Thank you for updating the preamp (MP-1 MkIII to Mk 3.1). More dynamics, more detail and smoother too. I just want to turn the volume up more.


Tri Mai, Triplanar

I listen to vinyl mostly, and sold my Audio Note phono stage after hearing the the MP-3. I never realized how mushy the sound was!


Andrew, NY

The amps [MA-1 MkII.3 updated to Mk3.1] sound GREAT!
Thanks

Gordon W, CA

Mr. Karsten,
I'm just in awe of the sound!!!! Forgive me for blubbering, this has been a dream of mine for 20 years to own one of your amps.

Rick W, CO

WOW... WOW, WOW, WOW......! Ralph, I let them [M-60 Mk3.1] settle in for 72 hours and began playing them on Sunday morning. I like to think that I have a pretty good ear for fidelity, but these things just blew me away. They have exceeded my expectations in every way possible, I mean it Ralph, your amps are truly amazing... even more so when considering that I was comparing them to one of your S-30's (which played beautifully in its own right).

I have them set-up with a Shanling CDT-100 through the tube output stage, into a Sunfire (Tube) preamp and am using Paul Speltz impedance coils [Zeros, see Paul's website] at x-3 into ML "Source" hybrid ESL's. Am also using a pair of (older) Bowers-Wilkinson subs for a little help on the bottom end.

Great deal, certainly worth the money and then some. Thank you so much.

.. and my Gal thinks they are very pretty...!

You Ralph are my newest best friend....!

Thanks again

Kevin C., US military overseas

I used the preamp [custom mic preamp- yes, we make those too, so John was recording with this unit] a lot this last weekend - worked great - fantastic low noise - which was very helpful !

John P., WI

PS, the table [Atma-Sphere 208] is pretty amazing....bests my 10k Clearaudio on a couple of fronts....throwing a large immediate very present soundstage almost in my lap.

...BTW, feel free to have any prospective 208 customers call or e-mail .... happy to explain what an amazing purchase/component it is.

Darrin

Ralph, I have had some of the best audio equipment that Audio Research makes in my system and your "entry level" equipment blows it away (I used to have an Audio Research Ref II Mark II modified by Great Northern Sound and a VT 200). There is no comparison. Your S-30 and MP3 provides some of the sweetest and most satisfying music that I have heard in my house. Thanks so much!

Ron

I picked up one of your S-30 amps on the internet last week. I wanted to compliment you on the quality, looks and above all- the sound. Absolutely astounding. I have a degree in music from Berklee in Boston- I played for years In Jazz and R&B groups. I actually know what live instruments and voices sound like. So when I tell you that your amp is a major breakthrough in Hi-Fidelity - I mean it.

I have been working with relatively high class equipment for probably 40 years - your product wins - hands down.

I am saving up my pennies to buy one of your pre-amps...Thanks for a terrific instrument.

Rick, Maine

Every thing is sounding great. I am extremely happy with the level of performance the MP-1 and the M-60 have displayed driving the Avantgarde horn systems. They seem to light a fire under the speakers, with a clarity and dynamics unheard in other amplifiers and preamplifiers at twice their cost...

Trevor, West Indies

[on the MP-3 and M-60 MkIII] This product is the most beautiful sounding that I have ever heard. It is like being in Heaven and having the angels play the music for you. I congratulate you on such a wonderful product.

Antonio, NY

[M-60 Mk. II kit (1997)] For the first time in my listening 'career' . . . I am captivated by the MUSIC, not just the 'sounds'. I look forward to every listening session.

Mike, NJ

Hi Ralph,

[in reference to the M-60 MkII on stacked Quad ESL57s] I tried them [the Quads] in series and liked them a lot. As did my audio buddies. Much better than the four old Quad ii amps.

My only complaint with the Quad IIs was a certain boomy overhang in the bass that no amount of faffing about with speaker placement in my 20 X 30 X 9 1/2 room would get rid of. I know that Quad 57s start to roll off rapidly at around 50-60Hz but their bass is supposed to be clean, tight and fast so they shouldn't boom. But over time ears get used to a certain sound so I learned to live with it because the 57s do everything else so well. 25 years ago I used to run a single pair of 57s with a Leak Stereo 20 amplifier and there was no boominess.

The Atma-Spheres restored the clean and tight bass. Then I tried one Quad II amp per channel in series and that boominess was gone too. But not as transparent as the Atma-Sphere. Like a photograph that is well focused until someone shows you how to fine focus even more. Not as much detail either. Maybe my four Quad amps have drifted in performance from each other. Would that account for the boominess? I know nothing about electronics so I can only speculate. A friend who builds his own stuff is going to check them out and make their performance as identical as possible.

But I am smitten with the Atma-Spheres. I asked my friend to let me borrow them for a while longer so I can give them an extensive listen.

I am off for some Debussy piano music by Gieseking. More observations to come. I promise no purple prose.

Kind regards,
Demetri

Just to drop you a note. I am enjoying my S-30 [Mk 3.1] as much as I had hoped. The music is so much more real now. Thank you also for the IC cables... Overall, this has been a great experience.

Thanks again,
Boris

I think you are actually underselling the impact of the MK 3 to MK 3.1 upgrade [MA-1]. To these ears, the upgrade has manifested itself by providing even more detail, speed, and clarity, while sounding smoother and more musical.

There is an increased flow and organic nature to the music (which were already areas of strength) that I am really enjoying. From the strum of the guitar, to the slam of snare drum to the bite of sax, to the sultriness of a female voice, it's all mo better. :-)

George, MA

I'm not sure if I've ever told you but everyone in my audio circle is astonished at how realistic and "live" my system sounds regardless of source. I think Mike, who is a musician himself says, "it just sounds like music". I think that is in a large part due to your products [MA-2 Mk 3.1 and MP-1 Mk III] and how they pair so well with the Soundlabs.

Rick, Ottawa

I have recently purchased two MA-2 Mk.3.1 amplifiers from Hi Fi One. ...FYI the amps replaced AR M-300s driving the Mid-High panels of my IRS Betas. The difference in sound was not subtle, these amps sound great, my IRS Betas have never sounded better.

...Thanks again. These will be the last amplifiers I will use in this system.

Jay

[M-60 Mk 3.1] Superb musical performance for a new amplifier [not broken in]. The sonic reproduction of these OTL amplifiers of my concert guitars on recordings is exemplary; realistic tone, full body, physical beauty.

Angel, PR.

[MP-1 MkIII] Immediate and significant upgrade to my system. It now has Life! Very musical- not analytical at all.

Mark, WA.

I purchased an MP-1(very early MK. 3) from Bob H*** and I am stunned as to how good it is. More music and less artifact than I have ever heard from any music system.

Mike

One of the things I liked on your amps [M-60 Mk. 3.1] is the natural way they reproduce the high frequency. I do recordings and hear always live music. A lot of music systems today are not correct with the exaggerated extended top end, as live music does not sound this way. The reason I sent you the demo cd is because when you check on the bottom for the guitar's maker, I have four of those Paulino Bernabe Instruments now in my house and your amps were so impressive in sound reproduction with hardly any hours on them.

Angel, Puerto Rico

The M-60 is still breaking in. 150 hours to go.The music is breathtaking beautiful, emotionally involving and very pure. Thanks! Best Regards,

Ronald, Netherlands

[MA-2 Mk 3.1] I must say using your amps to drive my Wilson Alexandra is the best sound I have gotten ever.

They are so good. I am thinking to get two pair to drive my Nola Grand Reference 4 in Hong Kong (the four tower system) - which is currently driven by my full-Cello system.

Wing, Singapore

[MA-1 Mk.3.1]:...they look very good and sound great. I've been busy so have only played them for a few hours so far but the clarity, natural richness of sound and dynamics are amazing. They drive my Jamo R909's dual 15 inch woofers with lots of authority. That impedance dip between 60 and 30hz of 3 ohms does not seem to be any problem at all. The bass is tighter, bigger and deeper than with my solid state Blue Circle BC8's.

Based on the performance of these amps, I'll definitely be considering one of your pre-amps soon when I get my cash reserves back up.

Alessandro

[MP-1 Mk. III] You have a brilliant preamp, but the real world out there is caught up with glitz, price, and "the latest review":. Deaf ears, large egos and less than high resolution systems keeps your preamp "a best kept secret":.

I appreciate it. It is a work of art.

David, MN

Hi Ralph,

Apologies for not responding sooner. I wanted to thank you for the excellent customer service in upgrading my M-60's [originally Mk II.2] to Mk3.1. The improvement was immediately audible in my system - just as you described - increases in resolution and smoothness.

Thanks again for such a superb amplifier. I've already sold at least two of them for you via my raves to fellow audiophiles. Please continue your pursuit of further improvements!

David

(MP-1 Mk. 3.1) This thing is incredible. The dynamics and bass are out of this world and worth the price of admission alone. I thought it was a little forward at first but it's settling in perfectly. I really couldn't be happier and I hope the audio world catches on soon enough and you sell a boatload.

Rusty, Arizona

(update MA-2 MkIII to Mk 3.1 and MP-1 MkIII to Mk3.1):

Wow! This thing sounds fantastic. It's hard for me to tell what is doing what given that I upgraded the preamp and switched the amps a the same time, but the obvious things are that the whole thing is smoother, more relaxed, quieter, more detailed, more dynamic, deeper bass (much deeper actually but without being overpowering - go figure), and generally just really nice to listen to.

Thank you again for a great upgrade.

Rick, Ottawa

Ralph, As a follow up to our conversation and e-mails, I wanted to let you know that I purchased the MA-1 SE [Silver Edition- this set was updated to MkIII] amps and installed them in my system. They replaced a set of MFA M120B amps that I consider to be very good. I was not prepared for the result. The sound stage was 50% wider, bass was deeper, and the detail was significantly greater. But the most impressive change was the way the music came through. I now have an entirely new music collection to explore. I don't know how you can improve upon this, but I will be sending them in shortly for the upgrade from Mk. 3 to 3.1.

Thanks for indulging me in my questions and obsessions.

Best regards,
Mike

[MP-3 preamp] What can I say except, 'Outstanding.' The MP-3 is without a doubt the finest preamp I have owned or heard. Biggest single difference: Dynamics.

Michael, TX

[M-60 Mk3.1] Beautiful.

Rod, NM

I listen to these M-60s and I just grin-that is, until I think of all the time I wasted with solid state. Of course, I don't mean to slight the MP-3. It's absolutely the best preamp I've ever heard.

What an amazing sound. Thank you for following this career path.

Bob, IL

[M-60 MkII.2] They are the best amps I have ever heard... thanks for the music.

Ralph, WV

[MP-3] Incredible! Ralph and his staff are the new "Wizards of Menlo Park."

Michael, AZ

Ralph, I've had the amps now for a week and all I can say is that after many years of listening to many amps, many highly regarded, and as a bit of an old coot jaded by the hobby, your amplifiers are a real revelation. I have never heard my system or any system as capable of communicating the musical message and performance. It feels as if these were the amps I've been waiting to own and it took my long path to appreciate how wonderful they are. Obviously the result of some great design work and thinking about how to make an amp that works to keep the musical message with minimal damage. A great job. My pre arrives next week, we'll see...

Paul

This is to let you know that I had a chance to buy a new MP-3, this time with all the most recent upgrades installed, including regulation, caps, etc. I traded in my old MP-3, plugged in the new one and... WOW, the difference is huge. Sonics have dramatically changed: tighter, faster response, more highs... I guess this is exactly what was to be expected from the updates.

As you can see, Atma-Sphere has captivated me to the point where I have to buy the same gear twice. Thanks for your support.

Stefano, Italy

Dear Ralph: The upgrade [from early Mk.II] to Mark III to my M60s was great! I can't believe the difference--more detail, more power to lower frequencies, more gain across the board--I couldn't be more pleased. Thanks and kudos to you and your staff for a job very well done!

Jamie, NY

[M-60 Mk.III] I'm in awe. How to describe the sound? A.R.C. with soul? Shindo without the added "liquidness"? At the end of the day comparisons fail, what's left is my drug of choice. By far.

Terrence, AZ

One question: HOW is it that this device is so good? What IS it that makes the difference? [We wrote back that its all about our patented direct-coupled output.]

It [the MP-3] is clearly and demonstrably (even now after about 17 hours) better than my top telefunken tubed Aesthetix by a country mile, and I simply did not think it possible. Within my budget, I thought I was now into the sort of territory where significant improvement was unlikely and changes would be more a matter of taste than obvious improvement. Snare drum timbre improved at about 10 - 12 hours BTW. My wife is no audiophile and she can hear it too.... I simply don't understand how you have managed to get those stock russky tubes to deliver realistic timbre and so on.

Best wishes,
Dave

I was just writing to tell you how much pleasure it has been doing business with you. As a customer of yours for 10+ years, I can confirm all the glowing reviews that your equipment has received. This is not why I write. Many companies can make equipment that generates glowing reviews; the harder feat is customer service, and you have excelled in this regard. I recently upgraded my M-60s. After that I realized that there was some noise in my older MP-3 phono section. It was a low level 60 cycle hum mixed in with the noise floor. I explained it to you and you insisted that I send it in for a check up. Even though it was out of warranty you spent the time rooting out the cause, but best of all, you fixed the problem with significant work and parts and didn't charge me a cent for the service-even for return shipping.

I love how quiet my system is now. I knew it was amazing when I was listening to an old Bollywood 45 and I could hear the 50 cycle hum from the amps used to make the recording oh so many years ago.

Thank you,
AG, California

[On the MA-1 MkIII] It is spectacular! I've played acoustic guitar for 30 years and and used to be married to a classical pianist (with a B-model Steinway); your amps come as close as anything I have heard to making the system disappear.

Jack, CA

Just received my new (used) MP-3. What a fantastic difference it made in my system.. Great dynamics, great bass, wonderful soundstaging, delectable midrange, super highs. and most important, truth of tone. I couldn't be more satisfied-and I haven't even retubed it yet. It really compliments my M60 Mk 2.2s. Thanks for designing and building such a wonderful preamp!

P.S. I always appreciate your being so available to answer my often ignorant but earnest questions.

Jamie, NH

Living with the M-60 monoblock amplifiers as an exhibitor at the 2008 Rocky Mountain Audiofest, I discovered what might be one of the best kept secrets in audio - Atma-Sphere electronics. The obvious question is "what took me so long to audition them?".

By the end of the show, I signed up as an Atma-Sphere dealer. My business model as turntable manufacturer is a hybrid one, with Galibier being both a manufacturer as well as a retail seller. I continually search for products designed with priorities in alignment with mine - components designed with an eye toward honoring the musical intent of and conveying the expressiveness of the performer.

At the end of the day, if a hi-fi system doesn't provide insight into the performance, then it's all about sound effects and not about music. When a designer succeeds at facilitating this insight, many of these hi-fi "effects" naturally occur (dimensionality, soundstaging, pace, etc.). All too frequently however, designers get it backward and design to optimize these "sound effects" first and music last. This approach is doomed to failure. A successful designer is both technically adept and musically aware. Sadly, this convergence of talents and sensibilities is all too rare in the world of hi-fi components.

I was smitten by both the MP-1 preamp and the M-60's during the show, but it was only when I plugged in the M-60's in at home that I realized just how faithful to the music these electronics are - hearing them in a familiar system. Needless to say, there's an MP-1 in my immediate future.

My initial listen was with a CD player as I couldn't wait to set up my analog rig in order to give them a listen. The first CD I plugged in found me in slack-jawed amazement - Jorma Kaukonen's "Thorns in My Crown" - a collection mainly of American spiritual music primarily from the country blues tradition (Reverend Gary Davis, et. al.) as only Jorma can play them.

What grabbed me most (apart from bandwidth, tonal accuracy, and stone-cold silence that I've only heard in Jim Hagerman's work) was the musical timing. The pacing, ebb and flow of Jorma's guitar work was like every live performance of his I've been to, and I've seen him some six times in the past few years. Jorma is a national treasure, and I've never heard his guitar mastery conveyed in a hi-fi system with such insight into his masterful technique.

Those of you who treasure this value system above everything else, owe it to yourselves to listen to Atma-Sphere electronics in a system assembled by someone with musical (and not) hi-fi values.

Cheers, Thom

[on the MP-3] The equipment is sounding better every time I listen. The MP-3 is really a great sounding preamp. It is a lot more dynamic than my friend's $13,000 VAC preamp.

Just plain outstanding air, dynamics, soundstage; just state of the art. Note the noise floor- there is none on my speakers anyway- well done!

[on the MA-1] In my opinion, the finest sounding 140 watts around.

Wally, NY

To say I'm impressed I think would be one of the biggest understatements of my life! Thank you and the crew for a job so well done. I am delighted and can't thank you guys enough.

John, CA

THANKS, thanks thanks Ralph, for your generous and helpful assistance with the [older] MA-1s during my initial acquaintance with them. They are making very happy music indeed, and I've fabricated per your recommendation the banana plug/spade lug wire that simplifies checking of the DC/bias. The amps are holding bias very nicely.

If the way you treated me, someone who had not purchased anything except a small upgrade from you, is an example of the way that you treat your real "paying customers," no wonder you have stayed in business so long with such success and such loyalty. Bravo.

All the best,
M. K.

[S-30] I purchased this amp without ever seeing or hearing it based only on Sound Image's very accurate description of its sound. This is the best amplifier on this planet - I have owned or heard many very good tube amplfiers.

Charles, PA

The MP-3 is really a well-kept secret. Now that I have used a number of other preamps on the M-60's I can better assess the value of it and describe in what areas it seems to set itself apart from those other preamps.

What struck me first is how tuneful it is, in other words it leaves the full timbre of musical instruments intact. The overall sound is crisp and firm and there is an extraordinary sense of being able to pinpoint the location and true size of any instrument. There is absolutely no artificial bloom added to the sound. It is a highly sober and natural sound. From one narrow point of view one is reminded of solid state because of this sober way of playing, only it is without all the deficiencies that haunt each and every solid state design I have heard, such as smearing of details, flattening of the overall soundstage and lack of proper integration of the whole overtone spectrum.

The MP-3 is called a 'music preamplifier', but it could just as well have been called a 'musical preamplifier', because that is what it is.

K.L., Denmark

Your Novacron amplifier brought tears to my eyes again last night [...] Thank you for my latest revelation in high-end audio.

M. H., New Jersey

[MA-1] Very emotional, can't drag myself away!

Richard N., WI

[M-60 Mk. II] In my opinion there is Atma-Sphere and then there are all the others. I have listened to so many different amps over the years but compared to the M-60 mk.II they all more or less sound like what they basically are: electronics. With the M-60 the electronic haze is simply gone and the music itself emerges out of an empty black space, much in the same way as you will experience from a very good turntable. Once you hear this incredible amplifier you simply know it is right and you stop worrying about whether any other amp might do a better job. My estimate is they won't. Here in Denmark I will do whatever I can to get as many as possible to listen to this fabulous product. The M-60 has been an eye-opener among audiophiles here and I am certain the news will spread quickly.

Karsten L., Denmark

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your extreme patience and courtesy. The level of service that I received from you and your staff is world class. I have been in the customer service business for over 30 years as a stock broker and finance manager. Therefore, I know how difficult it is to take care of customers on a daily basis. Especially when you are dealing with technical information visa vi some pretty ignorant people such as myself!

Your staff is "5 stars" in every area! The only thing that exceeds the excellence of your service is the product itself!!! Oh my!!! What a glorious sounding amp! I have owned Levinson, Krell, McCormack, Counterpoint and Conrad Johnson. Your M-60 Mk. II beats them all!!!! I am so thankful that you are designing such beautiful sounding gear!"

Jack, AZ

It's just about ten months since I bought my Atma-Sphere MP-1 MkIII. It's everything I hoped it would be, even though I could not imagine a pre-amp making this much positive improvement to the rest of my system. My system was now more open and reveling to such dimension, that friends who heard it prior to the MP-1 being added thought that I had done a total upgrade.

The same music I was listening to before I got the MP-1, that had no life, suddenly were alive - voices are life-like, especially female voices, it's almost as if they are singing to you personally and instruments are more solid and full-bodied.

There are details I didn't know were missing: The soundstage is deeper, wider and the background blacker-- while the mids and highs are sweeter.

I'm happy I took all that time auditioning those countless other manufacturer's equipment and reading all the reviews I could find from Stereophile, TAS, Hi-Fi News and on-line publications. The payoff in musical enjoyment listening to my system with the MP-1 is priceless.

Ralph, thank you very much for this wonderful pre-amp!

Jonathan, VA