Review: Atma-Sphere Class D Amplifiers

[Lagonda]

Great review Tim, the compare with the Lamm's is a nice detail . You must be using a more generous cartridge or preamp tube than me. I have always found Trio to be a example of great music but a bad digital recording, thinish and somewhat brittle in tone, lacking emphasis on drums and bass. Just pulled the 2 copies i own and must say that impression holds. Voices are sounding clear and separate in the mix, and heavily voices they are !

 

[PeterA]

Each listener can judge for himself. I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to include a video. Do you think it makes sense to do so?

Tim, I’ve never seen a reviewer include a link to a system video demonstrating the component under review. I think it’s an interesting idea that can compliment the review with additional information. The reader can choose whether or not to watch the video.

 

[Al M.]

Each listener can judge for himself. I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to include a video. Do you think it makes sense to do so?

I didn't care about the video (surprise!) but I did very much appreciate your inclusion and explanation of musical examples, as well as the excerpt from the Bartok score.

 

[tima]

Great review Tim, the compare with the Lamm's is a nice detail . You must be using a more generous cartridge or preamp tube than me. I have always found Trio to be a example of great music but a bad digital recording, thinish and somewhat brittle in tone, lacking emphasis on drums and bass. Just pulled the 2 copies i own and must say that impression holds. Voices are sounding clear and separate in the mix, and heavily voices they are !

Thank you very much Milan. Pre and phono are Lamm Signature models. Aidas Mammoth Gold Cartridge.

Not a lot of bass and drum other than as the rhythm section, but I don't think the music intends an emphasis on bass and drums. Check this cut out, Emmy-Lou and Dolly

Post your female vocal videos

Ella Fitzgerald - 1938 From the Mosaic Records Savory Collection set.

www.whatsbestforum.com

edit I think it's cool you have that record!

 

[bonzo75]

Each listener can judge for himself. I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to include a video. Do you think it makes sense to do so?

It makes sense to include videos. Fremer has released videos though separately to a review which he said are representative., including compares (techdas AF3 vs Oma)

 

[Rexp]

Each listener can judge for himself. I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to include a video. Do you think it makes sense to do so?

Yes, sometimes a video can be really helpful, particularly with sources, although what we're listening to in this case is the sound of the amps in combination with your speakers so it is possible that the reason I don't like the sound is down to some sort of mismatch between the two.

 

[Lagonda]

Thank you very much Milan. Pre and phono are Lamm Signature models. Aidas Mammoth Gold Cartridge.

Not a lot of bass and drum other than as the rhythm section, but I don't think the music intends an emphasis on bass and drums. Check this cut out, Emmy-Lou and Dolly

Post your female vocal videos

Ella Fitzgerald - 1938 From the Mosaic Records Savory Collection set.

www.whatsbestforum.com

edit I think it's cool you have that record!

I have almost everything those wonderful woman have recorded, especially Emmylou, she is my favorite artist.

 

[tima]

I have almost everything those wonderful woman have recorded, especially Emmylou, she is my favorite artist.

She has the strongest voice of the three -- witness ~ 3:20, really dynamic. Sopranos and pianos are good tests for a system. And that track is the last on the side, great for finding out if you hear any inner groove distortion which can suggest anti-skate is not quite right.

 

[PeterA]

Yes, sometimes a video can be really helpful, particularly with sources, although what we're listening to in this case is the sound of the amps in combination with your speakers so it is possible that the reason I don't like the sound is down to some sort of mismatch between the two.

I think what one hears in the video is consistent with what is written in the review. You may just prefer the sound of his system with the Lamm amplifiers in his other videos. I think including a link to the video is a nice addition to the review. I would like to see more of it in the future.

 

[Lagonda]

Thank you very much Milan. Pre and phono are Lamm Signature models. Aidas Mammoth Gold Cartridge.

Not a lot of bass and drum other than as the rhythm section, but I don't think the music intends an emphasis on bass and drums. Check this cut out, Emmy-Lou and Dolly

Post your female vocal videos

Ella Fitzgerald - 1938 From the Mosaic Records Savory Collection set.

www.whatsbestforum.com

edit I think it's cool you have that record!

Wonderful song, with Linda Ronstad singing lead !

 

[wil]

She has the strongest voice of the three -- witness ~ 3:20, really dynamic. Sopranos and pianos are good tests for a system. And that track is the last on the side, great for finding out if you hear any inner groove distortion which can suggest anti-skate is not quite right.

I find Emmylou’s best work is as a harmonizer— specifically with Gram Parsons. Some artists reach their peak very early.

 

[Lagonda]

I find Emmylou’s best work is as a harmonizer— specifically with Gram Parsons. Some artists reach their peak very early.

I hope you mean Parson peaked early ? Emmylou has done great albums into her 70's. "Spyboy", "Wrecking Ball" , "All the Roadrunning" with Knopfler and "The Traveling Kind" comes to mind. I fell in love with her voice long before i knew who she was, i thought it was the violinist Scarlet Rivera singing backup on Dylans 1976 "Desire" album, found out years later that is was Emmylou.

 

[wil]

I'm glad you like her work. I just find her voice a little thin when solo. On the other hand, her singing with Parsons in duet was transcendent. She has a particular genius in harmony.

But music brings on strong personal preferences.
Who knows what Parsons would have done as he sadly died at 26.

 

[Lagonda]

I'm glad you like her work. I just find her voice a little thin when solo. On the other hand, her singing with Parsons in duet was transcendent. She has a particular genius in harmony.

But music brings on strong personal preferences.
Who knows what Parsons would have done as he sadly died at 26.

Try " Spyboy" a live album, amazing stuff. " Deeper Well" and "The Maker" will give your system a good workout. Brady Blade on drums and Darryl Johnson on bass is not for the weak hearted. Emmylou vocals on " Boulder to Birmingham ", a song she wrote in memory of Parson are heavenly!

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

Very fine review Tim. I have owned Atma-Sphere amps for decades, MA1 (Mk3.3 now) Silver Editions (my fav). Comparing them to Ralph’s new D class creations in home, I ultimately came to pretty much the same conclusions sonically in juxtaposition between these excellent devices as your ears heard. With many considerations, I believe these D class offer a compelling alternative and sound remarkably like their OTL tube predecessors. No surprise there

 

[Verdier]

I have owned Atma-Sphere amps for decades, MA1 (Mk3.3 now) Silver Editions (my fav).

Which preamp are you using?

 

[tima]

Which preamp are you using?

I'm not DVR but his signature suggests he has the Aesthetix Rhea Eclipse phonostage and the Aesthetix Metis linestage. Fwiw, the Atma-Sphere MP-1 preamp also works quite well with the MA1; I owned both for several years. Both Aesthetix and Atma preamps need quiet tubes.

 

[Holmz]

Each listener can judge for himself. I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to include a video. Do you think it makes sense to do so?

It also might make sense to include links to the tracks, if they exist on digital??
I tried using Spotify, but maybe I need to Q-buzz (sp?).
Then I might be also to better hear what you are writing in more of tactile/experiential way.

I did see you have a TT based system, so that might be a problem with a lot of the material.

Your videos usually sound great, this one not so much:

I don’t know what is happening here…
I hooked the iPad to the DAC and ran it all through the 2 channel setup.
The thing started crackling and snapping at about 8’00” in and the DAC just stopped playing.
I thought maybe it was the DAC had too high of an output, but lowering to -15dB did not help, so I am guessing that the material is clipped on digital side somewhere between your end, and the YouTube output here.

But it was sounding pretty good until the volume go to the point where there was not much left towards the digital rails.

 

[tima]

It also might make sense to include links to the tracks, if they exist on digital??
I tried using Spotify, but maybe I need to Q-buzz (sp?).
Then I might be also to better hear what you are writing in more of tactile/experiential way.

I did see you have a TT based system, so that might be a problem with a lot of the material.


I don’t know what is happening here…
I hooked the iPad to the DAC and ran it all through the 2 channel setup.
The thing started crackling and snapping at about 8’00” in and the DAC just stopped playing.
I thought maybe it was the DAC had too high of an output, but lowering to -15dB did not help, so I am guessing that the material is clipped on digital side somewhere between your end, and the YouTube output here.

But it was sounding pretty good until the volume go to the point where there was not much left towards the digital rails.

Thank you for your comments.

Yes, all the music used for the Class D review is on LP and each selection is listed with a catalog number for identification. I won't use problematic music material in my reviews. The video is on YouTube and plays fine according to other listeners and on my desktop playback.

This is only my second review that includes music examples via video of my system with the review component. The first was a review of the Aidas Mammoth Gold moving-coil cartridge which includes 3 YouTube video links. I'm not aware of other reviews that include system videos

 

[Mgrif104]

I had to chuckle when I received this comment: "I wouldn’t have thought you would be familiar with Dolly Parton’s music."

As I don’t know you well, you surprised me - in a refreshing way!
A very fine write-up, Tim. Comprehensive, articulate, authentic, and enjoyable to read.