Atmasphere preamps

I had owned the MP-1 for better than two years. Amps were A-S MA-2's. The match was very satifying. The amps need to be balanced. The phono stage should also be balanced. Ralph Karsten has prided himself on the phono stage, which he told me the piece was designed for. As a line stage the MP-1 was very musical, and with the MA-2, very detailed. For a short time I had a pair of Classe CAM 200's driving the A-S preamp. I found this to be a mismatch. As is typical, inserting the piece in your system proves most practical.

Fjn04, since you brought up the Jadis line of preamps I will chime back in. I have owned a Jadis JP-80MC for nearly 12 years. It is the only component I have been compelled to hold on to.
A backgound of my experiences with the JP-80 and MP-1. In 2001 I bought a set of Atma-Sphere MA-2 mono blocks. These amps were splendid, but prefer balanced inputs, which are unavailable on my Jadis. So I bought a used MP-1 with all the upgrades. The match was top-grade except for a few essential ingredients. Great detail, strong bottom end and treble extension, along with some of the best soundstage and imaging produced in my listening space. Missing, though, was the body and involvement delivered by the mid-bass; the soul of the music.
As you have written the Jadis is, if nothing else, very musical. I spoke to others about modifying the Jadis. I commissioned a modifier to attempt extending the JP-80's frequency extremes while retaining it's musical qualities. For the most part the mod has proven successful. After nearly 4 months of break-in the preamp played musically and had loads of extension. The issue of A-S/Jadis match continued to go unresolved.
Being a fan of OTL's the large Joules came highly recommended and with their 220 watts of power, just might fit the bill. I purchased a used pair of Rite of Passage amps, with single-ended ins, played with cables and isolation, and let the entire system slowly break in. I now find this set-up to be the most musically and emotionally satisfying of any I have owned. For nearly nine months I have not sought out other options...except for maybe a new cartridge. If you knew me you would understand the profundity of such a statement.
The Atma-Sphere equipment is some of the best I have owned, but taking in to consideration the amount of time tweaking the Jadis/Joule/Avalon has received, the colorations produced by the latter is so much more fitting for the music I wish to hear.