Air Tight ATC-1

Air Tight ATC-1 pre amp with MM phono stage.

This now discontinued pre amp was the first produced by Air Tight.

The circuit itself is based on vintage concepts, just like the PCB-free construction, and consists of a three-stage low-impedance equaliser described as ‘once employed by the Marantz 7’; this is the stage fed straight to the EQ Out sockets.

Three line-stage inputs, one MM phono stage. All Gold-plated input/output connections on back.

In addition to the main outputs there’s a spare set for feeding a second power amp and a pair of sockets tagged ‘EQ out’. The latter takes the phono signal from input through RIAA circuitry and straight out again, for feeding directly into the power amplifier, bypassing every unnecessary switch and stage in the preamp.

Hand-made, point-to-point wiring. The valve bases are ceramic, with gold-plated sockets. The three tubes visible on the outside are the original Air Tight select Electro-harmonix, for the phono stage. The two tubes on the inside, for the line stage, appear to be NOS Sylvania, probably upgraded by the previous owner, not sure. This is the first time that I opened the top, to demonstrate the beautiful construction. I initially thought that the top had never been removed, but the different tubes on the inside probably proved me wrong.

The chassis is copper plated and the gorgeous, grey ‘almite treatment’ faceplates are machined from 8mm aluminium. The power supply, phono and line stages are totally independent and the latter two are fully shielded. Compact and just beautifully built. A really sweet sounding pre-amp.

I am the second owner and selling only because I currently own the current ATC-5 pre amp and discontinued (reference ATE-2001 phono/line stage pre amp). It is now in storage, in original shipping box, with owner’s manual, and power cord. No nicks or scratches, appears nearly new, rated 8 of 10 only due to age. It has seen light use in a non-smoking environment.