Atma-sphere Updates
I own MA-1 mk3.1 upgraded to mk3.3 and MP-1 mk3.3. Once the MP-1 arrived, I quickly replaced the three fuses on the power supply unit. Ever since, I always complained to Ralph, his preamp hummed so badly. The phono stage also making noise. Ralph told me, it was very silent when they're testing the product at factory. A few weeks went by, I couldn't stand the hum which immediately starts when I engaged the B+ on MA-1, I brought my MP-1 to a very reliable local tech. He opened up the top plate and check everything. Nothing's wrong. Finally, he noticed that my fuse holders, those two small holders were not tight enough. So he helped me tightened it. And my MP-1 is silent ever since. My bad, I was careless when replacing the fuse myself. During those email and phone conversation with Ralph when I was frustrated with the hum, Ralph provided many feedback and instruction on how to check if any other my equipment caused the hum. Thanks to Ralph's patience and professionalism. He's a man with great passion for music and great with customer service as well. I stand with Ralph. |
I just want to add another positive vibe post to Ralph and his crew. I have had a bunch of their gear, and dealt with them on upgrades of a few pieces. They have always been awesome to deal with, and the performance of their products is breathtaking (I have a loaded MP-1 MK3.3 and MA-2 MK3.3). Its awesome that Ralph always works with older customers on upgrading old gear to new specs, and providing honest feedback on what those upgrades might do for you. It is a tough position being a manufacturer and participating in forums. I am so glad that Ralph does! |
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I keep reading this thread and just keep shaking my head in amazement. What I see is a large number of folks who have been very pleased with their interactions with Ralph and/or their experiences with Atma-Sphere products. My goodness, if this were high school he would be king of the prom, would he not? I am a happy owner of a set of M-60 amps. I've had a number of interactions with Ralph within the context of my ownership and as an Audiogon contributor. My interactions with him have been above reproach. I can only say that if you are not happy with Ralph and his work, this may not be the best hobby for you. It is probable that you will experience much frustration. |
I know the rest of us know this and it’s probably best to just drop it so the outlier hopefully grows board or the mods delete his hyperbolic posts. He is intent on not accepting reasonable considerations and running down the narrow lane of assuming the worst of ____ and using off-point arguments. This is not about space age adhesives. |
I dont think we are discussing space age adhesives. More like cheap hot glue and double sided carpet tape. What Ralph is discussing is the questionable building practices he has seen with other components. I would assume he works on other products from time to time and has most likely looked under the hood of a greater number of components than you or I. I want to know the real reason why you just wont let this go. There must be some motive other than want stands on this thread. Why dont you give us your name? |
And if they were reasonable why did Atmasphere delete many of the worst ones himself [which he said he had done]@jtgofish This statement is incorrect. I've yet to delete any of my posts and stand by them. You are also mistaken about my intent. Are you saying that the glues used are of a similar high tech nature used in the product in question? |
Here is an article on the trend towards replacing welding and bolting of components in the automotive industry with adhesives because they are structurally superior. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&... |
"Please open up your mind and understand the scope and reasonableness of the cautionary statement " No you are quite wrong.Modern adhesives are extremely robust and are highly suited to all sorts of engineering,building and industrial applications.They are also more capable of maintaining their integrity following knocks and shocks than more rigid alternatives.And that type of adhesive is what is used in that product.I have seen components come loose from nuts and screws fracturing due to shock or contraction/expansion .That is much less likely to happen with a good adhesive.I run a business involved with constuction and the use of adhesives like that as well as other fastening materials.Modern adhesives are fantastic products. So those comments were anything but reasonable and could very easily be judged as malicious.And if they were reasonable why did Atmasphere delete many of the worst ones himself [which he said he had done] when other members here cautioned him to do so? |
Jeez, some time ago I asked the community about some recommendations of integrated amp to currently owned speakers. Ralph among others gave me some valuable input and suggestions. Plain english, forthright without judgement or attempt to steer in any particular direction. I appreciated his expertise and knowledge. To this day I pay attention to his posts. Can't see the criticism of his behavior by gofish as Ralph has always been a gentleman in the posts I've read. |
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The product in question may well sound great and sound great for many years. Ralph’s comment had nothing to do with the sound quality, owner, builder, circuit design etc... He simply stated that caps should be fastened to the chassis in a manner more secure than hot glue. That is a true and reasonable comment. Right? Hot glue as well as many types of adhesives will fail when put through the rigors of shipping. The owner fires up an amp he just purchased and the now dangling cap(s) holding a lethal amount of voltage can Indeed cause a short leading to a host of outcomes. Shipping companies regularly drop our gear with great shear force being applied to the parts. I once had a bolted down tranny break away on one end due to shipping mishandling. Hot glue or adhesives will not fare well at all. Please open up your mind and understand the scope and reasonableness of the cautionary statement. |
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@jtgofish Oh- that was from the thread I was originally thinking of when you first posted. Again, I saw photos online of a product that was held together with hot melt glue internally and commented on it. Such a product when dropped in shipment or the like can easily become a shock and fire hazard. Anyone would be remiss to not comment on something like that, nor (as I later discovered) was I the only one to do so by any means! |
If memory serves @jtgofish is referring to a thread that was started by Roger Modjeski. On that thread Roger made some comments that required correction of fact. Any thread on a site like this is a public interaction; 'intrusion' simply isn't a thing. He didn't like it when I was the one to offer the corrections. I didn't like doing that either, but some of his comments were so far off the mark that I found myself puzzled as to why he made them. I've always had respect for Roger and he's always made good products- proof therefore that he knew what he was doing. This made his comments all the more mysterious to me. |
I am sorry it came to this but Atmasphere was just not listening and thought that intruding on a thread about his products the way that he has done to other products might make him see sense and desist from that behaviour.For his own good as much as anything.To his credit he has deleted some of those comments. I would be happy for this entire thread to be deleted.Hopefully I have made my point. |
And this comment- celander1,479 posts04-04-2019 3:27amRalph, you might want to review all of your posts here besides the first one. And this one- rsf507528 posts04-04-2019 1:28amAgree with @steakster have always admired Ralph with his very insightful posts but I think he took this thread too far in the wrong direction. And this one- 04-04-2019 5:21amRalph, it’s understandable to me that you really don’t see what you’re doing in this thread. It’s clear that you’re trying to broaden the OP’s view to include other products. It’s likely that the OP has single-ended connections but that’s not the point: he has stated his preferences and asked for feedback on those TWO preferences from consumers who own those products. You have systematically attacked [xxxxxx] products out of the gates. To wit |
If you can't find the offending posts then you simply have not looked very hard.Also some of the worst of these comments have been deleted by the administrators.Several others have responded to Atmasphere and cautioned him about these comments and tried to get him to conduct himself in a more reasonable and considered manner.Here is an example of one- steakster854 posts04-04-2019 5:23am@atmasphere IMHO, from my perspective - years ago, you kind of set the gold standard for the manner in which a manufacturer participates in these discussions. Your knowledge, experience and cordiality has earned enormous respect and appreciation in our community. It would be great if certain dealers followed your example. Yet, the posts in this particular thread appear to be an outlier. Perhaps, you were responding to the OP’s question more as an avid audiophile rather than a manufacturer. This would make perfect sense. With you wearing several hats as a manufacturer, audiophile and musician, it is quite remarkable. Yet, when one manufacturer comments on a competing manufacturer’s product, there is an invisible line that needs to be respected. |
It's been a long time since I posted anything on Audiogon but now feel a need to chime in. FWIW, I've owned an S30 amp since 2001and an MP3 preamp since 2002. Zipost; I've had no problem using a Koetsu Jade (0.2 mv) with the MP3. Plenty of gain and no noise issues and that's with NOS tubes in the phono stage. The MP1, I believe, has even more gain in the phono stage than the MP3 so it sounds like something is amiss. Why not give Ralph a call and get things straightened out so you can enjoy your MP1 for what it is; one of the best preamps in all of audio. Jtgofish; I've been reading Ralph's posts forever a decade and I have never seen what you allude to. In my personal dealings with him he has always courteous and patient and offers exceptional customer service. I find it disturbing that when asked to provide a single example none is forthcoming. |
I want to add to the comments about Ralph and Atma-sphere. First, my MA-1 amps are a daily joy. There is indeed something magic to the sound, especially when the rest of the system is tuned to the amps. And the system tuned to the room. I cannot say exactly what it is, but the MA-1s add a kind of inner light to the music, very addictive. I have v3.2. Maybe 3.3 would sound even better. Second, customer support from Ralph and company has been not just good, but outstanding. I always get informative and helpful answers to my mails. On issues concerning the whole system, not just the amps. Even when we don’t agree on all details (e g I think I CAN hear difference between different balanced cables) his views are always interesting and well reasoned, and usually agree with my experience. My system was built, partly with the help of Ralph, to include Audiokinesis speakers, Aesthetix Io phono stage, Lyra Atlas on a Hanss TT-30, and an Einstein The tube mk2 preamp. Most of it my own idea. The speaker suggestion was from Ralph, and I have not regretted a single day. The amp/speaker matching is maybe the most critical part, to get the most out of the Atma amps. I am happy to report that all the high quality firms making the products in my system - Lyra, Aesthetix, Audiokinesis, Einstein etc - have offered good support over the years. Yet Ralph is my favorite. Going far beyond "call of duty" and offering advice even though it concerns other products with no profit for Atma-sphere. This is great customer service. |
I, for one appreciate Ralph's contribution to this forum. His technical insight is outstanding. I have never read any response from Ralph that attacked another manufacturer or poster. He will respond to technical matters in a technical matter. That is not a negative. I actually wish more manufacturers would contribute. But, I can see why most don't. Unwarranted attacks. Ralph (and his company) are part of a very few that supports their products and will go out of his way to help customers. He kept his calm when a person attacked him because he didn't supply his schematics. No company in their right mind supplies schematics of current products. Too much industry theft out there. But, Ralph (suffering through the poster's attacks) calmly tried to help the person through his own issues. I have been to many audio conventions and shows. Ralph is one of the few that isn't stuck up, doesn't look down on people and will converse. So, no, I am definitely not buying the complaint. There are manufacturers that I will simply no longer purchase equipment from anymore. They don't stand by their older stuff. I can understand it if parts aren't made or available anymore. One can warehouse only so much before it isn't cost effective. I believe the rule for cars is that manufacturers are required to equip spare parts for cars for a certain amount of years after that model is discontinued. But to simply say, we don't support a piece of equipment (McIntosh MS 300/750 music servers for example), bu handing it over to a third party, watch that third party go out of business and not help their customers, tells me to stay away from McIntosh. I know. This is my choice. My experience. But, once burned...... I appreciate McIntosh products and quality. However, they should have stepped in to assist their customers in this issue. Instead, they ignored them (us). not cool. I have never seen or heard of Atmosphere (Ralph) not supporting their products. old or new.. enjoy |
Sadly, my financial situation is such that AtmaSphere's products are out of my price range. From everything I have read, both from customers who use his products, and from Ralph's responses to threads reaching across the spectrum of products on this forum, he has shown himself to be gracious and humble when sharing his obvious solid understanding of audio gear. Kinda shocked to see someone being so bitter. And with all the countless bits of evidence to contradict this negativity, I am choosing to keep my feelings about AtmaSphere, Ralph, his team and their product/CS the same. One day, I hope to be the recipient of what so many have described and a great experience. |
jtgofish, do you happen to have any distant relatives, possibly in Spain, who experienced failed encounters with windmills? Did you inherit their attitudes? I can't otherwise understand your singular and unreasonable attacks on AtmaSphere. Just make a simple tally of comments here by individuals. Your perspective is overwhelmed by all others. I have owned AtmaSphere electronics, although many years ago. My experience was that Ralph bent over backwards to assist me with a couple of problems, even though they were purchased used. Since then my only association has been reading his replies and comments on sites such as this one. In my view he is the epitome of knowledge, fairness, and helpfulness, all the while remaining a gentleman. As others said, I only wish there were more like him in the audio industry. |
Wow! I do not own any of atmosphere's products,however I always enjoy his posts. He always responds truthfully and with an abundance of knowledge. I have never seen him push or advertise his products in threads. I have very little technical knowledge of electronics,and I always learn something by reading Ralph's posts. Sounds like someone has a bee in his bonnet! |
jtgofish I will not give examples.That will only give oxygen to those comments and it is not in the best interest of anybody here to do that.The overwhelming view of those here - myself included - is that Ralph is one of our most consistently respectful and useful contributors. That shifts the burden of proof for a conflicting claim on you. |
Atmasphere you know very well the comments I am alluding to.The only time I can think of was when I saw photos of a product that was held together with hot melt glue internally and commented on it. Such a product when dropped in shipment or the like can easily become a shock and fire hazard. Anyone would be remiss to not comment on something like that, nor (as I later discovered) was I the only one to do so by any means! Its hard to see how such a product could be viewed as a threat. So, no, I don't know to that which you allude. |
I will not give examples.That will only give oxygen to those comments and it is not in the best interest of anybody here to do that.Anybody can suffer from a lapse of judgement and suspect that is really what has happened here.People in this business/hobby do tend to get passionate about things and sometimes their enthusiasm can get the better of them.Best just to move on. |
