I just joined the Atrium family but still need an appropirate amp, my current SS FA-10 makes Atrium sounds not that great.
I noticed that you have some of the entry level OTL tube amp, such as Bottlehead Crack and Schiit Valhalla. I am wondering which one you think is the best without sacrifice too much compared to the more expensive choice?
Also I am debating between WA6 and Feliks Audio Echo Mk2, however, WA6 is not OTL, do you like it with Atrium?
Yes the WA6 and Bottlehead Crack both sound excellent with the Atrium. The Valhalla with good tubes is nice as well but I think there is a higher ceiling with both the Crack and WA6. The WA6 is a little more neutral and linear sounding while the Crack is more euphonic with a more 3d soundstage (especially without Speedball). The Speedball mod gives the Crack a faster, more detailed sound over Crack without Speedball while still retaining a good bit of tube lushness.
Personally I slightly prefer the Crack with Speedball by a hair over the WA6 but I prefer a warmer, more lush tube sound. You really can't go wrong with either though and there is a reason I still own both. I love both with all ZMFs.
Hello,
It has to be said that the tube availability for the Wa6 is much better than for the Bhc.
The tubes for the Bhc will always be more difficult to obtain than for the Wa6 because they are unfortunately dying out.
And also much more expensive, especially for good tubes.
Therefore, my tip is that it is better to buy the Wa6 and pay the higher purchase price and have peace of mind later.
The Wa6 also has a fairly stable selling price in the second-hand market.
The Bhc, as long as it is nothing out of the ordinary, rather less so.
Another option would be to buy the Bhc anyway but to equip it with better capacitors so that the less good tubes come into their own better, that would also be an option.
But of course this would also involve additional costs.
The Echo 2 is not bad but the tube rolling is also somewhat limited and also somewhat in the overall performance.
The Eufonika H5 amplifiers from Poland offer a very good price/performance ratio if you want to wait a little longer for a better amplifier.
According to some people, the Milfex upgrade comes close to the Feliks Elise, which is quite remarkable.
Hello,
It has to be said that the tube availability for the Wa6 is much better than for the Bhc.
The tubes for the Bhc will always be more difficult to obtain than for the Wa6 because they are unfortunately dying out.
And also much more expensive, especially for good tubes.
Therefore, my tip is that it is better to buy the Wa6 and pay the higher purchase price and have peace of mind later.
The Wa6 also has a fairly stable selling price in the second-hand market.
The Bhc, as long as it is nothing out of the ordinary, rather less so.
Another option would be to buy the Bhc anyway but to equip it with better capacitors so that the less good tubes come into their own better, that would also be an option.
But of course this would also involve additional costs.
The Echo 2 is not bad but the tube rolling is also somewhat limited and also somewhat in the overall performance.
The Eufonika H5 amplifiers from Poland offer a very good price/performance ratio if you want to wait a little longer for a better amplifier.
According to some people, the Milfex upgrade comes close to the Feliks Elise, which is quite remarkable.
I actually find tube availability to be better with the Crack in my experience. My WA6 is the first generation which takes 6 volt driver/power tubes. The stock 6DR7 power tube is very limited in selection (as far as different manufacturers). Even if you get the 9 pin to 8 pin octal adaptor which I have to allow you to run 6EM7s or 6NS7s it still limits you on reasonably priced options. 6EM7 tubes are very reasonable and great sounding but limited in selection. The 6SN7s are plentiful but can be very high priced for the more popular ones. Factor in the fact also that the WA6 takes 3 tubes vs 2 on the Crack.
The Crack takes 12AU7s for input tubes and 6080/6AS7/5998s for power tubes. The 12AU7 tubes are plentiful and give plenty of options. Yes the 5998 power tubes are getting very expensive these days but 6080 and 6AS7s are still very plentiful and reasonably priced. Honestly you can invest $50 in a NOS RCA clear top 12AU7 and RCA black plate 6AS7 and you have a great sounding and reasonable NOS combo.
I'm not trying to be contrarian I just wanted to share my experience with tube rolling and purchasing with both these amps. Its been my experience its been much easier and more reasonable to find good tubes for the Crack than the WA6.
Edit. Deleeh I just noticed you are in Germany (Wie Gehts?). It very well could be the differences we are experiencing in finding tubes and prices are a result of what we experience in the markets in our respective countries. This is something to take in account for each buyer if this is the case. Haben sie einen guten tag!
I actually find tube availability to be better with the Crack in my experience. My WA6 is the first generation which takes 6 volt driver/power tubes. The stock 6DR7 power tube is very limited in selection (as far as different manufacturers). Even if you get the 9 pin to 8 pin octal adaptor which I have to allow you to run 6EM7s or 6NS7s it still limits you on reasonably priced options. 6EM7 tubes are very reasonable and great sounding but limited in selection. The 6SN7s are plentiful but can be very high priced for the more popular ones. Factor in the fact also that the WA6 takes 3 tubes vs 2 on the Crack.
The Crack takes 12AU7s for input tubes and 6080/6AS7/5998s for power tubes. The 12AU7 tubes are plentiful and give plenty of options. Yes the 5998 power tubes are getting very expensive these days but 6080 and 6AS7s are still very plentiful and reasonably priced. Honestly you can invest $50 in a NOS RCA clear top 12AU7 and RCA black plate 6AS7 and you have a great sounding and reasonable NOS combo.
I'm not trying to be contrarian I just wanted to share my experience with tube rolling and purchasing with both these amps. Its been my experience its been much easier and more reasonable to find good tubes for the Crack than the WA6.
Edit. Deleeh I just noticed you are in Germany (Wie Gehts?). It very well could be the differences we are experiencing in finding tubes and prices are a result of what we experience in the markets in our respective countries. This is something to take in account for each buyer if this is the case. Haben sie einen guten tag!
I actually find tube availability to be better with the Crack in my experience. My WA6 is the first generation which takes 6 volt driver/power tubes. The stock 6DR7 power tube is very limited in selection (as far as different manufacturers). Even if you get the 9 pin to 8 pin octal adaptor which I have to allow you to run 6EM7s or 6NS7s it still limits you on reasonably priced options. 6EM7 tubes are very reasonable and great sounding but limited in selection. The 6SN7s are plentiful but can be very high priced for the more popular ones. Factor in the fact also that the WA6 takes 3 tubes vs 2 on the Crack.
The Crack takes 12AU7s for input tubes and 6080/6AS7/5998s for power tubes. The 12AU7 tubes are plentiful and give plenty of options. Yes the 5998 power tubes are getting very expensive these days but 6080 and 6AS7s are still very plentiful and reasonably priced. Honestly you can invest $50 in a NOS RCA clear top 12AU7 and RCA black plate 6AS7 and you have a great sounding and reasonable NOS combo.
I'm not trying to be contrarian I just wanted to share my experience with tube rolling and purchasing with both these amps. Its been my experience its been much easier and more reasonable to find good tubes for the Crack than the WA6.
Edit. Deleeh I just noticed you are in Germany (Wie Gehts?). It very well could be the differences we are experiencing in finding tubes and prices are a result of what we experience in the markets in our respective countries. This is something to take in account for each buyer if this is the case. Haben sie einen guten tag!
Sorry to continue this off topic digression, but I wanted to chime in that one of my favourite Crackatwoa tube rolls with the Atrium is a 50's Russian 6h5c and an RFT foil getter - was $30 total. To me, with my individual examples, the 6h5c beats the pants off the 5998. The most expensive, hard to find tubes aren't always the best! That RCA roll you listed is also pretty great.
After having experienced several much more expensive amps, the Crack remains one of the very best options for Atrium and any ZMF imho.
Sorry to continue this off topic digression, but I wanted to chime in that one of my favourite Crackatwoa tube rolls with the Atrium is a 50's Russian 6h5c and an RFT foil getter - was $30 total. To me, with my individual examples, the 6h5c beats the pants off the 5998. The most expensive, hard to find tubes aren't always the best! That RCA roll you listed is also pretty great.
After having experienced several much more expensive amps, the Crack remains one of the very best options for Atrium and any ZMF imho.
Thank you for your information. I'm going to give the 6H5C a try. That sounds very intriguing.
I have to agree with the Crack vs more expensive amps. Both my Mainline and especially the Mogwai are much better amps from a technical perspective but I still enjoy listening to the Crack as much as the Mainline and right behind the Mogwai (which is the perfect combination of technical prowess, power, and tube lushness for my preferences). The price to performance ratio of the humble Crack is off the charts. Every ZMF I've tried with the Crack sounds downright sublime.
Thank you for your information. I'm going to give the 6H5C a try. That sounds very intriguing.
I have to agree with the Crack vs more expensive amps. Both my Mainline and especially the Mogwai are much better amps from a technical perspective but I still enjoy listening to the Crack as much as the Mainline and right behind the Mogwai (which is the perfect combination of technical prowess, power, and tube lushness for my preferences). The price to performance ratio of the humble Crack is off the charts. Every ZMF I've tried with the Crack sounds downright sublime.
Try to look for a 6h5c that has square "flying saucer" getters. To my ears that tube was just a smidge better than my 60's 6h13c that has round flying saucer getters.
Try to look for a 6h5c that has square "flying saucer" getters. To my ears that tube was just a smidge better than my 60's 6h13c that has round flying saucer getters.
Thanks! I actually found and ordered a NOS pair for about $28 including shipping. After seeing your post above I went back and checked the photos of the ones I ordered. I lucked out as they had the square getters. I've never seen those before so thanks for the heads up. Just about every Russian made tube I've used always had the round "flying saucer" or "pie pan" getters.
Finally got my Atrium today (it's my first ZMF) and the wait was definitely worth it! Really loving the sound so far with its lush mid and very organic timbre. Definitely going to be a keeper in my collection!
Shoutout to @TheMiddleSky for introducing me to everything ZMF and of course @zach915m for creating such masterpiece
Finally got my Atrium today (it's my first ZMF) and the wait was definitely worth it! Really loving the sound so far with its lush mid and very organic timbre. Definitely going to be a keeper in my collection!
Shoutout to @TheMiddleSky for introducing me to everything ZMF and of course @zach915m for creating such masterpiece
Finally got my Atrium today (it's my first ZMF) and the wait was definitely worth it! Really loving the sound so far with its lush mid and very organic timbre. Definitely going to be a keeper in my collection!
Shoutout to @TheMiddleSky for introducing me to everything ZMF and of course @zach915m for creating such masterpiece
For those of you who have heard them all, would you say the Atrium is more of a big-brother/evolution of the Auteur or the Aeolus?
I am thinking Auteur since they both have the biocellulose drivers, but the descriptors people use (lush, organic) make me think Aeolus. Or perhaps neither?
Thanks.
For those of you who have heard them all, would you say the Atrium is more of a big-brother/evolution of the Auteur or the Aeolus?
I am thinking Auteur since they both have the biocellulose drivers, but the descriptors people use (lush, organic) make me think Aeolus. Or perhaps neither?
Thanks.
Finally got my Atrium today (it's my first ZMF) and the wait was definitely worth it! Really loving the sound so far with its lush mid and very organic timbre. Definitely going to be a keeper in my collection!
Shoutout to @TheMiddleSky for introducing me to everything ZMF and of course @zach915m for creating such masterpiece
For those of you who have heard them all, would you say the Atrium is more of a big-brother/evolution of the Auteur or the Aeolus?
I am thinking Auteur since they both have the biocellulose drivers, but the descriptors people use (lush, organic) make me think Aeolus. Or perhaps neither?
Thanks.
Auteur for sure to my ears. Even on my very first listen, not knowing anything about it before it was announced, my first though was that it was the next Auteur or some Super-Auteur. After hearing the Auteur Classic, it's even closer to that than the OG. I always felt before like the OG had this "just right" sound for me and it didn't matter much that it wasn't the most detailed or had the widest soundstage. The Atrium is sort of the "just right" turned up to 11, with no lacking in the soundstage and details just a hair under the Verites.
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