Solid performer, drives my inefficient speakers like nobody's business, as neutral an amp as I have heard without paying $10k+

??

There are plenty of glaring reviews on this page so I will try to write a slightly different perspective. I got into home theater about two years ago. I spent some time reviewing equipment, listened, etc but decided to maintain a budget. I decided to purchase a Sony STR-DB830 receiver, Pioneer DVD player (CD player too) and five Infinity reference series speakers (RS-8, QPS-1, CC3). I shelled out the extra dough and got good cabling (kimber & monster). But as many of you know the feeling I was not satisfied.

The sony is ok for movies but doesn't cut it for music. I listen to about 80% music compared to 20% movie viewing on my system so I was not satisfied. So here I am two years later on the upgrade path. After a lot of thought I considered an amp the best place to start. I listened to tons of other amps even into the $10k+ range for 2 channels and ended up deciding that the ATI was the best all around performer under 5k with only a handful of amps (proceed, krell, ml) that marginally improve performance, but at a significant cost.

I have had the ATI plugged into my system using my reciever as a preamp and already I am blown away with the improvement in sound quality especially in music. (I have a 2,000+ CD collection ranging from Mozart to death metal). What I thought was a major short coming in my speakers (poor imaging, midbass sloping off, lack of "airiness", etc) seems to have more to do with the receivers amp. I am not going to tell you all my problems were solved but I am pleased as punch at am temperarily satisfied while I save money for the next step.

I expect I will receive even greater dividends when the amp is fully broken in.

Here is my current thoughts on the continuation of the path:

1) B&K Reference 30 Pre/Pro
2) B&W CDM 9NT/Dynaudio 1.8mkII (haven't decided yet, but the dyns seem a bit too much more and didn't have the bass I was quite looking for, although a sub might fix that)
3) NAIM CD player or other comparable CD.

Let me know your thoughts...

Similar Products Used:

B&K Reference, Parasound, Proceed, NAIM, Mark Levinson, McIntosh, etc...

I have owned the ATI 1506 for a few months as my main surround amp, driving a pair of Cello Elves for the rears and the Pro Amati for the center. It is super clean and effortless, although second-class compared to Cello's own. No complaints, well-recommended and much, much less expensive that the aforementioned.

After months of research, I purchased the ATI 1506 to power my front left, center, and right speakers. The speakers are a pair of ADS MV80"s and an ADSMV 20. I am using a Lexicon DC-1 DTS and the speakers are bi-amped. The sound is wonderfull whether listening to CD's or watching DVD's such as "Golden Eye". I forgot to mention I also have a Bag End subwoofer in the system and it is awesome.

The ATI 1505!!! Is there anything to say about this amp that hasn't been saidalready? Whomever dubbed the phrase, "The biggest bang for the buck", obviously
had this amp in mind. I have had several decent solid state amps in the recent
past, Meridian 557, ARC D400 MKII, Coda Model 10. I recently sold the Coda
which was 25 watts Class A, 100 watts A/B. Sure, the Coda was excellent but
unnecessary. The ATI 1505 provides more than enough clean power to drive any
system. The label of "Home Theater Amp Of The Year", doesn't do justice to this
amplifier. It is simply a clean sounding amplifier. Bass is tight and
responsive. Mid and highs are where they should be...In your face without being
the least bit bright. I don't understand why it is necessary to spend more money
on an amplifier for home theater or audio. The really big question is, how is it
that ATI can produce an amp built like a "Hum Vee" for such an affordable price?
Perhaps all those years of producing SAE solid state amplifiers provided this
company with the knowledge and experience which is now paying big dividends for
them. It is obvious they know how to build amplifiers. Let's face it...Home
Theater is here to stay! This amp will power your entire at beyond enjoyable
levels for years to come. Take the extra money you've saved and treat yourself
to some other new gear. Enjoy!!!

System:

Martin Logan Quest Z's (front)
Martin Logan Logos (center)
Infinity Quadropoles (rear)
B&K AVP1030
Threshold T-3
JPS Labs Superconductors
Monster Sigma Reference Speakerwire

After much reading, and auditioning some other amps (Carver 705X, Adcom GFA 7000), I bought a ATI1505 sight unseen and ear unheard. I contacted the manufacturer directly to buy my unit. It was my initial thinking that I needed more power than even the 1505, but I was corrected by Mike there. When it arrived three days later (Fed Ex), it was all there. I mated it to my Yamaha A-3090, which became a preamp processor. The magazine reviews I had previously read, concensusly expressed much the same. Dynamics, detail and neutrality were all there. It is one component I am looking forward to keeping for many years to come.

THE ATI AMPLIFIER IS ONE OF THE FEW AMPS MADE IN THE USA. IT IS EXTREMELY WELLPUT TOGETHER AND AS ITS PREDECESSOR,S.A.E. IS EXTREMELY ACCURATE.

Purchased the AT1505 one week ago and am pleased to report that the amplifier sounds as good as the reviewers have said (SGHT, Home Theater). The amplifier is built rather like a brick sh*t-house. The pictures in the review magazines really don't do the amplifier justice. See and hear this one in person. I am comparing this amplifier to my Yamaha DSP-A3090 which is no slouch. However, the 1505 really makes a difference with the lower bass. The impact is much greater. The vocals and higher frequencies seem to be slightly clearer, but it is hard to tell.
I think this is an excellent amp for the price. $1600.00

Ive been using the 1505 for about four months now. The sound is very open and large. I'm driving Dynaudio 1.8 + 1.1 + Contour Center. This combo works well together. I've noticed a hummmmmm in the amp that comes and goes. A little troubling considering the age of the amp. I plan to go out of town in July and will send the unit off to ATI. I'll keep you posted as to the outcome. Beside the hum I'm happy with the sound. One glitch would be how they have their 9 volt remote senser designed. It's not easy to hook up to amps that don't have 25 pin connecters. Oh well...

HAVING OWNED THIS GREAT PRODUCT FOR SIX MONTHS, I AGREE WITH ALL THE REVIEWS.I HAVE IT TEAMED WITH A SONY TA-E9000ES ANOTHER MIRACLE CHILD, AND TO THINK MY NEIGHBOR PAID EXACTLY TO THE PENNY THE SAME AMOUNT I DID , HE GOT A DENON 5700.
I AM NOT SNICKERING AS I WAS ONE STEP AWAY FROM ALMOST DOING THE SAME.I KNOW YOU NEED GOOD INTERCONNECTS, AND AS A FORMER NON BELIEVER IN CABLE DIFFERENCES
I INVITE OWNERS OF THE 1505 TO AT LEAST DEMO A PAIR OF JPS SUPERCONDUCTORS.
ONCE YOU AUDITION THEESE CABLES AND LET THEM BURN IN FOR A MONTH, WELL THERE GOES THE HOME AUDITION?? YOU WILL NOT RETURN THEM. A DEALER WAS SELLING THEM FOR HALF PRICE AS NOW JPS HAS THE SUPERCONDUCTOR2,5% BETTER BUT TWICE THE PRICE OF THE OLD ONES. AFTER HAVING THEM IN MY SYSTEM FOR TWO MONTHS SOME FRIENDS CAME BY FOR A INTERCONNECT PARTY. WILL NOT NAME BRANDS, BUT WILL SAY THAT ALL FIVE SETS WERE EXPENSIVE. CONCLUSION , FOUR OUT OF FIVE PREFERRED THE JPS BY A LARGE MARGIN. WELL I WILL MENTION BRANDS, #5 LIKED HIS AUDIOTRUTH DIAMONDS BETTER.

I have had the ATI-1505 for about a month. I find it very capable. I have heard better amps, but not for the price of the ATI.
I am using it with my Sunfire Theater Grand pre/pro to power three speakers. That's right, three. I feed my center with one channel and I use two channels each for bi-amping my left and right speakers.

While I was waiting to save up the purchase price, I had been running my Klipsch KLF-20 speakers with a $249 100x5 Kenwood reveiver I had purchased as a temporary solution. I lived with sizzling cymbols and a lack of punch. Now with the Sunfire feeding the ATI I have no such complaints. The Sunfire makes a good signal and the ATI doesn't seem to detract anything from it. I like old acoustic blues music. I am not dissappointed. When the musician thumps his old stand-up bass I can feel the attack of the string. I can hear the metalic ringing tone of the cymbols. I can feel not only the piano notes, but the resonance of the piano body in the lower octaves. Granted, the ATI doesn't do any of this on it's own, but if you send it a good signal, I don't think the ATI will pinch it in any.

With the Kenwood, I couldn't really tell the difference in the recorded quality of various CDs. Now it is obvious if the engineers in the recording studio put in any time and effort, or just layed down the tracks and went home early. All this and I am still sourcing from a buddies beat-up old TEAK CD changer. I am assuming all the above good qualities will be enhanced once I save up the purchase price for the transport I want.