2. amps-preamps
  3. 190562-2906

Preamp suggestions for Atma-Sphere Class D Monoblocks

As I impatiently await the arrival of my Atma-Sphere class-d monos, I am writing to solicit opinions from experienced members on this site. Balanced inputs and outputs as well as the ability to connect a subwoofer are important. Headphone amp would be nice but not critical. Ditto for built-in phono. These are some of the tube and solid state units I am considering (not necessarily exhaustive):

  1. Atma-Sphere MP-3 mk3.3
  2. Cary SLP-05 (ultimate edition, if I can find a pristine used pair at a good price)
  3. Modwright LS-100
  4. PrimaLuna EVO 400
  5. Supratek - Champagne or 6SN7 Cabernet - I have no idea what the difference between these two are and the website is not helpful at all
  6. Anthem STR
  7. Benchmark LA-4/HPA-4
  8. Bryston BR-20 (or one of their purely analog variants - BP-19?) - I am hesitant to bundle streaming and dac into a preamp
  9. NAD M66
  10. ?

I will initially use the Bel Canto DAC2.8 as a dac and preamp with an Auralic Aries G1.1 as the streamer. My speakers are Totem Acoustic Forest Signatures, sub is a REL s/510 that I seldom use. I am unsure whether I can use the speaker level connections with the A-S monos (my current Bel Canto Ref510S class d amp has a chassis grounding screw to which I connect the REL’s ground wire).

Philosophically speaking, I have owned a wide range of equipment over the years - everything from "measurements above all" type gear (a full Benchmark stack), a few tube pieces (PrimaLuna, Tavish Design, Rogue), Class A amplification (Pass Labs XA-30.8) and a completely active Genelec 8351b based system. I seem to be slowly but surely gravitating towards subjectively great sounding gear, regardless of how they measure - the Totems are a case in point. However, I don’t want to find that I have moved too far in any one direction. At the end of the day, I value realism and emotional connection more than the ability to deconstruct the music but I don’t want to listen to a sloppy system that homogenizes everything. I’m sure this is all clear as mud! It is however, a reflection of where I am at the end of 28 years of being on this hamster wheel. All thoughts and suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.

srama

Showing 1 response by jallan

jallan
335 posts
 

I own a CarySLP 05 with ultimate upgrade. Bought it used a few years ago in pristine condition for $4300. It has a decent headphone amp. I’ve had great fun tube rolling and my current setup uses Raytheon VT231’s in the gain stages and CBS Hytron 5692’s in the buffer positions. I have a variety of VT231 and 5692 tubes to play with and it is fun to optimize certain characteristics (for example, Ken-Rad VT-231’s seem to have the most solid bass while still being creamy in the highs, while Sylvania seem to have a bit of sparkle in the highs, with this being heard from VT-231’s to NOS 6SN7 GTB’s from the 1960’s. 
 

Tube rolling doesn’t have to be expensive- I really like the NOS Sylvania GTB’s from the 1960’s that I bought at $35 matched each from Brent Jessee, enjoying them far more New Sensor Electroharmonix tubes.

 

 I have really enjoyed this preamp. Tremendous imaging with well-resolved holographic instrument placement, very quiet with black backgrounds, tremendous sense of dynamics and inner detail. Make sure to use a high quality rectifier tube!

 

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