call to Spectron - they should give you all details, all references with e-mail addresses etc - so you can hear it directly from the users |
Spectrons being somewhat "rolled off"
I do agree with you on it, there was some truth in it a few years ago - I heard it on standard Musician III. When they made Signature, I was told, the special attention was given to treble and indeed after I upgraded my M3 to Signature I could hear immense improvement and I thought its one of the best highs I ever heard. May be the best. About the same as Plinius Reference -M - similar signature.
From my conversation with Simon, I understood that in Mk2 they concentrated on the top-to bottom approach and during the process, he said, he noted some schematics which he felt was not needed. John agreed and after they removed it , already fantastic highs became much more open, they bloom, etc
I am cello player and with Mk2 and GOOD (!!!) recordings I close my eyes and I have uncanny feeling that the player(s) is in the room.
As much as I love stereo Mk2, the monoblocks remove additional layers of veil or whatever between me and soundstage. Again Simon explained it by totally removing distortions (don't confuse with random noise) in mono mode and letting music out undistorted.
I know BAT stuff. I agree with you that REX may be the best preamp in the world. I love it! I also know well BAT600SE-M as truly excellent amplifier - however, Spectron is much better. BAT have even order distortions present and you can hear them, particularly during crescendo where no amplifier in the world come even close to Spectron.
I owned or auditioned extensively MBL 90011, Gamut 200 MkIII-M, BAT VK600SE-M, Plinius SA-Reference-M, VTL Siegfrieds and CAT JL1. Sonically, Spectron Mk2 monoblock is simply in another league.
"the name on the faceplate ain't Krell or Mark Levinson!"
If you want noble pedigree then Spectron chief designer John Ulrick is the designer of famous Infinity speakers in the 70's and inventor of the first digital amp. Simply,from 80's he went into pro audio and thus his name has gone from short-term audiophiles memories. However, he has HUGE name among professional designers. He loves music and Simon is (was) professional classical pianist and Yada, Yada, Yada Musician III Mk2 was born
Finally, my friend owned M-L Summits and power requirements were not in the bass region but strangely enough at the top, can't remember why - check your M-L speakers as well.
Whatever you decide - be happy.
All The Best in Your Search
Rafael |
Hello Russ,
1 Their Remote Sense cable is better then all inexpensive -to medium price cables but is inferior (in some respects) to true high end cables like Valhalla and similar so I do not recommend them.
2 Set up at the top: If Simon suggest you to bi-wire then he must mean to use two amps in monoblocks configuration. You can use the same amps both in mono and in stereo mode so you can do and compare yourself what is the best for you
a) monoblocks with bi-wire or
b) stereo in bi-amp
Same two amps, same two sets of speaker cables
With BAT, however, you would need to send them to factory to reconfigure every time you want to go from stereo to mono
Upgrades - I don't know if anyone can tell you where they will be better : at the top or bottom. I have them. I love them - its question of the budget, on my opinion
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Philefreak,
Thank you for your post. I coudn't stand the amp during first 100-200 hours! I am glad you like it but in a a month or so you simply will not recognize the sound.
I also agree with you that Cardass patented bining post is a pain in a .... Some people like it, I don't but its really small detail.
For the point of comparison - what is your favorite ss amp?
Thank you
Rafael |
Psag: What are your old monos?
Thanks
Rafael |
Hey Romandoc, did you get your super tube preamp to run your Spectron monoblocks?
Thanks
Rafael |
"Will let you know how it sounds driving the Spectrons in monoblock mode"
Thank you very much - post your impressions
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Argyro,
Nobody doubt your sincerety. The two questions I ask are:
a) did you hear standard, Signature or latest Mk2 - well broken-in or..... not and
b) much more important question, we all respect Spectron for its "honesty" and I wonder if that you heard was some deficiency of some of the components in the system of your friend simply masked by his previous amplifier.
Again without doubting you your observation I am afraid I
can only suspect that Spectron unmask some imperfections in the system.
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Audiograils,
I fully agree with you that Plinius is first class amplifier - one of the best there is. I owned a few. BAT is also very good amp - I have extensively auditioned VK600SE with a number of speakers.
To my regret, I disagree with you on Musician because I own Musician right now and as much as I like Plinius (and BAT) these amplifiers are in different classes. Pure and Simple
If you will A/B them, particularly on the long run then you will see what I am talking about.
All The Best
Rafael |
Argyro: Actually, I agree with you. Standard Edition's highs were bad. Even in Nov 2006 TAS review of many class D amplfiers their all amplifiers highs were critiszed.
However, in January 2008, Neil Gader of TAS wrote rave review of Musician 3 Signature Edition - check TAS archives
and now we have Mk2....different animal all together and much, much better then Signature. Read Don Shaulis review on Stereo Times
Thank you for clarification. Now, I can sleep knowing that I am not totally deaf
All The Best
Rafael
|
Argyro:
I don't know if "we just listen differently and have different tastes"
I think we both listen to standard edition of Musician III and we both agree that its highs were bad.
With whom you disagree (and so do I) is with the reviewer of EnjoyTheMusic Mr. Wayne Donnelly who wrote that standard edition high's are the best he ever heard in solid state or tube amplifier - check his review on Spectron web site. May be he is right not us and TAS panel (Nov 2006)
I just must point out that these observations are moot because Musician went thru two subtantial changes - Signature and Mk2 which changed this amp completely, so who cares and if cares then it should shows to you that designers - all or some of them took TAS critic seriously and worked on the highs.
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello David,
"I heard the Spectron in monoblock configuration today at RMAF...."
In what room??? It is extremely important as if you auditioned in room 9007 with Audio Analyses speakers then its OK (except low level Modwright preamp - 9.0).
If you listen in room 1004 (10th floor)with SP Tech speakers then even with Modwright 36.5 preamp - my understanding is that the dealer could not set up system properly and presentation was just poor or worse....sorry. Its the lesson to Spectron NOT TO TRUST UNQUALIFIED dealers. Mike Garner from TweekGeek is very, very nice guy but until he got Spectron account the best he had was NuForce and even not v2.
At any rate who cares!
iSanchez - many thanks for the link. So its not $22k speakers or $14k amp but.....Bybees made the sound. What a journal, what an observation. Thanks
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Guido
Both rooms have different Modwright preamps.
9007 had lower level 9.0 and room 1004 had higher level 36.5 Plus Spectrons in room 9007 were pure stock whereas in room 1004 they had expensive Bybee upgrade ($4k retail?). Still sound in 9007 was two heads better then that in 1004. Its Spectron fault - they should not trust inexperienced (but very nice ) dealer and come themselves for set up! Simon promised....
You did not answer the most interesting question for me - knowing whatever you know about Spectron - do you still prefer Jeff Rowland 312?
Thank you
Rafael |
Dear Ted,
Thank you very, very much for all your help in set up of two Tweek Geek rooms. I truly appreciate your efforts.
If I offended you somehow I deeply apologize.
May be I also was too harsh on Mike Garner - he is very nice fellow but I stand behind my statement that he is not YET experienced enough dealer for the set-up of very hi-end system.
I am sure next year he will prove me wrong !!! I wish him only well, he is very talented fellow and will go far.
One think I cannot apologize for is for my ears. To my regret I hear what I hear. I am truly terribly sorry that my comments was taken by you rather personally.
Moreover, testimonies of other people who's ears or qualifications I don't know are probably not the best argument as far as I am concern. Moreover, I been there and I heard what I heard...sorry
Again, thank you a lot for your help in the set up. Its difficult work and we all, enjoyed your work.
Thank you and
All The Best
Rafael |
Dear Ted,
I missed something. I was not Sunday there. From the accounts of varios people - my understanding is that Mr. Bob Smith, designer of SP Technology speakers arrived Saturday night and re-arranged set up. Moreover, he uninstall $6k Synergistic Research speaker cable and install that of David Elrod - twice cheaper and new cable made much of the difference.
So, you are probably right in regard to Sunday, I am sure you are right in regard of Sunday....but I wasn't Sunday there, sorry.
I will try to buy from Mike Garner this "magic" speaker cable if its not sold already
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Chicago-phile,
Be patient. If you can reach monoblocks the grab it. Later on if you have a good dealer you will be able to upgrade to Bybees - its low labor cost so it should not be ezxtremely expenseve Regarding v-caps - ask Simon Thacher of Spectron (818.435.2090) to help you to find substitute for V-cap by off-shelf inexpesnive tweaks, he knows this amp in and out and you will almost get to monoblocks with upgrades.
All The Best
Rafael |
Hello Zybar,
Please share the results: It seems to be very interesting because Simon Thacher from Spectron published a paper (http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0708/index.html) where he wrote that the ONLY competitor to Spectron amps is OTL (not for all speakers) and OTL even has some advantages over Spectron....
Are your borrowing your Spectron from the friend or dealer - I am asking because I heard that late Spectrons do have some new stuff in them.
(some dealers keep their samples years and years...)
All The Best
Rafael |
