Air Studios Mastering (UK) has added two ATC P2 Pro dual mono power amplifiers to its ‘no-expense spared’ monitoring system. The P2 Pro is a true dual mono design delivering 300W of continuous power simultaneously from both channels, with wide bandwidth and ultra-low distortion.
‘Originally, class-D amps were chosen for our speakers, but we always felt they were a little hard-sounding and lacking in musicality,’ says resident mastering engineer, John Webber. ‘We felt it was worth exploring some class A/B amp options but, having tried several, weren’t impressed until we came across the ATC P2 Pros.’
On the business end of the new amplifiers is a custom Pioneer/TAD loudspeaker system ‘The TAD Reference One’s dual-concentric driver was partly developed here at Air, and they were very kindly gifted to us by Pioneer when the room was conceived,’ Webber explains.
‘The TADs are potentially a tough load with dual 10-inch bass drivers to control, and then there’s the passive crossover network and 4Ω impedance to consider,’ Webber continues. ‘They’re designed to be very responsive and linear, so, speculatively, we were looking for something that provided a balance between fast, focused, and sweet.
‘The sound is still quite lively and true, but now there’s a more musical bottom end, and this extra dimension has made things more enjoyable to listen to. Two P2 Pros in a bi-amped configuration certainly sound different to just using one and took a little time getting used to, but I have always found brutally honest and revealing monitors to be best for my work because there’s little in the way of flattery going on and I generally find that masters translate better in the outside world.’
Work for vinyl, CD and download (including a ten-LP boxset of Ornette Coleman’s Atlantic-era releases) has already been completed by John Webber using the new set-up.
‘If I was to describe the sound of the amps in general, I would say they’re balanced, open, and uninhibited,’ he says. ‘We’re achieving a naturally unveiled soundstage, clean top end, and extended – but never over-egged – extension at the bottom end. I feel like P2 Pros provide excellent value for money. For us, they definitely came out on top when compared with similarly-priced competition.’
