Zero Feedback: Atmasphere vs. BAT

I followed Dave (Dgarretson) advice and replaced coupling caps and input hook up wires, to say the improvement was dramatic was an understatement. my 150SE, couple with Einstein pre, drives Aerial 20T, a very demanding load and manufacture suggests 300+ wpc of SS power as minimum, to the level I rarely hear else where.

I don't have much experience with Atma Sphere power amp, but I did hear their better pre amp and all I can say is Einstein is in a different league, but it should given the price difference.

It has been about 4 years since I have heard the BAT gear and perhaps it was poor synergy, but it sounded lean and a bit veiled to me. Many amps claim to sound like SET amps. SET amps sound like SET amps. Why buy a BAT and change the coupling caps and hope for the best when Scott could buy the Atma and the Audiokinesis and know he is getting excellent synergy?

I think the real question is whether Scott wants "warm and smooth" which means an el34 or 300b topology. Scott, I recommend the Atma/Audiokinesis if you are unable to audition. If you are able to audition, I recommend that you listen to BAT, Atma, an el34 and a 300b along with the appropriate efficiency speakers. Or, be patient and buy used gear and resell what does not float your boat. Good luck, Jeff

I lost count how many amps I have bought and sold in the past 10 years, but one thing I can say confidently is a stock BAT 75SE is not veil or lean. in fact, it's much more transparent than just about anything else and that's where I stopped. well, I did upgrade to 150SE.

A couple of years ago Nelson Pass (check out 1st Article on website, seems a must read for audio geeks) wrote on the subject of zero feedback. He talked about the distortion spectrum between an A circuit running zero feedback, and an AB running zero feedback, as well as the whole feedback concept creating less total distortion, but more of the complex unpleasant type. This was also covered in Stereophile, as they were gushing over a Cary 803C amp and zero feedback CJ Pre. In the back of that article the designer of the CAT Pre tried to inject some sanity in the conversation by saying it is not sooo simple.

Since I cannot listen to all the equipment in the world, I was wondering how BAT compared to Atma? From what I can tell their are fans of both with Atma perhaps being more trasnparent.

Still comes down to "Gold Plated Decibels" as a key factor if you want to have a class A set up, you gotta have effecient speakers if you want the option.

Thanks,
Scott

"...if you want to have a class A set up,you gotta have effecient speakers if you want the option."
I beg to differ.