2. amps-preamps
  3. 1099065303

Does this mean I need Pre Amp w/ AtmaSpheres?

System is GNSC modded Wadia 850 running into Goldmund amp driving Talon Audio Hawks. CD also drives directly 4 Entec subwoofers. I tried a pair of Atmasphere M60 amps w/ Zero autoformers earlier this year. With the subwoofers off, each amp had its own pros and cons. With the subs on, the system sprang to life with the Goldmund. The bass seemed better integrated and springy, and spaciousness was much more clearly portrayed. The Atmaspheres sounded a bit lifeless and dull. I did prefer the upper midrange of the atmaspheres. I'm wondering if this is due to my Wadia not being able to drive the amplifiers and subs, or is this just the nature of tubes vs. solid state? Should I give the Atmas another chance w/ a Pre? (It's a pain, because the dealer's far away).
honest1

Showing 2 responses by rushton

rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
From your description, this sounds like a system synergy problem with the Wadia not able to drive the Atma-Spheres correctly when the subs are paralled to the Wadia output. It sounds an awful lot like you've created an impedance mismatch when the subs are in the chain. A preamp would solve that by buffering the output going the amps from the output going to the subs. Best way to know is to try it.

Overall, I would expect the Atma-Spheres to give a materially more satisfying musical experience into the Talons that the Goldmund. You might also consider checking with your Atma-Sphere dealer or the factory about the match of the Wadia's output impedance (without the subs in the loop) to the the Atma-Sphere amps. Ralph Karsten would probably be pretty responsive to your questions. You can contact him through the contact information provided at his company, Rendition Audio (http://www.renditionaudio.com) since the Atma-Sphere web site is currently being moved to a new server.
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rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Yes, that was "the" Ralph Karsten offering comments to your question.

One additional thought: the Atma-Sphere MA-1 would certainly be an adequate power match to the Hawks, but you say they're out of your price range. Have you considered buying a used MA-1? There have been several offered on Audiogon recently, and they show up from time-to-time. I'm confident you could arrange to have any used unit shipped directly to Atma-Sphere to be checked out and brought to current factory spec for a moderate charge. Then, you would get a full new warranty on the unit. (At least this has been Ralph's consistent policy in the past, and I doubt that it's changed.) Worst case is that you could re-sell it for about what you paid for it.
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