I auditioned the CE 1.1 (the newest) with Lamm's 6C33C output tube based (18-wpc) monoblocks about 3 months back but I ended up buying the CE 2.2 just because of cost and also size due mostly to WAF.
I just received (FYI - I'm the 1st owner in USA or so I'm told, but serial reads US-002 -- oh well!) the Kharma CE 2.2 just three weeks back. I'm driving them with a Graaf 13.5B tube preamp and a Graaf GM-20 OTL (20wpc) stereo amp. My frontend is a Copland 289 HDCD. The CE 2.2 are 89-db, 8-ohms nominal speaker, 1-db less than the CE 1.0's.
The mids and the highs are fabulously liquid but base extension is not as pronounced as I would like. The Lamms did slightly better in base than my Graaf, I think. But last week while my amp was at the shop getting a capacitor replaced, I had opportunity to use a pair of SS Musical Fidelity 50-wpc monoblocks (these amps are the size and shape of a couple of roles of Bounty paper towel). This is when I realized what these speakers are capable of in terms of based extension. I'm now sure that the 20wpc, even though they're OTL watts, are simply not enough to truely reveal the base capabilities of these (not so efficient) speakers. By the way, let me also mention that unlike many here, most of what I listen to is NOT classical or Jazz, although I like them just fine. I listen to a lot of "Bosa Nova" and "Lounge" style music -- don't crindge you purists!
Even though I have not heard the Atma-Spheres but at 140wpc of these highly regarded OTLs I'm sure you'll be in audio nirvana especially, if you don't mind the 10-degree rise in your room temparature. However, if you can afford it I'd say go with the 75-wpc Tenors.
Me too, I'm out once more looking at amps. Never ends, does it...
Good Luck!!
I just received (FYI - I'm the 1st owner in USA or so I'm told, but serial reads US-002 -- oh well!) the Kharma CE 2.2 just three weeks back. I'm driving them with a Graaf 13.5B tube preamp and a Graaf GM-20 OTL (20wpc) stereo amp. My frontend is a Copland 289 HDCD. The CE 2.2 are 89-db, 8-ohms nominal speaker, 1-db less than the CE 1.0's.
The mids and the highs are fabulously liquid but base extension is not as pronounced as I would like. The Lamms did slightly better in base than my Graaf, I think. But last week while my amp was at the shop getting a capacitor replaced, I had opportunity to use a pair of SS Musical Fidelity 50-wpc monoblocks (these amps are the size and shape of a couple of roles of Bounty paper towel). This is when I realized what these speakers are capable of in terms of based extension. I'm now sure that the 20wpc, even though they're OTL watts, are simply not enough to truely reveal the base capabilities of these (not so efficient) speakers. By the way, let me also mention that unlike many here, most of what I listen to is NOT classical or Jazz, although I like them just fine. I listen to a lot of "Bosa Nova" and "Lounge" style music -- don't crindge you purists!
Even though I have not heard the Atma-Spheres but at 140wpc of these highly regarded OTLs I'm sure you'll be in audio nirvana especially, if you don't mind the 10-degree rise in your room temparature. However, if you can afford it I'd say go with the 75-wpc Tenors.
Me too, I'm out once more looking at amps. Never ends, does it...
Good Luck!!