How you like the Air Tight products ?

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 02:57 PM

I'm very interested in these products below but no experience. I would appreciate any input on these gears.

Airtight ATC-2

Airtight ATM -211 monos

**tunes** · October 30, 2014, 03:13 PM

I would love to hear those 211 monos. You thinking for your devore's? Nice!

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by tunes

I would love to hear those 211 monos. You thinking for your devore's? Nice!

They get fantastic review but no dealer around me....

air tight 211

It could be Devore or Westies either one.

**KeithR** · October 30, 2014, 03:34 PM

since you're Canadian, you might check out Wyetech Labs as well, Paul.

Air Tight uses really good transformers. Have not had the luxury of hearing a set of the 211s in house.

**dlb2** · October 30, 2014, 03:38 PM

I really don't see those being any different than your shindo gear. Wouldn't you rather have something completely different in a second system?

Sent from my HTC One.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

since you're Canadian, you might check out Wyetech Labs as well, Paul.

Air Tight uses really good transformers. Have not had the luxury of hearing a set of the 211s in house.

I did Keith, The Sapphire mono blocks. wasn't cup of my tea

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by dlb2

I really don't see those being any different than your shindo gear. Wouldn't you rather have something completely different in a second system?

Sent from my HTC One.

I've been told : " Air tight will sound more open and detailed, not as dark and lush compare to Shindo "

**dlb2** · October 30, 2014, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

I've been told : " air tight will sound more open and detailed, not as dark and lush "

So not any better then, just different.

Sent from my HTC One.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by dlb2

So not any better then, just different.

Sent from my HTC One.

All depend how you look at it. Tomato and To-mah-to.

**bpw** · October 30, 2014, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by dlb2

So not any better then, just different.

He didn't say that. Matching to associated equipment and auditioning before purchase are what's important.

**Mike** · October 30, 2014, 04:26 PM

In this months Stereophile, Art Dudley felt the Air Tight sounded really close to his Shindo, but even more "precise" than his Shindo.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**KeithR** · October 30, 2014, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

I did Keith, The Sapphire mono blocks. wasn't cup of my tea

the 300Bs or 211s? i'd love to read more of your thoughts about them if you have a chance- impossible to hear down here.

One of the FirstWatt amps would be a great match for the O96s.

**tunes** · October 30, 2014, 04:32 PM

Paul,
Gunnar from Audio Alliance distributing (formerly Planet of Sound ) based in Toronto is a distributor/dealer.
Chris

**dlb2** · October 30, 2014, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by bpw

He didn't say that. Matching to associated equipment and auditioning before purchase are what's important.

You're right, he didn't say it I did. Paul knows all about auditioning gear and knows what he likes. I think the Airtight will only give him "different."

**Petro85** · October 30, 2014, 05:12 PM

i like those AT monos. hmmm more green gear and you dont have to jump through hoops to own it. sweet

love to know what you think once you hear them. anything airtight ive heard is exceptional. im sure these are no different.

**sharkmouth** · October 30, 2014, 06:02 PM

Paul, if I was to build a complete system of one brand, at the mo, Air Tight is it! Has tubes looks downright "saxy" & I have a dealer that is thinking of doing this so will be easy for me to have a listen & appraise.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Paul, if I was to build a complete system of one brand, at the mo, Air Tight is it! Has tubes looks downright "saxy" & I have a dealer that is thinking of doing this so will be easy for me to have a listen & appraise.

How soon he will have them Kev?

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by tunes

Paul,
Gunnar from Audio Alliance distributing (formerly Planet of Sound ) based in Toronto is a distributor/dealer.
Chris

Thanks Chris. I will check them out.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

the 300Bs or 211s? i'd love to read more of your thoughts about them if you have a chance- impossible to hear down here.

One of the FirstWatt amps would be a great match for the O96s.

It was the 300B saphire-amp-1.jpg with Jade Line stage. It was good just wasn't sweet enough for me but it was driving my westies like nothing at 18 watts good swings and bass as well. my friend loves them on his Canterbury

**sharkmouth** · October 30, 2014, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

How soon he will have them Kev?

Paul, not sure, but don't think it will be before the next 2 or 3 months.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Paul, not sure, but don't think it will be before the next 2 or 3 months.

Thanks Kev, I don't think I can wait that long however looking forward to hear your impression.

**puroagave** · October 30, 2014, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

I'm very interested in these products below but no experience. I would appreciate any input on these gears.

Airtight ATC-2

Airtight ATM -211 monos

My first encounter with airtight was around '90 when the first US reviews hit, samples were going around to different dealers. I tried the full-function preamp and PP el34 power amp. At the time, I recall preferring the ARC gear I owned. internally the amps are a combination of hardwiring and small PCBs. I remember thinking they were well made but the chassis, connectors and overall feel was a little chintzy, like '60s era heathkit. Airtight's claim to fame has been their xfmrs.

currently, one of my buddies drives Tannoy Churchill wide-bands with his ATM 211s and the marriage is sublime, I tried them with Harbeth HL5 and they were very good. the 211s are probably ideal with less demanding acoustic, singer/songwriter type twaddle. with HL5s playing symphonic works the dynamics in fff range were flat. by comparison a very pedestrian PP tube amp I had on hand worked better.

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 07:29 PM

Rob I owned the SHL5 as well. Didn't you think it was causing by SHL5 ? By the review the 211 had some balls to worked on 89db speakers with no issue.

Thanks for your post and it helps

**puroagave** · October 30, 2014, 07:33 PM

imo, the HL5 is not 89db (mfr claim is optimistic) In practice they're more like 85-86db. The port tuning on the HL5 is warmish to start with, an amp with little to no damping will not give the tightest bass when the music calls for it. that said, they rock on the Tannoys

**Design Audio Video** · October 30, 2014, 07:54 PM

I have some Airtight coming next week. I'll give some feedback

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Design Audio Video

I have some Airtight coming next week. I'll give some feedback

David. Excellent which models are you getting ? Are you planning to pair with the dali 's ?

**Paul** · October 30, 2014, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by puroagave

imo, the HL5 is not 89db (mfr claim is optimistic) In practice they're more like 85-86db. The port tuning on the HL5 is warmish to start with, an amp with little to no damping will not give the tightest bass when the music calls for it. that said, they rock on the Tannoys

Sorry I should more clear about my comment. I meant the 89db Khama speakers the reviewer was using. Anyway I agree with you on your post about the SHL5

**Dpod4** · October 31, 2014, 02:01 PM

All Air Tight electronics are designed without printed circuit boards and are hand wired point to point. I think the combination of a simple and pure signal path (no PCBs), excellent incorporation of tubes, and incredible hand wound transformers are what make my ears like Air Tight. Also the design takes into account removal of any interferences (copper plated chassis and bottom plate, vibration control, etc).

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 20, 2018, 08:29 AM

Taking the dust off the topic!I am thinking of buying a pair of Airtght ATM 211, someone has heard this model at home, can you give an opinion?

**joeinid** · September 20, 2018, 09:07 AM

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.

**Etunes** · September 20, 2018, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Nascimento-Brasil

Taking the dust off the topic!I am thinking of buying a pair of Airtght ATM 211, someone has heard this model at home, can you give an opinion?

Welcome,

What speakers are you using with them? I owned a pair and used them with Focal #2 and Tannoy GRF90 with great results. Air Tight has a very clean detailed yet sweet sound. The only limiter if you like that SET sound is wattage.

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 20, 2018, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.

I thank you for the welcome!

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 20, 2018, 03:37 PM

I have a pair of Tannoy Westminster Royal, currently playing for two Mcintosh MC 275.Good to know that with Tannoy, you liked it!I'm sorry, my English is very limited!

**Etunes** · September 20, 2018, 03:48 PM

I owned the Air tight ATM-2 as well. Honestly I preferred the KT88 based amp with my Tannoy's . With my Uno XD's prefer the 211's.

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 20, 2018, 04:12 PM

A friend has Tannoy Westminster with Ongaku English, the sound is wonderful, I have read that Airtight, for a fraction of the value, delivers 80%, if this is so, this is good for me!

**Kingrex** · September 21, 2018, 12:22 AM

Maybe I should not comment. Maybe I got a bad piece, but it was a used unit from an authorized dealer. I had a preamp, AC3 with the Alps. It was ok. My First Sound creamed it when they were head to head in my living room. The First Sound was much more clear with deeper and more powerful bass. First Sound just stood out all around for somewhat the same price. I actually got the best performance by running the Airtight with the volume wide open and had a passive attenuator either before or after it running the volume. That surprised me but it was a lot better. As far as the preamp, it was hard to find good tubes for it 12ax7 if I remember. Went through a few different ones with Brent Jesse. I hear they eat power tubes. At least a very knowledgeable person in the know said the ATM-2 is run hard and eats power tubes. He told me to get the Altecs I have. I could not be more happy. Well, sometimes I dream of a SS amp. Not sure why.

I heard the monoblocks at a store last summer. The store had issues with the room. They did little for the Wilson Sasha. The Audio Research I heard pushing the Sasha were wonderful. Also a better room. Under the right circumstances maybe the Air Tight sing but not for me so far. I could have got a lemon, hence the return and once again, the room I heard the Monos in was pretty compromised. The VAC I had at my house and heard in stores were always more solid a performer. Voiced somewhat similar IMO.

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 21, 2018, 08:48 AM

I think your observations are very important, I wrote down and will help me at the time of purchase!

**bonzo** · September 22, 2018, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Nascimento-Brasil

I thank you for the welcome!

Hi are you in Brasil, and if so in Rio?

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 22, 2018, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by bonzo

Hi are you in Brasil, and if so in Rio?

I'm in Sao Paulo, it's near Rio de Janeiro, about 400km!
Do you know Rio de Janeiro?

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 23, 2018, 07:20 AM

I have a problem, I can not post in smaller letters! Even choosing the size "1" the letters remain great! Is it a problem with my browser?

**audio.bill** · September 23, 2018, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Nascimento-Brasil

I have a problem, I can not post in smaller letters! Even choosing the size "1" the letters remain great! Is it a problem with my browser?

Looks pretty small to me!

**CPP** · September 23, 2018, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Nascimento-Brasil

I have a problem, I can not post in smaller letters! Even choosing the size "1" the letters remain great! Is it a problem with my browser?

Go to Size and adjust your fonts from teh drop down , its killing my old eyes

**Nascimento-Brasil** · September 23, 2018, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by CPP

Go to Size and adjust your fonts from teh drop down , its killing my old eyes

You're right, I'll leave that size, my eyes are already tired!

Thread: How you like the Air Tight products ?