Budget Amp for Avalon Eidolon

Hi Bill, I did chime in about Atma-Sphere amps with the Eidolons on Eavr11's first thread "down to earth amp for Avalon Eidolon." Thanks for thinking of me.

FWIW, I've listened to Eidolons with a variety of amps in other people's systems over the years. For my listening priorities (and I listen primarily to classical music, jazz and acoustic blues), none of the solid state amps combined with the Eidolons make music that is as involving and as true to the timbre of acoustic instruments as are good tube amps. And none of the tube amps I've heard are as articulate, resolving and neutral (with absolute authority at the lower frequency range of the speaker) as the Atma-Sphere MA-2s. (And, yes, I've heard various Spectral amps matched with these speakers several times, in all Spectral systems and with MIT cable. No offense intended, it's simply not the direction I would chose to go given my listening priorities.)

Of the large tube amps that I think would be a good match, my first preference would be Atma-Sphere MA-2 or MA-1 (no surprise there), followed by Joule Electra, Wolcott and BAT 150SE. All of these are available from time-to-time on the used market at prices that are more "down to earth" but certainly not "budget" category.

Eavr11, you've acquired a marleous speaker with the Eidolon. I hope you will enjoy it!
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Eavr11, I believe the Atma-Sphere MA-1 will drive the Eidolons just fine with probably a bit less control and authority in the bass than the MA-2 provides, but I've not heard this combination myself so I'm working second hand here and extrapolating from what I hear with the MA-2s. Ralph tells me his customers using the MA-1 with Eidolons are reporting good things to him. If you're interested in considering this combination, I encourage you to call or email Ralph directly to hear what he has to say. As compared to other amps you might use, what you may not quite have in terms of ultimate bass authority, you will more than offset by the benefits these marvelous Class A Triode OTLs offer in terms of transparency, resolution, speed, timbral accuracy and the superb rendering of harmonic overtones.

Be aware that if you buy a used Atma-Sphere amp, you can have it shipped to the factory for them to check out and upgrade to current factory spec. If they do that, they will extend a "new" warranty to you with the update. As I've commented elsewhere, the update from the MkII.2 to MkII.3 on my MA-2 was a very significant improvement, and I'd encourage anyone with a MkII.2 Atma-Sphere amp to seriously consider making this upgrade.

As to the autoformers, clearly don't use them unless there is a need to change the speaker's impedance. I hear both very positive things from owners who use them, and I hear more neutral comments. From what I've gathered in talking to people who've tried them, I think you have to try them in your system relative to your listening priorities.

Tom (Trcnetmsncom), I agree with your assessment of the BAT 150se monobloacks driving the Eidolons. The sound I heard on your system with the BAT electronics driving your Eidolon Diamonds was very good, indeed. To my ear, the combination presented a very neutral, detailed and dynamic sound, with excellent soundstaging, that is very pleasing for long term listening. I would far prefer this combination to any solid state amp I've heard with the Eidolons, and to quite a number of other tube amps as well.
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