Spectron Musician III - Can anyone comment on it?


I am currently on the hunt for a pair of amplifiers that have massive peak power capability with excellent micro dynamics and neutral presentation. I am driving a pair of Martin Logan Statement E2's

The Spectron Musician has been reviewed exceptionally well everywhere I looked and seems to fit the bill but I just can't get over 25 years of snobbery telling me to avoid switching amps because linear amps just sound better and, hey, the name on the faceplate ain't Krell or Mark Levinson!

Can I PLEASE get a few people with experience listening to these amps tell me why I should or shouldn't buy them?

I desperately want to buy a pair of the BAT VK-600SE's since I own mostly all BAT equipment but to produce, say, 110db peaks one would comfortably need several thousands watts of power in the bucket to meet the challenge. I don't think the BAT amps have that under the hood.

Advice?
sashua

Showing 5 responses by sashua

Thanks for the sudden flood of very helpful responses everyone! This is just more positive affirmation that I am perhaps on to something.

I have a BAT REX preamp and VK-P10SE (w/Superpak) phono preamp. I am using Martin Logan Statement E2 speakers.

This is some very wonderful high end gear and I am blessed to own it. I just wanted to be sure that I was doing it all justice by choosing an amplifier that is up to its standard. I can afford much more expensive gear but that doesn't mean that I am actively looking for a reason to do so :-)

I am thinking of running a pair of the SM3 M2 monoblocks (perhaps with upgrades) bi-wired to my towers and another pair of stock monoblocks to the bass stacks. This should provide limitless reserves of power on demand and take tight-fisted control of these massive and authoritative speakers. The best news is that Simon will simply take them back within 30 days if I am wrong! Don't see how I can lose in this case.

My original idea was to use two BAT VK-600SE's bi-amping the towers and a pair of Krell 750's on the bass stacks. Also a nice (though more costly) combo that is now looking to be my "plan B".

Any thoughts on all of this?
Haha! Ted, I am both excited and confused by the possibilities!

I'm either going to run the towers jumpered and full range with Spectron Monoblocks, bi-wire with a pair of Spectrons in stereo or vertically bi-amp with the BAT VK-600SE's in stereo. I don't really have a good understanding of the positives and negatives that each setup would bring to the table and have no way to try them all out over a nice long weekend :-)

I am definitely leaning towards a pair of Spectron Monos for the bass towers but the stat and midrange panels are a horse of a different color.

It's a tough call because I've read a lot about the Spectrons being somewhat "rolled off" in the upper register but, then, they also have twice the power of the BAT's, which counts for a lot on Statement E2's.

What's a boy to do?

If all of you out there in happy Audiogonreaderland were in this happy dilemma, what would your decision be?

Russ
Thanks so much to each and every one of you for helping me to make this tough decision. Rafael, you have really used some top shelf amps! If you feel that The Spectrons can run with that pack then I feel I should give them the green light and order them.

Terry, the Exos crossover does accept the REX's true balanced outs and will mate perfectly.

So, let's get down to configuration....

Ideally, money not being the primary deciding factor, what is the best choice using Spectrons?

I have two towers (two sets of terminals), stat and midrange, which are currently jumpered. Simon had recommended bi-wiring them with a pair of SM3 MK2's. Is this the best choice? Should I go for one upgrade...both? What about that Neutrik Cable they offer....is it a better choice than sticking with standard high end speaker cable?

I will be running the separate bass stacks with a pair of SM3 MK2 monos. Are the mods at all necessary when running just the bass? I will spend money where it makes a difference but not where the gains are very minimal for the $$ spent.

You have all been SO great in helping me to this point. I'd appreciate finishing up the conversation with these last bits of practical advice so I have a clear picture of what to order when I'm ready to do so in a couple weeks.

Thanks all,
Russ
Well then, I am overwhelmed by all the praise for these amps.

I have always been a fan of tubes and was originally planning on a pair of Rogue Zeus amps to run the stat/mid panels. Then I was advised that more power would be necessary so I decided to stick with BAT, since a lot of my other equipment is BAT.

Now it seems like I have found an amp that offers the best of all worlds. High power to take hold of the massive Statements, sweet mids and highs for that tube-like quality (and a natural pairing with my BAT REX preamp) and finally, with a pair of monoblocks grabbing the bass towers, enough current to bottom feed like there's no limitation whatsoever.

The Spectron Musician III MK2 is now topping my list. 4 of them should drive these speakers to perfection but the real kicker is that if, after the break-in period, it turns out that I (and all of you) were off track then I can always return them.

Life is sweet!