Build quality, lovely sound

Tough speaker loads

All Air Tight products represent peerless build quality. My wife has a real distaste for most of my audio gear but just loves the Air Tight look. I have purchased a few Air Tight products over the years and every time I propose one she says great – get the Air Tight and hang the cost! The gear has sound to match the looks I assure you. The ATM-1 was the first Air Tight product I purchased. Instead of a long review I will just mention the most important points I observed over a long period. ATM-1 unlike ATM-2 needs to be partnered with efficient speakers to keep from being driven too hard. Although passive attenuators on front panel can be used with success I found the sound to be much more involving and dynamic with the matching ATC-1 pre-amp. The fellow I sold the ATC-1 to is also an ATM-1 owner and couldn’t believe how much better his ATM-1 sounded with the ATC-1 pre-amp. EL34s provide a very warm lush sound compared to KT88/6550. Tamura output transformers provide bone crushing bass (really). The ATM-1 is not the last statement in neutrality but gives such a beautiful romantic sound you can listen for hours on end. I am not indicating it is mushy just warm. Some users will prefer the ATM-1 to other Air Tight amps because of this signature. In fact the ATM-1 is Air Tight’s homage to the Marantz 8. The circuits are nearly identical. After the ATM-1 I upgraded to the ATM-2. It is hard to believe two amps from the same maker can be sound so different. The ATM-2 will drive any speaker (even Quads/Magnepans) and is much more neutral. Certainly the ATM-2 is one of the greatest amps of all time. Finally there is a real feeling of pride of ownership in Air Tight gear. I just don’t get this from many other products (and I have had them all :-). This is really a 4* product but due to inflation on this site I will give 5. Too bad I am a jaded audiophile and have sold all my beautiful Air Tight gear. I hope to get it back someday as soon as I can afford the ATM-211’s!

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Cary,Jeff Rowland, Pass, Audion, Wavac, Quicksilver, too many others