Tube Mono-Block Recommendation

I must say after emailing VAC, BAT and a few other companies to me Ralph provides best customer service. Responds super fast. This is another reason why I have gone down the atma route. Im not into super coloured Midrange or slow sounding amplifiers. I hope this is the last Amplifiers I buy.

Still leaves me wandering How the Atma will compare to the David Berning Quads Z Amps. The QuadZOTL seem to run cooler with less Energy consumption, heat and less tubes. Since im from a tropical climate. Still need to consider these as a option. I like the classical looks of the Atma but heat and power as my current deciding factor. Will probably need to research more.

I had an Atma-Sphere MA2 in my home a few years back and will say it is one of my all time favorite amps ever!

Yes they run hot like ever other Class A amp but boy do they sound good!

You know how you look back on gear you wish you would have purchased or keep. Well this is one of them.

Sounds like you made a good choice. I like that in the summertime I can pull out half the tubes in my Atma-Sphere amps and still get great music at lower listening levels! We're in the second week of a heat wave here and it really makes a difference!

Yes, after speaking again to Ralph. I have decided to go with it and move the AC unit closer to the front of the room pointing downwards over the gear. At the moment the AC unit is located at the back of the room closer to the listener. Heat is the major issue but I will modify the room to accommodate for the amplifiers heat. I live in the tropics so its always hot here. The room temps can be taken down to 18degrees.

Yeah, Ralph is great to work with. Think you made a great choice based on your requirements.

Congratulations, Dragon_vibe. Nice to have you in the A-S family!

Ralph customer service is top class i am very confident in his products and iv not even herd his amp. Which says allot. I will keep you boys updated soon.

Dragon_vibe, when you receive the MA-2, allow plenty of playing time for break-in before making any judgments. The capacitors in the amp are MASSIVE and require a minimum of 200 hours of playing time before you'll be able to assess the amp, and perhaps as much as 400 hours to fully come into their own. During this break-in period, the sound quality will change from listening session to listening session. This is typical of tube amps using the size and quality capacitors Ralph places in his amps, so not at all a unique issue. Just be prepared for it.

Yes I understand this. I would love to see the amps guts. Cant find pictures anywhere on the net.

Picture of Atma-Sphere MA-2 underside:
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/pics/atmasphere_2.jpg

This image posted in an article by Marc Mickelson in The Audio Beat:
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/visits/tab_summer_audio_adventure.htm

Beautiful, Rushton if you don't mind me asking what speakers do you use for the Amps? How about Cables?

I drive Avalon Acoustic Eidolons with the MA-2s. Power cords for the amps are Silent Source Signature cables. Speaker cables are Omega Micro Planar V, but I'd use Silent Source Music Reference speaker cables today. These are the most neutral I've heard.

Dragon_vibe, you've made a great choice. Ralph is in a class by himself.

Dragon_vibe, you've made a great choice. Ralph is in a class by himself.

Just following this from the sidelines. Always a fan of AS and am delighted you are going this route. Well done and thanks for supporting a true legend.

Just happened to browse this thread, while looking for nice tube amps too.

Dragon_vibe your budget was $12000.

Doesn't the MA-2 retail for $33000 and change ?

Just curious, did you overshoot your budget by 3X or am I mistaken about the price of MA-2s.

Im raised it further more lol. 12000 was the ideas but guess I will go for the full whack. After all we only live once.

ha ha! That's some overshooting, yes you only live once. Congratulations

Art Audio and Wavelength Audio make some of the best SET monoblocks.

I also think Atmasphere's ma2 should be considered and examined very closely;they will do everything you are looking for and being able to talk directly with Ralph in case there are setup questions or any post sales support is a very large positive in my opinion and must not be overlooked.

Not heard art audio, but to be honest im into very fast amplifiers. Most tube amplifiers I have heard always have the slight slow pace to them. Timing is everything and transistors are the masters at time.

Lets see how the MA2 lives up to my Transistors.

Krell monoblocks