Atma-Sphere S-30 MK3

Emaillists,
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Thanks for your input. The Tannoys are matching very well power wise. The version I have is the TW which has a 95db efficiency, an RMS rating of 110 Watts and a Peak power rating of 380 watts. Changing fuses is under consideration soon as I get a consistent performance.

AudioFeil,
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Like any other audio gear, the Atmasphere changes sonically during the break-in process but it takes quite a long while between these changes. I ordered it with the Teflon Cap upgrade, maybe that explains the unusual long break-in time..

Tom,
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This indeed is a coincidence!..I posted on Agon as I found more user discussions here on Atmasphere than anywhere else..:) I ordered the S-30 with the Teflon Cap upgrade, so maybe the Caps are the culprits till break-in is over. Maybe the MA units you heard also had these Caps installed. Maybe there weren't fully broken-in. I'm just guessing of course.

Recently, I also tried different interconnects and power cords but still this hardness existed. Mind you, it has greatly subsided but it is still there and noticeable and of course annoying..:) I brought over a couple of audio buddies and they too confirmed the phenomenon. Mostly very noticeable in a piano's mid to upper registers and the trebles in general.

This anomaly was also the reason why I experiemented with other 6SN7's but still no change, though the Tung-Sols were superior (to my ears).

Tom, thanks for the link. I'll check the thread and read the opinions there. I'm really hoping matters take a good turn soon as I really love this amp and love the way it reproduces the music. Thanks again for chiming in..:)

Best
AG

Audiofeil,

I had no intentions to sound nasty or inappropriate !! I was merely saying that I noticed vast sonic changes during the break-in process of the amp in contrast to what you remarked.

" I suggest your ears were acclimating to the sonics and different presentation of an OTL amplifier. "

>>I couldn't agree more on this<<

Thanks for your input and my sincere apologies for the misunderstanding.

AG

Thanks very much for your time and patience, very much appreciated. The 'glare', 'hardness', 'tonality issue'
were very prominant during the first 45 days or so but they slowly diminished along the way. Not much left now, only every other day or so and not so prominant as before. I'm almost positive it's a break-in issue somehow, as it's not a constant occurance and when it's there it's with any volume level. I was a bit worried it might be the speaker/amp interface somehow. The amp does take a long time than usual to sonically bloom and mature, it seems.

I also noticed that the all the tubes (6AS7) need to bias correctly as earlier on I had 1 or 2 that were running fine but not optimumly responding to the bias meter and gradually discovered that they contributed to some glare and hardness too. Once replaced, the sound was ok again.

Indeed, the Atmasphere 'sound' is totally unlike other tube amps, SE or PP, that I've experienced and , like Audiofeil mentionned above, needs some getting used to for a first time user. A very good 'sound' nonetheless..:-)

Ralph, as always, thanks very much for your patience and perseverance, your input in this thread and in private emails. If the S-30 is anything to go by, I wonder what the bigger brothers sound like !!! Great Job and God Bless.

AG

I've read the thread you referred to in your first response. I'll be posting here again with my impresssions once the S-30 has been fully broken-in. So far it's on the right track. Still waiting for the 'body' to fully develop.

Best,
AG

I've read the thread you referred to in your first response. I'll be posting here again with my impresssions once the S-30 has been fully broken-in. So far it's on the right track. Still waiting for the 'body' to fully develop.

Best,

AG