expat said:
Yes very interested , i sold the atc amp cause i thought it sounded tame
These are power amplifiers as opposed to integrated.
The ATC P1 was described as 'grippy, clean/stark and uncluttered ... conversely easy on the ear' and was 'highly commended'. It measured well allround but 'only just met' its 150w/ch. Parasounds Halo A21 at £2350 was given an 'outstanding product' gong with a 'sumptious sound/tight precision, transparent' as well as being subjectively the equal of the reviewers Levinson amplifier. Twice the power of the ATC but at the time £500 more expensive. Anthem's Statement P2 was 'Editors choice' with even more power (375W/8ohm), grip and dynamics but a slight 'glassy' sound on occasions. Bryston' s 2B SST fared subjectively slightly less well with power equal to the ATC but measured very well too with very low distortion (as did the P1).
Rotels RB1552 was 'joint winner' for value for money and good sound. Slightly more power than both the Bryston and ATC, it measured good but not as well as the two afromentioned. It has very high dynamic headroom though with close to 1kw into a low 1ohm. It was the cheapest power amplifier on test at £700. Softer bass as well as a slight stridency during peak signal moments was mentioned, this in comparison with the much pricier competition.
What can we make of this? Putting aside the flowery language for a moment (and the reviewers test system*), the technically 'better' amps seemed to have fared somewhat less well (subjectively) though none of them seemed to have any glaring problems on the bench. The Amplifier/speaker interface being what it is, namely variable (and probably unfamiliar to most in this instance), perhaps we can't take to much from this review but I hope it will be of some help somewhere.
You have to do your homework and translate the above into the respective integrated amplifiers available of each brand, thats if there are any. As regards to Naim amplifiers mentioned in your other thread, I can't say. They have less power/volts but usually decent current and have their own idiosyncracies such as limited bandwidth, relatively low damping and very expensive external add-on power supplies.
It may also be worth to point out that ATC's (any model) rarely get mentioned for excitement. They usually get praised for being measured, controlled and relatively neutral. Your 'problem' could well be with the speakers. Investigate.
* PC WAV files, foobar 2000/North Star Extremo DAC/Cambridge Audio 840E Pre Amplifier/Townshend Sir Galahads/Atlas and Nordost cabling
Good luck and perhaps let people here know how you get on (with more than one line)
regards