AirTight ATC-5 Reference Pre-amplifier.

$13,700.00

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Description

Description

AirTight Reference Pre-Amplifier ATC-5. Stereo Line and MM Phono controller. One of the finest Preamps in the world today.

At True Audiophile

AirTight is legendary for build and performance. This reference pre-amplifier is no exception.

Review from Mono & Stereo:

In the era of globalization, one can too quickly fall into a generalization. Even when it comes to such a delicate topic as the sound.

Yes, Air Tight ATC-5 owns the intricate Japanese spirit. Then again, with its sonic performance, it rises above the typical precognitions. ATC-5 clearly builds upon the Air Tight’s rich legacy DNA, but also transcends any attributes that would keep it in the trap of the past.

Make no mistake. This is the 21st-century preamplifier, that is proud of its profound roots and happily explores and take advantage of the modernity when it’s needed.

When it comes to the purity of sonic deliverance Air Tight ATC-5 is anything but. One of the biggest surprises was the open, transparent yet always palpable sonic performance. Being all tube preamplifier one would expect the complete opposite.

Yes, Air Tight ATC-5 is a single-ended preamplifier and as such it provides only RCA inputs. It was undoubtedly designed to fit within the Air Tight’s family tree of products and to be accompanied with other non-balanced front ends and power amplifiers.

It’s not easy to forget Air Tight ATC-5 organic and chameleon-like nature acted equally well with both digital and analog front ends.

Too often the "on-board" phono stages are of mere decorative value. Not the case with ATC-5! I’ve encountered more than just sublime synergy with another stand out Japanese analog gem — the ARAILab MC step-up transformer. In many respects, this combo was not solely on par with quite a few of not exactly affordable standalone phono preamplifiers, but exceed few of them with an essential analog impact.

I’m not the biggest fan of high gain preamplifiers, but I’m standing corrected with the Air Tight ATC-5’s 40 dB... There must be something profoundly correct within those circuits and tubes implemented as Air Tight ATC-5’s density allows an effortless flow of the music and sonic completeness, that shouldn’t be attached to its given price.

Unlike many of the contemporary preamplifier, Air Tight ATC-5 didn’t drop on musicality for being transparent. When science and art are fused and aligned properly something wonderful can arise and ATC-5 is the result of such juxtaposition.

Similar to the photography, where some people prefer to savor the minutiae, colors etc. over the moment’s aura being captured, some audiophiles will adopt the details over the music’s and musician's message. ATC-5 was made for the music lovers that acknowledge the later and cherish the music for what it is.

The music just seems to possess the right amount of anchor points when being played through the Air Tight ATC-5 preamplifier. The music message is not lost in translation and this is the major thing. ATC-5 deserves to be appreciated for its sonic potency and value. That’s why I’m giving out the Mono and Stereo 2018 Highly Recommend Product Award to this Air Tight tube preamplifier.

I’m looking forward to further explore the unique audio ecosystem of Air Tight so do stay tuned.

Read full review here.

Air Tight has been manufacturing tube amps since their very inception, believing in the unlimited potential of Vacuum Tubes which were once thought to be out of date in contemporary digital days.

It was 30 years ago when AirTight introduced their first tube pre-amp ATC-1 at Air Tight with the firm intention to reproduce real, dynamic sound, and thanks to our unyielding zeal and efforts AirTight has been successful in winning constant fame and a superb reputation in the industry. After the years’ strenuous research & development AirTight is now proud to present the totally redesigned, mighty descendant ATC-5 to cater for the serious demand for real music sources, whether analogue or digital.

To simplify the signal path in audio circuitry has been an influential idea since digital music sources represented by CD got rapidly widespread, but does such simplification really enrich the scope of music reproduction? AirTight believes development of control amp depends on a never-ending process to find the optimum balance between the technology and art itself.

A technology to process properly in both analogue and digital ways is not always in alignment with that of creating joy, emotions, excitements and artistry of music.

Air Tight believes that the ultimate optimized combination of the technology and art shall eventually create a sort of supernatural phenomenon in the form of real musical sensation. This is their upmost goal and sublime dream commonly owned by all the discerning audiophiles in the world.

We are very honored to be able to offer this amp to our customers.

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Air Tight ATC-5 Stereo Pre-Amplifier features:

Valves employed:	12AX7 × 3, 12AT7 × 2
Phono equalizer input:	RCA/MM × 2
Input impedance:	47kΩ（Gain 40dB）
Phono equalizer output:	RCA × 1
Output impedance:
Recommended load more than 47kΩ
Line input:	RCA × 3
Input impedance:	47kΩ (Gain 18dB)
Line output:	RCA × 2
Output impedance:	Recommended load more than 47kΩ
Output voltage:	20V(Load 100kΩ/1% distortion)
Line amplifier distortion:	THD 0.02%(1V/1kHz)
Frequency response Phono equalizer:	50Hz~20kHz(±0.2dB) /20Hz-2.5dB
Frequency response Line amplifier:	20Hz~100kHz-1dB

Power consumption:	50VA
Dimensions:	400(W) × 260(D) × 90(H)(tentative)
Weight:	9kgs(tentative)