Air Tight

Many audiophiles believe that the preamplifier is the most important component in a music system. It is often the focus of much of the designer’s attention as there are many aspects of the signal path that need to be managed. The Air Tight ATC-3 is a high quality preamplifier with a great pedigree and remarkable sonics. It utilises a tried and true, well proven design that has been refined over many years so that it is very quiet, very transparent, neutral and ultra-dynamic.

It was 30 years ago when Air Tight introduced their first tube pre-amp, the ATC-1 with the ambitious intention being to reproduce real, dynamic sound. So successful were they in realising their ambition that the ATC-1 became a global reference preamplifier for many years and defined that ideal of Japanese refinement. After many years of further research & development, Air Tight have now released the totally redesigned ATC-5 to continue the tradition and cater for the serious audiophile with a requirement for analogue or digital music sources.

The ATE-3011 is the flagship phono preamplifier from this legendary Japanese audio manufacturer and is a unique design with features unlike any other reference phono preamplifier in the world today. To understand such an ambitious amplifier, it is best to begin with understanding the intention that conceived the idea. Air Tight wanted to cater for the highly discerning music and vinyl record connoisseur who wanted to be able to listen to virtually ANY record using the correct equalization curve and therefore optimise the sound reproduction experience.

The legendary AirTight ATM-1S is a culmination of many generations of ATM-1 stereo amplifiers and released to commemorate the company’s 20th anniversary. AirTight have developed a philosophy that it is not difficult to choose a set of valves and build an amplifier however to build a great amplifier takes time. Time to really understand the nature of that valve, time to experiment, adjust, listen, hone, evolve and refine the design so that it is a pure expression of that valve’s best capabilities.

Reference Mono Power Amplifier (6550/KT88) (Pair)

Reference Stereo Power Amplifier (6550/KT88)

There are valid reasons why many audiophiles believe that single ended amplifiers can provide ultimate musical enjoyment. They are often perceived to have a purity and immediacy which to use a some commonly used descriptions, ‘lifts the veil’ or ‘opens the window’ into the music. Nevertheless, single ended designs have often been limited by their low power outputs which required the use of high efficiency speakers. Well-designed high efficiency speakers that deliver deep bass are rare and expensive. So over the years, enthusiasts who wanted to use single ended amplifiers had to either live with their limitations, go DIY or make a serious investment in speaker technology.

AirTight released the original ATM-300 single-ended power amplifier employing WE300B tubes in 1999. The 300B tube had achieved iconic status because of its clarity and musicality and was appearing in statement amplifiers offered by many of the world’s new wave of innovative amplifier designers. The ATM-300 was immediately well received, becoming well known for its clarity and tightness as well as its bass performance in comparison to other SET designs.

Reference Mono Power Amplifier (211 Push Pull Mono Blocks)