2. amps-preamps
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Preamp for Atma-sphere s30

Hi,

My Hovland hp200p was "stolen" by a transport company after it was repaired in another town, so now I am looking for a preamp for my Atma-Sphere s30. I am looking in the second hand market. I am looking at a Audio research LS26, and a bat vk-51se (both second hand). It is sadly not posible to test before buying, they are in another part of Norway. Is there anybody that have any experince with these preamps together with the atma-sphere s30? Any other sugestions to what preamps that is a good match?(It has to be a remote controlled preamp!)

My hifi gear is:
Atma-Sphere s30
Merlin vsm mxe with super bam(xlr/rca)
Emm labs cdsd and dac 6e se
Wilson benech full circle
Logitech transporter
Cardas g.r cables

Regards
Kjetil
kjetil666

Showing 2 responses by martykl

martykl
3,578 posts
 
I used a Joule (among others)/S-30/VSM-se combo +/- a dozen years ago. Mine was a very early S-30 (One of the very first IIRC. It was intended to be a demo, but I bought it from the dealer in Venice, CA. about 15 minutes after he unpacked it - lust at first sight!).

I understand that these early examples may not be representative of later production. That said, it worked well with the VSM, but sort of "doubled down" on the Merlin house sound - an impression of a strikingly transparent midband coupled with some leanness thru the mid-bass.

I ended up preferring Cary 300B monos with the speakers, but I'm sure that some tastes will find the S-30/VSM combo absolutely irresistable.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Ralph,

I got the impression (maybe from one of your posts here) that there were changes made after the first 15 units. I've never heard a later production example, but my early example certainly had its strengths which were evident when it was appropriately partnered up in the right system and weaknesses that were exposed by less happy marriages. I have no reason to doubt your observation that later units are less "picky" . I hope my post made it clear that I wasn't generalizing about the sound of current/later production S-30s, as I have no experience with them.

To this day, I'd list it among the best looking industrial designs to ever come out of high end audio.

Marty
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