AIR TIGHT ATH-2 Reference SUT

[howiebrou]

Anybody have experience with this SUT? I am on the lookout for a SUT. It has three inputs so it seems ideal for multiple tonearms. It also has a good range able to match those very low impedance cartridges like the MSL ones.


Input Selector

? position
?Bypass: without gain, for MM cartridges
?2??(0.6??7?applicable)?gain 29?B
?40??(7??40? applicable)?gain 23?B

Frequency response
10Hz?80?Hz?(-1dB)

Dimensions
240(W)×180(D)×70(H)mm

Weight:
2.8kgs

 

[miniguy]

It’s a superb SUT but it is somewhat more sensitive to hum from surrounding components so you have to take more care in placing it.

 

[howiebrou]

Thanks. Always wondered whether it made sense getting a general SUT like this or a manufacturer specific one, i.e. MSL SUT for MSL cartridges, Ikeda for Ikeda and Ortofon for Ortofon. I have a Ortofon SPU Century, Ikeda 9GSS and Ortofon Anna that i might need boosting.

 

[miniguy]

Thanks. Always wondered whether it made sense getting a general SUT like this or a manufacturer specific one, i.e. MSL SUT for MSL cartridges, Ikeda for Ikeda and Ortofon for Ortofon. I have a Ortofon SPU Century, Ikeda 9GSS and Ortofon Anna that i might need boosting.

A specific brand SUT for the same brand cartridge is nothing more than marketing hype. The Air Tight SUT will accommodate any cartridge on the planet.

 

[howiebrou]

Okay so what else should I be considering?

 

[miniguy]

Okay so what else should I be considering?

Depends on what your priorities are. Multi inputs, switchable primaries or secondaries? There are a lot of really good SUTs to choose from.

 

[howiebrou]

Multiple inputs would be nice so i don't need to buy several although i don't mind if they're not extravagantly priced. The Ortofon SPU, Ikeda 9GSS are both quite low impedance cartridges. I intend to add a MSL gold/Platinum some stage in the future (although i already have the MSL SUT) which is low impedance too. I know SUTs is a bit of a minefield so just trying to shortlist some brands worth considering...or excluding ones that i should not consider might be a good place to start.

Let's take the Ortofon SPU Century for starters...any suggestions?

 

[UEM]

Howiebrou,

I'm very happy with mine (frankly I'm unsure whether I've got the "reference" version, though).

Works well with Very Low Output cartridges, such SPU Century, KOETSU Platinum Generators, the IKEDA Mono and since a few days even with an EMT shellac cartridge.

The “Bypass” (Direct Input) additionally allows to connect an MM cartridge to the MM RIAA Phono Stage

I admit, I have no experience with other "high-end" SUT's

Regards

Urs

 

[bazelio]

I highly recommend the Emia MC Trio with silver windings. Dave can provide any combination of winding resistance you need to match with your carts.

http://myemia.com/Trio.html

I own the single silver, along with @mountainjoe and @brencho . @jjaudio has the Trio.

 

[miniguy]

Multiple inputs would be nice so i don't need to buy several although i don't mind if they're not extravagantly priced. The Ortofon SPU, Ikeda 9GSS are both quite low impedance cartridges. I intend to add a MSL gold/Platinum some stage in the future (although i already have the MSL SUT) which is low impedance too. I know SUTs is a bit of a minefield so just trying to shortlist some brands worth considering...or excluding ones that i should not consider might be a good place to start.

Let's take the Ortofon SPU Century for starters...any suggestions?

If one has multiple carts, it’s very convenient to have more than one impedance input setting. For performance and cost I very much like the EAR MC-4, though inputs are not switchable. One reason I use the Air Tight is its Bypass mode which makes it super convenient to use my high output SPU Mono GM MkII when I’m not playing my other SPUs.

 

[Tango]

Anybody have experience with this SUT? I am on the lookout for a SUT. It has three inputs so it seems ideal for multiple tonearms. It also has a good range able to match those very low impedance cartridges like the MSL ones.


Input Selector

? position
?Bypass: without gain, for MM cartridges
?2??(0.6??7?applicable)?gain 29?B
?40??(7??40? applicable)?gain 23?B

Frequency response
10Hz?80?Hz?(-1dB)

Dimensions
240(W)×180(D)×70(H)mm

Weight:
2.8kgs


View attachment 59446

View attachment 59447

Howie,

I have this box sitting idle. If you want to try, send me your address. If you like, you buy at your price, if you don't, send it back to me .

Kind regards,
Tang

 

[howiebrou]

Howie,

I have this box sitting idle. If you want to try, send me your address. If you like, you buy at your price, if you don't, send it back to me .

Kind regards,
Tang

That is incredibly kind of you Tang. Will send you a PM.

 

[howiebrou]

Howiebrou,

I'm very happy with mine (frankly I'm unsure whether I've got the "reference" version, though).

Works well with Very Low Output cartridges, such SPU Century, KOETSU Platinum Generators, the IKEDA Mono and since a few days even with an EMT shellac cartridge.

The “Bypass” (Direct Input) additionally allows to connect an MM cartridge to the MM RIAA Phono Stage

I admit, I have no experience with other "high-end" SUT's

Regards

Urs

Thanks Urs. I was not even aware that there might be more than one version. Air Tight's website seems to only have one.

 

[miniguy]

Thanks Urs. I was not even aware that there might be more than one version. Air Tight's website seems to only have one.

They’re both on the website. Ref version has gold knobs.
http://www.airtight-anm.com/components/airtight.html

 

[howiebrou]

They’re both on the website. Ref version has gold knobs.
http://www.airtight-anm.com/components/airtight.html

Ah i saw it. My mistake. So it seems the A version (non-reference) may have lower grade wire in the windings etc.

 

[miniguy]

Ah i saw it. My mistake. So it seems the A version (non-reference) may have lower grade wire in the windings etc.

Lower grade transformers

 

[howiebrou]

I highly recommend the Emia MC Trio with silver windings. Dave can provide any combination of winding resistance you need to match with your carts.

http://myemia.com/Trio.html

I own the single silver, along with @mountainjoe and @brencho . @jjaudio has the Trio.

Thanks. Will check them out. It seems as though the world of SUTs is even more wild than cables!

Do I need a special phono cable from my SUT to phono amp with ground or can a normal pair of rca cables work just as well?

 

[miniguy]

Thanks. Will check them out. It seems as though the world of SUTs is even more wild than cables!

Do I need a special phono cable from my SUT to phono amp with ground or can a normal pair of rca cables work just as well?

Not just any cable. This is a sensitive position. Best to have minimum length, preferably less than one meter, with low capacitance.

 

[howiebrou]

Not just any cable. This is a sensitive position. Best to have minimum length, preferably less than one meter, with low capacitance.

Thanks. Would the test to see whether this is needed be whether hum is induced?

Right now my Ikeda tonearm cable is going to the MSL SUT but i have a normal pair of rca cables going from the sut to my phono amp.

There is no hum that i can detect but from what you are saying i might get a jump in performance with a low capacitance short phono cable (presumably with ground as well)?

 

[bazelio]

No that's not the test. A simple shielded silver cable can work, but the phono cable includes the ground wire with spade connectors. I eventually found that disconnecting the ground cable between the SUT and the phono worked best in my system. Hum is usually a ground potential bugaboo in the system, if your cables are shielded.