STATUS - SOLD
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Description :
The Airtight ATC-1 preamplifier and ATM-1 power amplifier contain all of the right ingredients for rampant audio delirium. The ATC-1 is deceptive because it's so petite but it is able to mount five 12AX7(ECC83) tubes horizontally. Three of the little tube beauties can be seen from the left side of the chassis. The circuit itself is based on vintage concepts, just like the PCB-free construction, and consists of a three-stage low-impedance equalizer which was once employed by the famous Marantz 7. The power supply section employs a solid-state ripple filter circuit for suppressing mains hum and noises. Despite the size of the enclosure, AirTight opted for an EI core transformer because it provides 'sharper attack of sounds'. The cores are wrapped in silicon steel plate and copper plate to ensure perfect shielding. The power supply, phono and line stages are totally independent and the latter two are fully shielded. The chassis was made deliberately heavy to help minimize vibration and component interaction.
When the Airtight ATC-1 and ATM-1 combo runs in, the listener is rewarded with some of the mostly gloriously lush and musical sounds. What both share sonically are ghostly silences by both valve and solid-state standards, phenomenally wide and open sound stages and absolute freedom from edginess. But while the ATC-1 preamplifier is detailed and precise enough to be regarded as modern, the ATM-1 power amplifier has an enticing softness. When playing both modern, glassy recordings and sonic masterpieces in the era of the Air Tight's inspiration, it is noted that these products have a characteristic of sweetening whatever sounds they are fed. This characteristic is not identified as distortions or wild colorations. The Airtight merely shaves off the edges which could become nasty. The sweetness offsets the sharpness which attributes to Decca cartridges and horn-type loudspeakers. In which case the synergy of these modern antiques with genuine antiques would provide some kind of anachrophilic bliss.
Having ownership of the Air Tights requires a bit more than money. It requires a weird and wonderful blend of nostalgia, an appreciation for hand-crafted mavericks and a sense of aesthetics. The Airtight ATC-1 and ATM-1 aren't really hi-fi products but they are so damned musical. They're the stuff which are made of dreams.
Specifications :
- Highly reliable 12AX7 valves meticulously selected after ageing
- 3-stage low-impedance K-K-NF configuration equalizer acclaimed for low distortion and wide frequency response
- Simple, single-stage flat amp for pure sound
- High-voltage B-power supply with quick recovery diode
- PCB-free hand wiring
- Discrete, highly rigid dia-magnetic chassis
- EL-core power transformer
Valves employed.......................................12AX7 (ECC83) x 5
Output voltage rated...................................2V, max. 15V
Output impedance.....................................600 ohm (pre-out, EQ-out)
THD..........................................................0.05% (phono), 0.02% (line)
Input sensitivity..........................................Phono: 1.8mV (output 1V)
..........................................Line: 150mV (output 1V)
S/N ratio....................................................85dB (phono) & 98dB (line)
Dimensions(w x d x h)................................43 x 33.5 x 9cm
Weight......................................................8kg
Miscellaneous :
Matching...................................................Airtight ATM-1 Power Amplifier
Made in.....................................................Japan
Condition...................................................7/10
Reviews :
http://hometheaterreview.com/air-tight-atc-1-preamp-and-atm-1-power-amp-reviewed/
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/preamplifiers/air-tight/atc-1/PRD_125243_1591crx.aspx |
