A very interesting thread as I will soon have an opportunity to listen to the Atmasphere amps with Electrostatics (SoundLab) and hopefully my Magnepan 3.5s if the dealer will allow me to lug them to his shop.
As for the suggestion to stick with ss for ribbons because of the lack of "speed" with transformer'd tube amps, I just have to disagree here. I did indeed hear the Magnepans at my dealer (Minneapolis) on both Bryston and ARC amps. It was absolutely yawn city with the Brystons. I just don't get it with all the praise from people using these amps with Magnepans. Without the "you are there" feeling, who cares about speed!
The Maggies bring on an incredible emotion to the music when driven by a number of tube amps that simply is not there with the Brystons. The hybrid (tube input / ss output) Counterpoint NPS400 far exceeds the Brystons in a most natural tonal balance and resolution. But the Wolcotts bring on a whole new level of natural decay of notes and 3-dimensionality beyond the Counterpoint.
I have no idea the quantity of "speed" of the Wolcotts. Until I hear an ss amp that can do what the Wolcotts can do, I will stay with what I have. And from what I have read from Rushton's many responses here, I can only imagine that the Atmasphere's would be another huge leap in this direction.
John
As for the suggestion to stick with ss for ribbons because of the lack of "speed" with transformer'd tube amps, I just have to disagree here. I did indeed hear the Magnepans at my dealer (Minneapolis) on both Bryston and ARC amps. It was absolutely yawn city with the Brystons. I just don't get it with all the praise from people using these amps with Magnepans. Without the "you are there" feeling, who cares about speed!
The Maggies bring on an incredible emotion to the music when driven by a number of tube amps that simply is not there with the Brystons. The hybrid (tube input / ss output) Counterpoint NPS400 far exceeds the Brystons in a most natural tonal balance and resolution. But the Wolcotts bring on a whole new level of natural decay of notes and 3-dimensionality beyond the Counterpoint.
I have no idea the quantity of "speed" of the Wolcotts. Until I hear an ss amp that can do what the Wolcotts can do, I will stay with what I have. And from what I have read from Rushton's many responses here, I can only imagine that the Atmasphere's would be another huge leap in this direction.
John