“It also handily surpasses the Jadis in frequency extension at both extremes and has even greater dynamic wallop, with the best 3-D soundstaging I have heard. To me, the MP-1 Mk II is a glorified phono section with the bonus of line-input capability.”

Harry Pearson; Editor, The Absolute Sound, 2000
[click here for full article]

"...the MP-1's ability to bring me closer to the original musical event was head and shoulders above that of any preamp I've ever heard in my home system”

Steven Stone, STEREOPHILE

The MP-1 is the first tube preamplifier to offer balanced line technology in an all-differential package with a direct-coupled high current line stage capable of driving the 600 ohm balanced line standard. The MP-1 can easily drive interconnects of up to 200 feet without degradation. Thus the MP-1 can extract ambient information with greater image specificity, bass definition and dynamic range in a way seldom seen. The MP-1 complements the design of Atma-sphere’s balanced-line amplifiers and also works well with any amplifier with balanced inputs.

A few words on balanced lines: Balanced line technology has been in use in the recording and broadcast industry for decades. Balanced line interconnect cables are used as a method of eliminating sonic problems otherwise caused by interconnect cables. Thus high fidelity recordings were made 30 years ago when exotic interconnects did not exist. Balanced lines work better than single-ended cables because they are dramatically more resistant to RF, magnetic and static fields. They are terminated with a low impedance, usually 600 ohms. This practice virtually eliminates cable capacitance, inductance and construction problems, making long cable lengths possible without audible degradation. This virtually eliminates the need for an exotic cable to achieve excellent performance.

The MP-1 has the drive needed for proper balanced line operation, in a direct- coupled all-tube package - the only one of its kind in the world. It's circuitry pioneers new technology for tube preamplifiers and has all the speed of solid state preamplifiers, without edgy qualities. A low number of stages of gain (three from phono input to high level output) assures low distortion, wide bandwidth and dynamic range. The result is unsurpassed neutrality and musicality at any price.

• Introduction to Atma-sphere
• Atma-sphere’s 20 year rule
• Why we use the 6AS7G Power Triode
• Debunking Common Power Amplifier Myths
• Understanding Basic Circuits
• Using Single-Ended Equipment with Atma-Sphere Preamplifiers