, and the base went out of control (got larger and louder in a negative way). I also lost details. The Monos are a pair of brand new demos and shined this morning together with a pair of smaller Vivid monitors.

My current SS - a Bryston 4B3 delivers so much better combined with the ML ESL 11s. Someone that can explain what I did just experience? I thought that OTL tubes and High sensitive Martin Logans of todays generation where to be a marriage in heaven.

Kind regards 

 

  

128x128andy_wonderwall

Andy, Roger Modjeski designed his Music Reference RM-200 tube amp specifically to deal with low-impedance loudspeakers. When they occasionally become available on the used market, they fetch around $2,000 for the original version, a grand more for the Mk.2. A pair of KT-88 tubes are used to create 100 watts (per channel), into all impedances. The RM-200 is a VERY unusual tube amp.

In his original review in Stereophile, Michael Fremer placed the amp in the mag's Class A Tube category, and in a follow-up review found the Mk.2 iteration to be an even better amp. It has remained his "moderately"-priced reference tube amp for over a decade, and he recently declared the RM-200 MK.2 to be one of his most-cherished hi-fi possessions.

@decooney 

A Theoretica Applied Physics Bacch SP-adio. It is a crosstalk eleminating sound processor with a DAC doubling as a pre-amp. Works gr8 for me. But combining with a nice tube preamp is also something to consider! 

@gdnrbob 

The pair I am borrowing are a pair of demos. Lets see at what price point they are for the moment.

…and you are right. They probably can handle any loads. Sounds terrific and have outgunned my beloved Bryston in most areas, Ive learned during the course of this day. 

100W per channel from a pair of KT-88s? Doesnt seem possible even for a quad of KT-88s.