atmasphere

Responses from atmasphere

which is better ? MC phono stage or MM+step-up ?
We've specifically avoided using SS input in our tube phono section. Instead, we created the first fully-differential phono stage (1989) as a means to keep noise down. I've tried a variety of SUTs (and never had a hum problem, FWIW). SUTs do offer... 
Tube-amp for Magnepan?
Magnaplanar is 30 minutes from our front door. Over the last 30 years we've had a lot of experience with them. In fact, our first prototypes were used immediately on Maggies as that was one of the speakers we were using for reference (Tympani 1Us ... 
Tube-amp for Magnepan?
Maggies are not that hard to drive. The types with the magnets on one side only do have a knee in their power response curve due to the fact that the magnetic field falls off at the square of the distance. Below that knee 50 watts should make them... 
CES 2010 and THE SHOW
This year had the best foot traffic I have seen at T.H.E. Show in years. It was fun seeing Harry Pearson's presentation, and the food was great! I heard several reports that CES only had two floors this year so it appears that it was about 2-2 1/2... 
Using XLR for Phono out
John_tracy, just for the record, to do things balanced does not double the parts (its about 50% more) and the noise is actually **lower** for a given stage of gain, not higher! The noise is theoretically 6 db less per given stage of gain; this can... 
Amplifier for Klipsch Cornwalls
Winoguy17, no worries! Not all tube amps are equal :) 
The closest approach: what amplification?
Ggavetti, I completely agree with you. To be clear here though, its not the audiophiles that need to understand this stuff, its the **designers**!IOW when you see designers building equipment that follows the human perceptual rules rather than ben... 
Amplifier for Klipsch Cornwalls
Those 15 inch woofers can sound slow and mushy with tubes.The size of the woofers has nothing to do with the speed of the amp; this is a common amplifier myth. It turns out that if the woofers are over-damped, that that can slow them down, IOW if ... 
The closest approach: what amplification?
If you are going to make progress with audio, the first thing you have to do it look at the way the human ear perceives sound- IOW understand the rules of human hearing.Unfortunately while the bench specs we are so used to were being developed, re... 
Amplifier for Klipsch Cornwalls
Most high efficiency loudspeakers get their efficiency from tight gaps and precise construction. As a result they are highly reactive and are over-damped with anything more than a very moderate output impedance from the amp.IOW, a tube amplifier w... 
Zero Autoformer good/bad for Atma/Quad combo
Jwm, just for the record, all ESLs have an input matching transformer. So if you used a set of ZEROs with a transformer coupled amp you would be passing the signal through three transformers if you were using ZEROs. Even though we are an OTL manuf... 
Which tube monos? So many choices.Very intimidated
FWIW the 2.2 ohm figure is not a problem for any tube amp because it is at higher frequencies and is not broadband. Its actually more of a problem for transistors that make too much power into that impedance! The rising impedance at low frequencie... 
low output mc: noise free listening possible?
My experience has been that low noise is possible with tubes as well as transistors. You can do it by going fully differential. Contrary to Herman's comment balanced operation in fact offers you lower noise and immunity to artifacts in the interco... 
Using XLR for Phono out
R_f_sayles, almost all phono cartridges are balanced sources. Many arms are too. The signal is converted from balanced to single-ended usually in the way the RCA cables are connected to the arm. That is why there is that weird grounding wire that ... 
Questions on switching to tube amplification
The 2Ce's are very tube-friendly!! You won't have any troubles finding something to work with them.