Atomic Amps Reactor 50/50

The Atomic Rector 50/50 is a stereo tube power amp. 2 12AX7 for the phase inverter and 2 duos of 6L6 power tubes. Mine came with JJ's which I'm usually not that fond of, but in this case they were a very nice fit. Front panel controls are power switch, stand-by switch for each channel, as well as volume and presence controls for them.
The fun part of it is that you get bias points and controls for it as well on the front panel.
On the rear you have 2 fans, balanced XLR inputs from your pre-amp. As well as balanced XLR through jacks to run the signal say into a mixer as well. Also you get the usual unbalanced 1/4 inch inputs.
A ground lift switch for either channel and two speaker jacks per side. Impedance selectors too which allow you to run four, eight or 16 ohm loads.
And it's super light for a tube power amp.

UTILIZATION

Its a power amp. What I expect is to amplify what comes from the pre-amp and add some mojo to it. It does that nicely. It also is one of the few tube power amps that sounds great at low volumes as well as when it's chugging along and gets to move air.
I've tried it with Vintage 30 loaded cabs which are relatively forgiving as it is. SO no surprise that worked well. My have was using it with slot ported 2x12 cabs with either Celestion G1265 or Heritage Gold speakers. Are very nice combination.


SOUNDS

The pre-amps I tried it with was the Fractal Axe-Fx Ultra, Axe-Fx2, Digi Design 11 Rack, Line 6 HD 500, Marshall JMP1, as well as loaded down heads. For this I used a black face Fender Bassman, and 72 JMP, and a clone of a 20 watt TMB Marshall. All of them sounded glorious at all levels.
Guitars I ran the usual suspects, Baker B3, Vigier Excalibut with EMGs, Starts and tells.

OVERALL OPINION

I would replace it in a heartbeat was it lost or damaged. It's such a good amp at such a good price how do you go wrong!

This is a power-amp tube, four 6L6 (possibility to switch to EL34) and two 12AX7, which delivers 2x50W. The connection is complete, input jacks or XLR THRU to stack another power-amp, 4 speaker outputs.
It has a switch "ground lift" by hand to avoid the buzz if there is a switch to go into 4, 8 or 16ohms. Very interesting feature, it is possible to adjust the bias on the front, a serious millivolt meter position and a flat screw rotates, for the values ​​it should be between 700 and 900mV.
The 12AX7 is used to control the presence of what the front, knowing that the amp is neutral when its position is 0.

UTILIZATION

Operation is simple as it is a power-amp, plug it adjusts the impedance and roll my chicken.
I said that this is a portable high quality, robust, well finished, I opened it to put high quality lamps (TAD 6L6GC) is equipped with quality components. Very little breath, he has two very quiet fans.

SOUNDS

A very clean warm and dynamic sound, the interest of such a power-amp is when the couple with a preamp / multi-effects modeler, I'm using it with my AxeFX2, thanks to its neutral side I can leave simulation Poweramp enabled, with that I control my sound in detail, the possibilities are enormous.
I leave the control of presence to zero, I control everything with the Axis.

OVERALL OPINION

Before buying, I hesitated with Matrix, what it transistor, then I decided on the advice of a guy on the Fractal Audio website compared the two-and gave the Atomic as more dynamic and warm. I have a friend at a power-amp VHT 2X50 EL34, I recently made the comparison, disabling the power-amp simulation with VHT (logical because it is not neutral), the sound was also good with either, power, precision and punch for both, except that the opportunities were greater with the Atomic, as explained above.
I bought it secondhand € 650 two months ago and I am very happy with the top AxeFX but certainly with a POD, Eleven, etc. Prophesy ... I need nothing and given the quality of manufacture I think keep it long.