The Best Tube Amplifiers vs Spectron ?

Michael, there is no rigorous testing that one needs pass in order to qualify as a audio reviewer. True, they do have more access to equipment than the average audiophile, but in the end, they all bring their own set of values and biases to an audition, just like us. I think that most of those who rely on the opinions of reviewers would be amazed at what some of these guys consider state of the art sound. I also heard that same system as Teajay and Baranyi and, uh, well... the reviewer was a gracious host and seemed to have a pleasant personality.

I do not think that there is a best tube amp or best solid state amp. Any piece of equipment must be carefully integrated into your system and the synergy that many have mentioned must exist in order for you to enjoy the music.

I do know from experience that each one of these technologies are great for what they can do. I also know that modern technology has allowed the envelope of tubes and solid state amps to sound even better then before.

The new Octave mono tube amps, MRE130, which just recently became part of the Dynaudio chain, can drive speakers as low as 2ohms. They are designed with the capability to drive low impedance from the start and with the outboard power rectifying supply upgrade, tube owners will not have to worry about driving "Hard to drive speakers". I know, I have a set of B&W N800's and they sound great, make great music and sound realistic in regards to the portrayal of music with these tube amps. Layering. I have auditioned Mark Levinson, Krell and Burmester, and none offer me the sense of spaciousness on my system that I hear with the Octave MRE130's. Others willl probably have different results and that is the one thing that makes finding the "the best tube amp" versus Spectron hard, there are so many options. You might have just found the best synergy for your system. Great.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life

comparisons between live and recorded music are in valid and hence unreliable. audible memory is very short.

if you want to come close(R) to a maningful comparison, you will have to make a recording yourself in your listening room asnd then substitute amps.

i suspect that amomg serious listeners there will be disagreement as to which amp minimizes inaccuracy. there are many variables entailed in the notion of accuracy and thus such comparisons are dubious, at best.

Michael_moskowich, I doubt that Wayne has heard everything out there either. A lot also depends on the speaker that is used with the amp- if designed for an amp that does *not* double power as impedance is cut in half, you will get tonal anomalies if you use an amp that can. So it gets tricky making a comparison between the two, unless you are working with a speaker that works equally well with tubes or transistors, and you would be surprised at how few fall into that category.

For more info see:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/papers/paradigm_paper2.html

"...comparisons between live and recorded music are in valid and hence unreliable. audible memory is very short."

Rarely, I have read more horses..t then this.

First, SHORT-TERM audible (or other) memory is "very" short, indeed. I took word "very" in quotation because for different people this duration will vary and should be prolonged with training.

Long term audioble memory - the memory that music critic has, that professional musicians have, the memory of recording engineers, the memory of speaker designers like vom Schweikerts and Gallo... is short???? People who work decades and decades in audio environment, environmemt where luck of attention will cost you your job or success or both? These people have....excellent audioble memory. I am NOT saying that each of these people's memory is identical -it would depend on their "internal" ear-brain systems.

Mike asked simple albeit somewhat naive question. Initial critics correctly stated, IMO, that Spectron is not the only one amp "in the desert" (actually, if you like GOOD tube amps, hate weight and hate heat then ...yes, "one in the desert", IMHO only) there are other excellent amps, both solid states and tube. Also - not that many excellent amps around (Athmasphere is one of these few - my hat off to you, sir).

I feel that Brycee has summirized it excellently:
"I can see what musicians would like about the Spectrons as they are very accurate. To each his own. Enjoy!"

So, lets enjoy music "alive" and....re-created.

All The Best
Rafael