I bought my Naim NAC42/NAP110 amps back in 1984 and still have them. They still astound me with the tiny details they can resolve from a recording. Never found anything else as tuneful to my ears 😎😺
@@belfort777 Yes I've purchased all the appropriate MIT cables (MIT- 2C3D Level 2) along with a Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC. I've been using the DAC with my old system (Mark Levinson no 23.5 and no. 28) but haven't put them to use. I have Wilson Sophia's for playback but I may try a different speaker with the Spectral gear. We're building a place in the mountains and my plan was to put that system in place there. So I'm still patiently waiting.
Dear Steve, It is always a great pleasure to listen to your youtube channel. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see a test bench of the DMC 30 SL preamplifier from Spectral Audio. What can I say about this brand as I own several of them. Perfect high end product. No blah blah blah and the product can please any aficionado for several years, which is my case. The discretion of the brand is an asset and I do not plan to change the product. It's the kind of device that you buy for a long time regardless of trends and fashions in high end. It's not cheap but the difference is there, a remarkable manufacture and when you catch the Spectral virus it's very difficult to change brand. The only condition is to use it with care and to find the right loudspeaker, especially with the amplifiers. The SL - SS - SV preamplifiers are electronic marvels and can be adapted to all types of amplifiers. I would also like to inform the reader that I am in no way a Spectral dealer but a simple aficionado who is loyal to a great electronics. Thank you Mr. STEVE GUTTENBERG, this brand deserves someone like you for an honest and uncompromising review. I congratulate you and I want to thank you for all the reviews that we all have the pleasure and the impatience to watch on UA-cam. An audiophile from Luxembourg
Dear Sir , I own in my system a preamp Spectral DMC GAMMA since 1981 ( 45 years old) driving a pair of QUAD ESL 63 ( very unreliable ) and now a pair of Harbeth 30.1 ! All other components are Bryston . The spectral preamp have been recapped 19 years ago and performs beautifully ! Very neutral , fast and accurate and perfect for the Harbeth speakers ! Spectral is now very expensive but worth the expenses if you want a very reliable piece of hifi !
Dear Mr. Guttenberg...Good day to you firstly. Second, I want o praise you for consistently bringing attention to vintage equipment. I presently use a SAE 205 Dual High Resolution Power amp. I have had this amp for about 20 years and only changed a fuse once . This old girl is a power house pushing 200 watts per channel. I have her driving a pair of Klipsch RF7,s and I haven't been disappointed yet. I remember hearing of "Spectral" before but have not heard of them recently and therefore, erroneously assumed the company folded. But I am pleased to know they are still actively providing quality equipment. Thanks again for shining a light of great vintage gear.
I paused at 2:30 to contemplate something you said. Paraphrasing: it doesn't sound like a tube amp, but it has a warm sound. So often I hear audiophiles state that the ultimate equipment is neutral and reproduces a track exactly as it was recorded in the studio. What I find ironic, is that when asked most claim that tube amps and tube preamps set the gold standard. So as not to ramble on, my point is one that you often make, and that is that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about your system, what matters is what you think. 😉 Thank you for your great reviews and all of your efforts. I wish you a great day, God bless.
I have great appreciation for Spectral gear. Years ago, I purchased a new Spectral DMC-12 from Underground Sound in Memphis. It was the best preamp I had heard at the time. I remember George Merrill saying, "there's tube, there's solid state, and then there's Spectral." Due to incurable audiophile nervosa, I upgraded to a Spectral DMC-30 (don't remember which version). Both were(are) great preamps. However after my upgrade excitement cleared, I realized that the DMC-12 had a certain magic, and I regretted selling it. If you don't need a balanced preamp, the Spectral DMC-12 is a really special piece of equipment.
@@MickTimmy It's not a hang up, it's the truth. We can slap "vintage" on any old thing to make up for the fact that it's just old. Being that it looks just like the current model, it's just an outdated version.
Well I always buy new and it never leaves. What I love about hifi, the products are still made to last. Unlike other electronics such as TV and phones.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay With a little work on and a little maintenance, I don't see why they don't? I have several speakers, amps which are 20 years plus one is 30 years plus and work fine. All I've ever done is clean them from time to time and store them in a warm location.. speakers can 💯 percent last a life time, yet my oldest are actually amps, older technics from the 90's.
Hardeep....I could not agree more with your purchase process. A high end repair friend always says...audio gear can last 40+ years with a repair or two. Just look at all the vintage audio out there that is still being enjoyed. Few things in life are as reliable.
What has been really improving is the quality of the more modest priced stuff. I don’t think the ultra high end end has gotten much better, just way more expensive and blingy.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay huh? I have tons of experience listening to Uber priced gear. Not interested in buying it. I guess Spectral. SMc Audio (Steve McCormack), Vandersteen 3 A Signature speakers and a Schiit Yggy isn’t high end. Just high end performance,
I remember auditioning a Spectral amp and preamp over 45 years ago and they were definitely special. What I recall was how different and fast they sounded reproducing attacks and transients at lightning speed.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay It’s not hard for me to imagine remembering the feeling and best/favorite aspects of a positive sonic experience from many many years ago. When a true audiophile hears something special that evokes an emotional experience, it’s memorable.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay seems like you’re just trying to be contrary. Not all wonderful demos need to result in a purchase and not all wonderful demos of a system are necessarily affordable to a listener. Some of us go to audio shows and dealers to gain -or just have a- listening experience... To this day I still perfectly remember the first time, 20 years ago, I heard a Dynaudio C4 system that presented itself as a holographic floating gelatinous orb of sound. It was otherworldly, yet I didn’t purchase any of it. Seems to me, by your logic, youre saying it either didn’t happen as remembered or I am not an audiophile because I didn’t purchase. Silliness.
Spectral is designed as a system. To fully experience it you'll need at least the matching preamp + power amp, and those MIT cables. They used to void warranty if you don't use MIT cables with those. The reason why Spectral is so good while being so rare, part of that is the mandatory use of MIT cables which are expensive. I have one coming, hopefully it will be a step up from the Nagra Classic stack I had.
Complete nonsense. I’ve used spectral without those overpriced MIT cables without issues. Who actually uses MIT cables these days? They sound diffuse and ill-defined to me. The cable industry has moved on. Too bad spectral pigeon holed themselves with one needlessly expensive cable brand.
A very classic review of the Spectral preamp. You were able to put into words the characteristic I enjoy with my DMC-15ss. I couldn't help noticing your dissappointment that it lacked a volume knob. I just wanted to note that the DMC15 series has a beautiful volume control along with a balance knob. I hope you will be able to give it a turn and report back. My spectral is matched to old world school type 45 SET amplifier driving a vintage Altec 604. In consideration my spectral is modern compared to the rest.
I was wondering about this: I own a DMC-15SS as as well, and was going to ask whether it makes sense to use it with an SET power amp because of the impedance matching?
Hello LeonFleisherfan. The preamp has very low impedance. It can drive any load. Normally simple SET's have moderate to high input impedance. I have not experience any oscillations or other spurious signals. They claim that it is best coupled with other spectral gear and MIT cables. I am using Nordost interconnect. Works great.@@LeonFleisherFan
One other factor is that Spectral components are dead quiet. Really important if matched with high efficiency loudspeakers (100 dB plus). All controls especially volume control are extremely quiet. Adjacent channel or source bleed is nonexistent.
@@ronbeerman9584 Thanks! I'll definitely try. Luckily, I have MIT instead of Spectral-branded MIT cables, so there's an additional impedance matching there, most likely need to use the "High 90kΩ and up" setting. Worth experiencing, by the way: not saying MIT cables are per se "better", but being designed alongside each other, they fit Spectral electronics to a T. I've tried other great cables (ones that worked great in other applications), but nothing combines with Spectral the way MIT cables do. There's more to it than protecting the (choke-less) Spectral power amp output (there they are really needed, unfortunately I can confirm from personal experience).
Steve, I have a DMC-6 Ver II, which I do not use much. I was SHOCKED at the sound when I bought it pre-owned about 20 years ago. The phono section in it is KILLER, being tied with my Threshold Fet-10e for quietness. Steve, if you like knobs, see if you can find the Twenty somewhere. I always wanted one of those but now the prices are outrageous, and the phono circuit is NOT standard. You have to make sure it is in there.
If you live in the NYC or Boston areas, you're in very good shape with Innovative Audio and Goodwin's High End. Without a doubt, Spectral has a very loyal and cult like following. I also love that most Spectral owners do not suffer from upgrade fever.
Thanks for introducing me to a fascinating company. Reading through their web site certainly peaks my interest. A collection of multidiscipline engineers who love music and let their ears be the final arbiter of design. My kind of boutique.
I always wanted some Spectral gear. Looks great! I heard a pre at a customers once, it sounded wonderful... I bet it’d work nice with my DIY First Watt F6!
"Live vs Memorex" moment. I was leaving a get-together on the roof of a hotel (outdoor dining). When the elevator door opened into the lobby, I heard some jazz music playing. Good song I thought. But as I walked pass the entry to the inside restaurant, I immediately knew that it was a live band playing. Taking a moment to stop and appreciate them, turned into sitting down and listening to an amazing trio (piano/singer, upright bass, 3 piece drum kit). Oh man, you could hear the brushes across the snare head, the finesse of the bass, and the piano dynamics. Pure joy. Late in the video Steve, you said, regarding equipment perfection, that we are not there, and I agree completely. I have had the amazing opportunity to listen to some systems that have made my jaw go slack and lock me to the listen chair as I thoroughly enjoyed the moment. But, I have yet to hear a system that made me think I was walking pass a live band. Perhaps I can equate music with theoretical physics; we can prove mathematically and scientifically that we should be able to travel backwards in time, however we can't (as of yet) make that happen. Perhaps we will never get that circuitry that will exact the sound of a live band, but no harm in aiming for that goal. God bless you all, and have a wonderful day.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay please go back and reread my post. I didn't keep walking by. I expressly said I stopped, sat down and listened. Not only did I stop, I ordered a pour of my favorite Scotch. I stayed for 20 minutes until they finished their set. When the band finished playing, David, the singer, noticed I still had some of my drink left and asked the band if they had another song left in them so I could "finish properly." We chatted for a few minutes afterwards and I tossed a $10 in their bucket. One of the most pleasant and memorable moments in my life. So, please, before assaulting someone, be certain to read what was posted. I wish you all the best.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay you really baffle me. I share a moment of my past to highlight what Steve shared in this video: that even after all of the innovation in electronics and music gear, we are not (yet?) able to 100% reproduce live sound from our systems. That is all I did. Perhaps I was not clear enough in my original post, so I gave the longer version to clarify. However, you maintain and defend, your original stance; even though it was based on your incorrect assumption of me ignoring that band. Anyway, Hopefully no one else, besides me, gives you reason to be angry today. I still wish you all the best. God bless
I have a DMC 5 and all these years later, still sounds fantastic. People who hear it with a newly rebuilt DNA 1 by SMc Audio are shocked how a pre from 1985 can be this good. Oh and for Steve, it has a volume knob.
Cool! I have the DMC-6 version II. It might be called the Gamma ver. I paid $1,350 for it (preowned) about twenty years ago. When I hooked that sucker up I was SHOCKED at the sound. These days it will still go for that amount on eBay.
I always felt Spectral would be at the top of my list if assembling a 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙛𝙧. 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢; CD playback/conversion, preamp, multiple mono power amps... Keith Johnson has offered up fascinating descriptions via interview, of the challenges he faced dealing with bandwidth, speed, settling time, thermal noise. I recall some details he offered regarding distributed power supply topologies assuring ample instantaneous current to critical circuit elements. I'll find that and re-read it, it was good stuff. Certainly it'd be tough to place Prof Keith Johnson anywhere else but right up near the top of high end audio giants. Dagostino, Levinson, Nudell, Johnson, Pass, Wilson, etc. Then old school Peter Walker, Frank McIntosh, Saul Marantz, Paul Klipsch etc.
Lucky enough to frequent a hi fi shop in Taiwan that stocks Spectral gear back in 1998 whose dealer was generous enough to play Metallica's first four albums through them if there were a bunch of Metallica fans checking out their Spectral set up. Spectral gear - to my ears - exels in sounding as if James Hetfield's guitar rig is in the listening room with you.
Your apartment looks great. As a long-time owner of a Cary SLP 98P I definitely agree with your opinion, but after about 22 years of ownership I just replaced it with the Cary SLP-05. As good as the 98 is, the 05 is in another league. It takes the sound of the 98 to an entirely different level but it retains the core of that same sound. I can't imagine needing anything better than this.
Wauuu, Look that lightning! Steve, put over some orange filter and some bounce left of you and you will be like some fancy model in a fancy environment!
I listened to that Spectral many years ago and, wow. But then put on a Lyra Connoisseur 4.0. That was another world! Please, please find one of those. Yes Lyra as in the amazing cartridge company.
I own the ARC-3a-1 you mentioned and found it interesting that you think it sounds modern, maybe another review is in order. I am now using a Marantz 7c, 8b and 10b, still have the AR-SP3-A. Perhaps these two preamps in comparison would make an excellent video, party on.
If you go to Spectral's website, the most recent review they have reposted in over 12 years old. They just don't seem to be very interested in press coverage.
The Spectral appears to be an interesting preamp, I've never knew it existed, I'd imagine it would be pretty rare to find one in Australia given their marketing strategy.
I could certainly be wrong but I believe the reason you don’t see much Spectral anywhere is because they’re a tiny company and produce very few pieces. Thus, the exorbitant pricing.
I have several preamps that are near 20 years old from EAR, Goldmund, and Bryston, and a few that are over 35 years old such as Quad 34 and 44. However, even though these are old, I prefer them more than my newer expensive preamps.
I love my Bryston BP26 and have a BP20 too and other than possibly the phono section of my Conrad Johnson PV10 are superior in my mind to tubes for example which really are pretty noisy relatively. Anyway that's my limited experience, I do think the Bryston power supplies add to the quality, the MPS1 some but the MPS2 a lot.
I just really love my Accuphase 1983 P266 Mosfet Class A amp... some vintage stuff is just to good to let go... lets build a pyramid and surround ourselves with our fav audio gear in order to have the best musical passing over xD
Steve I think that there are varying ways of expressing perfect. Making records is not just about recreating the live performance. It’s a skillful recording and creative expression of a song to evoke emotion. Whatever we use to recreate that and enhance the emotion is what your show is all about. So how much do you want to spend to feel that much more?
90s/2000s pre's I'm good with that. Crazy that 2003 was 18 years ago, my god where has time gone. I love Mac but once picked up a mint condition C28 that was recently restored, mainly for the center channel out. That thing was unacceptable noisy.... fairly loud background hiss. Couldn't hear it when you played thru it much if at all but it was unnerving. Sounded alright but very soft and veiled. 104dB efficient speakers and a noisy line stage is not a good combo. Was not expecting that for a SS pre with all new components. I'll never buy another pre made before the late 80s/early 90s. This spectral looks pretty amazing, lovely build quality. The aesthetics remind me a bit of those Berkley Design products from the outside, also from California. interesting stuff Steve!
The Spectral looks strangely modern still, whereas the Pass Labs appears mildly more "vintage". The Spectral reminds me of late 90s Meridian equipment. Not saying the two are comparable (haven't heard the Spectral) but I'm digging the look. Anyway, nice comparison. Be well.
Dear Steve, thank you for this video. Love your style. Please link me a "what is compression" video, in simple plain vanila terms. Or make a video :-). Thank you.
Was expecting 70’s when I read “vintage”! While I know the brand, I’ve tried any Spectral gear before. Given super niche strategy, I’m assuming one pays a high price for their R&D and production cost...
Steve mentioned compression is used to cut through the noise. When I hear it in vocals, it highlights the noise by amplifying low level detail. I am tired of hearing heavy breathing. When used on television news shows the sound is atrocious.
I have a question🤔 I have a bedroom system comprising Klipsch rp 150 m bookshelves running from tiny temple audio mono block amps. I use my Astell and Kern sr15 dap as my source. (I also have a sub hidden away). Sometimes I just run balanced straight from the dap to the mono blocks. Sometimes I use two cheap mono price headphone amp/pre amps which I strangely run so that each pre amp just goes to one channel of the sub and one monoblock to see if this reduces crosstalk . Sometimes I use a single little dot valve headphone/pre amp to both channels to get a different “flavour” and to me this sounds fun and great but I recently ran into a ps audio ask Paul video that said there is no need for an active pre amp but only a passive one as active/powered pre amp will only result in clipping. Did I misunderstand? Temple audio said that their mono blocks would easily take the output from the pre amps I am using with no danger to them. What do you knowledgeable guys out there have to say🤔😳😂
Can I ask a question? Why would (or should) a pre-amp affect the sound? To me, I would think that the ideal pre-amp would be as transparent as possible in not altering the sound in any way, no? Maybe Steve with all his knowledge and experience can put up a video explaining what a pre-amp does and why you might need it (apart from the obvious fact of adding several inputs to an amplifier) That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Yes, you could make a case why a preamp should be as transparent as possible. Then again, the preamp is the first amplification stage, and therefore they have a great affect on the sound quality of the system. If you’ve been watching my videos you know that I am not searching for accuracy or neutrality in my sound. After all, most recordings aren’t about accurately capturing the sound of music as played at a session, most recordings are about creating a sound that’s pleasing to the musicians, the producer, and the wrecker company.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thank you for your reply. Yes I understand. Yes I have been subscribed for well over a year now. I was just thinking when you find an amplifier (like the Decware Zen triode) that sounds great (to you) you might want to keep the pre-amp as neutral as possible. This could be an interesting subject for a video: how to pair amps and pre-amps? Like adding a tube pre-amp to a very analytical amp or the opposite. Thanks again.
Hmmmmm...that Spectral is an oldie...but a goodie...you are reminding me that I have a Carver Model C-500 Amp (and accompanying Sonic Holography Pre-Amp), that I have been dragging around with me for 40 years...I am tempted to pull the amp out of the closet and use it's 250 WPC @8ohms on my front stand-mount speakers in my current AVR set-up and see if I find any sonic glory there 🙂....hmmmm...
Wow, Spectral have been around since the 70’s? Never heard of them. The preamp looks more like an Ethernet router than an audio component. Of course now that I’ve seen this video, I’ll hear about this brand all the time now.
I think even if the day comes that we could have the perfect speaker, amplifier, front end, we could never recreate a live performance simply because we don't have the space to do that, if you bring a live band or a symphony orchestra to your room and they start playing it will sound terrible, unless you have a room the size of the MSG, so it's not just the gear that hold us back, it's also our rooms.
Hi Mr Steve, Can you suggest me a Preamp which has HT bypass with bass management but doesn’t perform the DAC functionality. I could see one from Emotiva XPS 1 but it’s discontinued. I want to add this to my HT system but want to attach separates for Streamer, DAC , preamp and power amp for my 2 channel stereo music listening. Will appreciate your advise. Thanks.
My experience with POLARITY , which to this day is mislabeled phase (as learned from Clark Johnsen) who passed about 1.5 years ago is it had the most audibility with bass. He gave me a few Wood Effect books, which goes into the subject in depth, if you would like one let me know
That's intersting take on spectral gear. I always hear it was fast, transparent, ruthlessly revealing and soulless. You never me tioned the amps you used this the spectral preamp? Perhaps the amps were responsible for adding some soul and body intio the system the spetral lacks? Than I suddenly remember why so few are reviewed. Spectral gear is usually reviews as one system with their amps and the required mit cabling with the network stuff inside them. Didn't know the part about voiding your warraraty on their gear if you didn't use mit cabling. No wonder so few review them. It probably all their gear or nothing. Kim curious if this is still the case to this day?
hello. you don't say the poweramp you partnered it with. most say spectral is not a mix and match brand, and they work best with mit cables. this is why i hesitate buying. is that really so? thanks in anticipation.
This is awesome! I've been a happy Spectral owner for many, many years, and it's true, why would anyone sell theirs? Also, one tends to forget that there are relative bargains at all price levels, not just inexpensive, and Spectral provides just that. It'll take an absolutely ridiculous amount of money (think house instead of car) to do better.
Try audition vintage that is restored in top noch way. If you can get your hands on stuff like that. That you will hear that there was veerryy transparent gear. Try Sony or Yamaha Vfet designs, or Pioneer exclusive....
When did 20-25 year old amps became vintage? In my perspective, i always thought vintage is something, let's say 40 years ago? If 20 years is equal to vintage, i really have "vintage" in my set-up then, but never thought about it that way? Amps in particular, somehow quickly ends up being vintage, as in my mind, a good amp could defiantly also be your "end game" amp. A good amp has no age, as iv'e learned with my amps (Lavardin), which indeed are end game amps, and in a couple of years from now, they can be called vintage too ;-) Me myself is way pass being vintage, as i'm 51 years old, but hey: i like being vintage. BTW, sounds like the Spectral guys is doing some of the same approach to the market as Lavardin, who only has a few selected sellers in the world, and not many reviews out there for u to find, but those reviews you can find, tells it all for me and other believers in that brand. Some companys doesen't really have to shout out about their products, because they are THAT good. Cheers from Denmark
Hey Steve I hope you read this comment or anyone else who has an opinion on the HumminGuru ultrasonic machine shipping this fall at a relatability price of about 500.00 USD it ships from China and was apart of a Kickstarter program. I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this product they have a website taking preorders and am anyone having input of if this is a true good to be true offer or if anyone has ordered one your input would be great fully appreciated thanks
"please allow me to introduce myself, I'm Steve Guttenberg"... those were ACTUALLY the original lyrics that the rolling stones went into the studio with... but after the second recording take, the producer butted in and said... hhmmmm , i dont know... A jewish new york audio enthusiast will just FREAK people out, WAY too extreme... HHmmmm , lets play it safe, be more family friendly and make the song about Satan..........Absolute TRUE story..........
My limited experience with Spectral during the mid 80’s was that it had a very “white” sound. It had little soul. I believe they chased definition at the expense of the overall sound. Not my taste.
"Vintage" in the context of describing older consumer electronics is just marketing blather for something that is out of current production and out of warranty support, obsolete and possibly archaic.
Electronics degrade, analog or digital both. In many ways this might not result in "worse" audio, but after 20 years your high end amp just isn't the same. This has nothing to do with whether you like the sound or not.
was just thinking that. one often hears that electrical components go "out of spec". it makes me wary of older equipment (as much as I am tempted by it!)
If you can FIX IT it might be better equipment. Wouldn't it be sad if someday all the people who use high speed insertion machines no longer had the energy to do what they did,? And man had to take over fixing items designed for the Vance Packard generation of throw it way and keep the 401-K feed the wealthy? - m
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought my Naim NAC42/NAP110 amps back in 1984 and still have them. They still astound me with the tiny details they can resolve from a recording. Never found anything else as tuneful to my ears 😎😺
Naim? Pure chit
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay STFU
Mark: I love that you bought your Naim in '84 and have not upgraded since then.....the way it should be.....Enjoy!!
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay Nah, I'll just ignore your asinine comments instead.
I just acquirred a used DMC-30SL and two Spectral DMA- 360 dual monoblocks. Can't wait to get them set up and to take a listen.
Hello Conrad, do you have MITs with them? Can tou write some review of the combo?
@@belfort777 Yes I've purchased all the appropriate MIT cables (MIT- 2C3D Level 2) along with a Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC. I've been using the DAC with my old system (Mark Levinson no 23.5 and no. 28) but haven't put them to use. I have Wilson Sophia's for playback but I may try a different speaker with the Spectral gear. We're building a place in the mountains and my plan was to put that system in place there. So I'm still patiently waiting.
Dear Steve,
It is always a great pleasure to listen to your youtube channel. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see a test bench of the DMC 30 SL preamplifier from Spectral Audio. What can I say about this brand as I own several of them. Perfect high end product. No blah blah blah and the product can please any aficionado for several years, which is my case.
The discretion of the brand is an asset and I do not plan to change the product. It's the kind of device that you buy for a long time regardless of trends and fashions in high end.
It's not cheap but the difference is there, a remarkable manufacture and when you catch the Spectral virus it's very difficult to change brand. The only condition is to use it with care and to find the right loudspeaker, especially with the amplifiers. The SL - SS - SV preamplifiers are electronic marvels and can be adapted to all types of amplifiers.
I would also like to inform the reader that I am in no way a Spectral dealer but a simple aficionado who is loyal to a great electronics.
Thank you Mr. STEVE GUTTENBERG, this brand deserves someone like you for an honest and uncompromising review. I congratulate you and I want to thank you for all the reviews that we all have the pleasure and the impatience to watch on UA-cam.
An audiophile from Luxembourg
Hi sorry to disturb you Do you have a link to the measurements ? i am curious Thanks a lot, gino
Dear Sir ,
I own in my system a preamp Spectral DMC GAMMA since 1981 ( 45 years old) driving a pair of QUAD ESL 63 ( very unreliable ) and now a pair of Harbeth 30.1 !
All other components are Bryston .
The spectral preamp have been recapped 19 years ago and performs beautifully !
Very neutral , fast and accurate and perfect for the Harbeth speakers !
Spectral is now very expensive but worth the expenses if you want a very reliable piece of hifi !
Dear Mr. Guttenberg...Good day to you firstly. Second, I want o praise you for consistently bringing attention to vintage equipment. I presently use a SAE 205 Dual High Resolution Power amp. I have had this amp for about 20 years and only changed a fuse once . This old girl is a power house pushing 200 watts per channel. I have her driving a pair of Klipsch RF7,s and I haven't been disappointed yet. I remember hearing of "Spectral" before but have not heard of them recently and therefore, erroneously assumed the company folded. But I am pleased to know they are still actively providing quality equipment. Thanks again for shining a light of great vintage gear.
the SAE 2201 100w/ch DHR was my first "real" amplifier in the 80's. Loved it. I remember it would really step up its game after about 1/2 hour warmup
@@user-ex9zm7bg3x I keep my DHR amp 205 on all the time so she is always ready! Like said I haven't been disappointed yet. Happy listening !!
I paused at 2:30 to contemplate something you said. Paraphrasing: it doesn't sound like a tube amp, but it has a warm sound. So often I hear audiophiles state that the ultimate equipment is neutral and reproduces a track exactly as it was recorded in the studio. What I find ironic, is that when asked most claim that tube amps and tube preamps set the gold standard.
So as not to ramble on, my point is one that you often make, and that is that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about your system, what matters is what you think. 😉
Thank you for your great reviews and all of your efforts. I wish you a great day, God bless.
Thanks so much!
I have great appreciation for Spectral gear. Years ago, I purchased a new Spectral DMC-12 from Underground Sound in Memphis. It was the best preamp I had heard at the time. I remember George Merrill saying, "there's tube, there's solid state, and then there's Spectral." Due to incurable audiophile nervosa, I upgraded to a Spectral DMC-30 (don't remember which version). Both were(are) great preamps. However after my upgrade excitement cleared, I realized that the DMC-12 had a certain magic, and I regretted selling it. If you don't need a balanced preamp, the Spectral DMC-12 is a really special piece of equipment.
Spectral gear from the mid 90s have always been a favourite of mine.
I own a dmc 12 bought in 1995 and still love it 😃
same
2003 is vintage? I feel so old.
It's not "vintage" yet, just old...
Back in 1995, any hi fi gear over 14 years old is considered vintage.
I guess I am stuck in the mode that vintage gear is pre 1980, silver faced and has dual wattage meters. That is my hang up.
@@MickTimmy It's not a hang up, it's the truth. We can slap "vintage" on any old thing to make up for the fact that it's just old. Being that it looks just like the current model, it's just an outdated version.
It’s hardly old let alone vintage, unless it’s like dog years ...
Well I always buy new and it never leaves. What I love about hifi, the products are still made to last. Unlike other electronics such as TV and phones.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay With a little work on and a little maintenance, I don't see why they don't? I have several speakers, amps which are 20 years plus one is 30 years plus and work fine. All I've ever done is clean them from time to time and store them in a warm location.. speakers can 💯 percent last a life time, yet my oldest are actually amps, older technics from the 90's.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay STFU
Hardeep....I could not agree more with your purchase process. A high end repair friend always says...audio gear can last 40+ years with a repair or two. Just look at all the vintage audio out there that is still being enjoyed. Few things in life are as reliable.
yes i remember my friend had one heard it many years ago forget the model lovely sound and cosmetically good to look at .😊😊😊
What has been really improving is the quality of the more modest priced stuff. I don’t think the ultra high end end has gotten much better, just way more expensive and blingy.
my thoughts exactly it all amounts to the quality of parts in my opinion and of course the circuit i believe the simplier the better
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay huh? I have tons of experience listening to Uber priced gear. Not interested in buying it. I guess Spectral. SMc Audio (Steve McCormack), Vandersteen 3 A Signature speakers and a Schiit Yggy isn’t high end. Just high end performance,
I remember auditioning a Spectral amp and preamp over 45 years ago and they were definitely special. What I recall was how different and fast they sounded reproducing attacks and transients at lightning speed.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay It’s not hard for me to imagine remembering the feeling and best/favorite aspects of a positive sonic experience from many many years ago. When a true audiophile hears something special that evokes an emotional experience, it’s memorable.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay seems like you’re just trying to be contrary. Not all wonderful demos need to result in a purchase and not all wonderful demos of a system are necessarily affordable to a listener. Some of us go to audio shows and dealers to gain -or just have a- listening experience... To this day I still perfectly remember the first time, 20 years ago, I heard a Dynaudio C4 system that presented itself as a holographic floating gelatinous orb of sound. It was otherworldly, yet I didn’t purchase any of it. Seems to me, by your logic, youre saying it either didn’t happen as remembered or I am not an audiophile because I didn’t purchase. Silliness.
Commenter: Seems like you're trying to be contrary...
GeneralCurtis: No I'm not!
Fun stuff and thank-you Steve... IMHO, the best part of our hobby is the journey of learning.
You’re a man of wealth and taste 😎
Don’t forget.... Spectral was designed to be used in the recording process for “Reference Recordings” albums.
Always a Good Watch and Yes Transparency is the key.
Spectral is designed as a system. To fully experience it you'll need at least the matching preamp + power amp, and those MIT cables. They used to void warranty if you don't use MIT cables with those. The reason why Spectral is so good while being so rare, part of that is the mandatory use of MIT cables which are expensive. I have one coming, hopefully it will be a step up from the Nagra Classic stack I had.
Complete nonsense. I’ve used spectral without those overpriced MIT cables without issues. Who actually uses MIT cables these days? They sound diffuse and ill-defined to me. The cable industry has moved on. Too bad spectral pigeon holed themselves with one needlessly expensive cable brand.
It's improving most and most rapidly at the lower price points.
Steve, you have the coolest shirts!
A very classic review of the Spectral preamp. You were able to put into words the characteristic I enjoy with my DMC-15ss. I couldn't help noticing your dissappointment that it lacked a volume knob. I just wanted to note that the DMC15 series has a beautiful volume control along with a balance knob. I hope you will be able to give it a turn and report back. My spectral is matched to old world school type 45 SET amplifier driving a vintage Altec 604. In consideration my spectral is modern compared to the rest.
I was wondering about this: I own a DMC-15SS as as well, and was going to ask whether it makes sense to use it with an SET power amp because of the impedance matching?
Hello LeonFleisherfan. The preamp has very low impedance. It can drive any load. Normally simple SET's have moderate to high input impedance. I have not experience any oscillations or other spurious signals. They claim that it is best coupled with other spectral gear and MIT cables. I am using Nordost interconnect. Works great.@@LeonFleisherFan
One other factor is that Spectral components are dead quiet. Really important if matched with high efficiency loudspeakers (100 dB plus). All controls especially volume control are extremely quiet. Adjacent channel or source bleed is nonexistent.
@@ronbeerman9584 Thanks! I'll definitely try. Luckily, I have MIT instead of Spectral-branded MIT cables, so there's an additional impedance matching there, most likely need to use the "High 90kΩ and up" setting. Worth experiencing, by the way: not saying MIT cables are per se "better", but being designed alongside each other, they fit Spectral electronics to a T. I've tried other great cables (ones that worked great in other applications), but nothing combines with Spectral the way MIT cables do. There's more to it than protecting the (choke-less) Spectral power amp output (there they are really needed, unfortunately I can confirm from personal experience).
Steve, I have a DMC-6 Ver II, which I do not use much. I was SHOCKED at the sound when I bought it pre-owned about 20 years ago. The phono section in it is KILLER, being tied with my Threshold Fet-10e for quietness. Steve, if you like knobs, see if you can find the Twenty somewhere. I always wanted one of those but now the prices are outrageous, and the phono circuit is NOT standard. You have to make sure it is in there.
If you live in the NYC or Boston areas, you're in very good shape with Innovative Audio and Goodwin's High End. Without a doubt, Spectral has a very loyal and cult like following. I also love that most Spectral owners do not suffer from upgrade fever.
Thanks for introducing me to a fascinating company. Reading through their web site certainly peaks my interest. A collection of multidiscipline engineers who love music and let their ears be the final arbiter of design. My kind of boutique.
I always wanted some Spectral gear. Looks great! I heard a pre at a customers once, it sounded wonderful... I bet it’d work nice with my DIY First Watt F6!
"Live vs Memorex" moment.
I was leaving a get-together on the roof of a hotel (outdoor dining). When the elevator door opened into the lobby, I heard some jazz music playing. Good song I thought. But as I walked pass the entry to the inside restaurant, I immediately knew that it was a live band playing. Taking a moment to stop and appreciate them, turned into sitting down and listening to an amazing trio (piano/singer, upright bass, 3 piece drum kit). Oh man, you could hear the brushes across the snare head, the finesse of the bass, and the piano dynamics. Pure joy. Late in the video Steve, you said, regarding equipment perfection, that we are not there, and I agree completely. I have had the amazing opportunity to listen to some systems that have made my jaw go slack and lock me to the listen chair as I thoroughly enjoyed the moment. But, I have yet to hear a system that made me think I was walking pass a live band. Perhaps I can equate music with theoretical physics; we can prove mathematically and scientifically that we should be able to travel backwards in time, however we can't (as of yet) make that happen. Perhaps we will never get that circuitry that will exact the sound of a live band, but no harm in aiming for that goal. God bless you all, and have a wonderful day.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay STFU
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay please go back and reread my post. I didn't keep walking by. I expressly said I stopped, sat down and listened. Not only did I stop, I ordered a pour of my favorite Scotch. I stayed for 20 minutes until they finished their set. When the band finished playing, David, the singer, noticed I still had some of my drink left and asked the band if they had another song left in them so I could "finish properly." We chatted for a few minutes afterwards and I tossed a $10 in their bucket. One of the most pleasant and memorable moments in my life.
So, please, before assaulting someone, be certain to read what was posted. I wish you all the best.
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay you really baffle me. I share a moment of my past to highlight what Steve shared in this video: that even after all of the innovation in electronics and music gear, we are not (yet?) able to 100% reproduce live sound from our systems. That is all I did.
Perhaps I was not clear enough in my original post, so I gave the longer version to clarify. However, you maintain and defend, your original stance; even though it was based on your incorrect assumption of me ignoring that band. Anyway, Hopefully no one else, besides me, gives you reason to be angry today. I still wish you all the best. God bless
@GeneralCurtis3LeMay thank you for the recommendation. I'll check it out.
I have a DMC 5 and all these years later, still sounds fantastic. People who hear it with a newly rebuilt DNA 1 by SMc Audio are shocked how a pre from 1985 can be this good. Oh and for Steve, it has a volume knob.
Lucky guy.
Cool! I have the DMC-6 version II. It might be called the Gamma ver. I paid $1,350 for it (preowned) about twenty years ago. When I hooked that sucker up I was SHOCKED at the sound. These days it will still go for that amount on eBay.
I always felt Spectral would be at the top of my list if assembling a 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙛𝙧. 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢;
CD playback/conversion, preamp, multiple mono power amps...
Keith Johnson has offered up fascinating descriptions via interview, of the challenges he faced dealing with bandwidth, speed, settling time, thermal noise.
I recall some details he offered regarding distributed power supply topologies assuring ample instantaneous current to critical circuit elements.
I'll find that and re-read it, it was good stuff.
Certainly it'd be tough to place Prof Keith Johnson anywhere else but right up near the top of high end audio giants.
Dagostino, Levinson, Nudell, Johnson, Pass, Wilson, etc.
Then old school Peter Walker, Frank McIntosh, Saul Marantz, Paul Klipsch etc.
I love the spectral PMC 10 and 20
I've owned most of the Mark Levinson Preamps and the No.32 reference is still my favourite. ❤
The 32 and 52 were Mark Levinson's best preamps ever.
I think the 33 was Levinson's best amps
Lucky enough to frequent a hi fi shop in Taiwan that stocks Spectral gear back in 1998 whose dealer was generous enough to play Metallica's first four albums through them if there were a bunch of Metallica fans checking out their Spectral set up. Spectral gear - to my ears - exels in sounding as if James Hetfield's guitar rig is in the listening room with you.
Nice review, Steve!
Your apartment looks great. As a long-time owner of a Cary SLP 98P I definitely agree with your opinion, but after about 22 years of ownership I just replaced it with the Cary SLP-05. As good as the 98 is, the 05 is in another league. It takes the sound of the 98 to an entirely different level but it retains the core of that same sound. I can't imagine needing anything better than this.
Spectral is rare !
I've been hunting for a Spectral Preamp for years, haven't discovered one yet.
being a 21 year old man in the prime of his life, sitting here listening to this man attentively, makes me realize how much of an old man I am lmao
Don't worry, it'll go away later and you'll feel like 16 yo in a 45 yo body, which is not ideal either.
@@JayBeBerg i could see that, i appreciate you giving a comment that actually had something to do with what I had said earlier lol
@@JayBeBerg ...or a 66 year old body! 🙃 Sound is childlike pure joy if approached with the right outlook...
Wait till you turn 30. You'll suddenly realize that 40 isn't that old.
Dude. I'm 66. You have no idea. :D That's ok, you'll get there. Have some fun along the way.
Wauuu, Look that lightning! Steve, put over some orange filter and some bounce left of you and you will be like some fancy model in a fancy environment!
I listened to that Spectral many years ago and, wow. But then put on a Lyra Connoisseur 4.0. That was another world! Please, please find one of those. Yes Lyra as in the amazing cartridge company.
Scan-Tech, who makes Lyra cartridges also made the Spectral Reference and Spectral MCR cartridges in the early 1990s.
I own the ARC-3a-1 you mentioned and found it interesting that you think it sounds modern, maybe another review is in order. I am now using a Marantz 7c, 8b and 10b, still have the AR-SP3-A. Perhaps these two preamps in comparison would make an excellent video, party on.
I think Steve just sent out a coded message to the troops to flood Spectral's mailbox with requests to send him the new model to play with! 😁
If you go to Spectral's website, the most recent review they have reposted in over 12 years old. They just don't seem to be very interested in press coverage.
Great video Steve 👍😊
Man , I love Spectral gear...when I had my Scintillas..it was a toss up between Classe’ amps and Spectral.....
I went with the Classe’ 😎
I own a Classe CA100. I really like it. I imagine Spectral sound must be very different from Classe. I don’t know about the newer Classe amps.
@@techrider2088 I ran a pair of DR3-VHC in mono to drive the Scintillas 🥲
Loved this
The Spectral appears to be an interesting preamp, I've never knew it existed, I'd imagine it would be pretty rare to find one in Australia given their marketing strategy.
I could certainly be wrong but I believe the reason you don’t see much Spectral anywhere is because they’re a tiny company and produce very few pieces. Thus, the exorbitant pricing.
I have several preamps that are near 20 years old from EAR, Goldmund, and Bryston, and a few that are over 35 years old such as Quad 34 and 44. However, even though these are old, I prefer them more than my newer expensive preamps.
I love my Bryston BP26 and have a BP20 too and other than possibly the phono section of my Conrad Johnson PV10 are superior in my mind to tubes for example which really are pretty noisy relatively. Anyway that's my limited experience, I do think the Bryston power supplies add to the quality, the MPS1 some but the MPS2 a lot.
I have the Bryston B25. Thought about getting the upgraded power supply. Excellent preamp.
@@techrider2088 that new BR-20 looks interesting with the phono section 6995 buckaroos no separate power supply needed. One box solution.
@John Doe it does look interesting. How do you think the BP20 compares to the BP26?
I just really love my Accuphase 1983 P266 Mosfet Class A amp... some vintage stuff is just to good to let go... lets build a pyramid and surround ourselves with our fav audio gear in order to have the best musical passing over xD
Steve I think that there are varying ways of expressing perfect. Making records is not just about recreating the live performance. It’s a skillful recording and creative expression of a song to evoke emotion. Whatever we use to recreate that and enhance the emotion is what your show is all about. So how much do you want to spend to feel that much more?
90s/2000s pre's I'm good with that. Crazy that 2003 was 18 years ago, my god where has time gone. I love Mac but once picked up a mint condition C28 that was recently restored, mainly for the center channel out. That thing was unacceptable noisy.... fairly loud background hiss. Couldn't hear it when you played thru it much if at all but it was unnerving. Sounded alright but very soft and veiled. 104dB efficient speakers and a noisy line stage is not a good combo. Was not expecting that for a SS pre with all new components. I'll never buy another pre made before the late 80s/early 90s. This spectral looks pretty amazing, lovely build quality. The aesthetics remind me a bit of those Berkley Design products from the outside, also from California. interesting stuff Steve!
The Spectral looks strangely modern still, whereas the Pass Labs appears mildly more "vintage". The Spectral reminds me of late 90s Meridian equipment. Not saying the two are comparable (haven't heard the Spectral) but I'm digging the look. Anyway, nice comparison. Be well.
Thanks Andrew!
Dear Steve, thank you for this video. Love your style. Please link me a "what is compression" video, in simple plain vanila terms. Or make a video :-). Thank you.
Just search Steve's channel for "compression". He's made several.
Was expecting 70’s when I read “vintage”! While I know the brand, I’ve tried any Spectral gear before. Given super niche strategy, I’m assuming one pays a high price for their R&D and production cost...
Steve mentioned compression is used to cut through the noise. When I hear it in vocals, it highlights the noise by amplifying low level detail. I am tired of hearing heavy breathing. When used on television news shows the sound is atrocious.
I have a question🤔 I have a bedroom system comprising Klipsch rp 150 m bookshelves running from tiny temple audio mono block amps. I use my Astell and Kern sr15 dap as my source. (I also have a sub hidden away). Sometimes I just run balanced straight from the dap to the mono blocks. Sometimes I use two cheap mono price headphone amp/pre amps which I strangely run so that each pre amp just goes to one channel of the sub and one monoblock to see if this reduces crosstalk . Sometimes I use a single little dot valve headphone/pre amp to both channels to get a different “flavour” and to me this sounds fun and great but I recently ran into a ps audio ask Paul video that said there is no need for an active pre amp but only a passive one as active/powered pre amp will only result in clipping. Did I misunderstand? Temple audio said that their mono blocks would easily take the output from the pre amps I am using with no danger to them. What do you knowledgeable guys out there have to say🤔😳😂
Can I ask a question? Why would (or should) a pre-amp affect the sound? To me, I would think that the ideal pre-amp would be as transparent as possible in not altering the sound in any way, no? Maybe Steve with all his knowledge and experience can put up a video explaining what a pre-amp does and why you might need it (apart from the obvious fact of adding several inputs to an amplifier)
That would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Yes, you could make a case why a preamp should be as transparent as possible. Then again, the preamp is the first amplification stage, and therefore they have a great affect on the sound quality of the system. If you’ve been watching my videos you know that I am not searching for accuracy or neutrality in my sound. After all, most recordings aren’t about accurately capturing the sound of music as played at a session, most recordings are about creating a sound that’s pleasing to the musicians, the producer, and the wrecker company.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thank you for your reply. Yes I understand. Yes I have been subscribed for well over a year now. I was just thinking when you find an amplifier (like the Decware Zen triode) that sounds great (to you) you might want to keep the pre-amp as neutral as possible.
This could be an interesting subject for a video: how to pair amps and pre-amps? Like adding a tube pre-amp to a very analytical amp or the opposite.
Thanks again.
I have a DMC-12, but I'm interested in the Transcendent Audio Slider preamp
You're a man of wealth and taste.
Hmmmmm...that Spectral is an oldie...but a goodie...you are reminding me that I have a Carver Model C-500 Amp (and accompanying Sonic Holography Pre-Amp), that I have been dragging around with me for 40 years...I am tempted to pull the amp out of the closet and use it's 250 WPC @8ohms on my front stand-mount speakers in my current AVR set-up and see if I find any sonic glory there 🙂....hmmmm...
Loved my Proceed PRE preamp in the 90's. Hated the volume up-down buttons.
Steve you should review some of this ""Jolida""stuff
Great entro!
Wow, Spectral have been around since the 70’s? Never heard of them. The preamp looks more like an Ethernet router than an audio component. Of course now that I’ve seen this video, I’ll hear about this brand all the time now.
Yes. Doesn't it look like computer candy that came out of Cisco, Microsoft or Netgear? Silicon Valley's best, but there's the rub...
or a modem
I think even if the day comes that we could have the perfect speaker, amplifier, front end, we could never recreate a live performance simply because we don't have the space to do that, if you bring a live band or a symphony orchestra to your room and they start playing it will sound terrible, unless you have a room the size of the MSG, so it's not just the gear that hold us back, it's also our rooms.
Steve put a Audible Illusion Modulus in the cue
I asked, they're selling so fast they don't need a review.
Hi Mr Steve, Can you suggest me a Preamp which has HT bypass with bass management but doesn’t perform the DAC functionality. I could see one from Emotiva XPS 1 but it’s discontinued. I want to add this to my HT system but want to attach separates for Streamer, DAC , preamp and power amp for my 2 channel stereo music listening. Will appreciate your advise. Thanks.
My experience with POLARITY , which to this day is mislabeled phase (as learned from Clark Johnsen) who passed about 1.5 years ago is it had the most audibility with bass. He gave me a few Wood Effect books, which goes into the subject in depth, if you would like one let me know
That's intersting take on spectral gear. I always hear it was fast, transparent, ruthlessly revealing and soulless. You never me tioned the amps you used this the spectral preamp? Perhaps the amps were responsible for adding some soul and body intio the system the spetral lacks? Than I suddenly remember why so few are reviewed. Spectral gear is usually reviews as one system with their amps and the required mit cabling with the network stuff inside them. Didn't know the part about voiding your warraraty on their gear if you didn't use mit cabling. No wonder so few review them. It probably all their gear or nothing. Kim curious if this is still the case to this day?
Pass XA25, First Watt F7, SIT 3
Spectral is world's best solid state equipment. Listen to ther last cd player, or even better whole Spectral system.
hello. you don't say the poweramp you partnered it with. most say spectral is not a mix and match brand, and they work best with mit cables. this is why i hesitate buying. is that really so? thanks in anticipation.
I am in the process of buying a spectral dmc30 to work with a dma180 that i bought a few weeks ago,with what amp did you listen the dmc30?
Hey Michel, do you like the combo? Do you have MITs with them?
wow, when did 2003 become vintage.... I feel old :-)
What no vintage tube gear for comparison? Wish I’d kept my ls3/5A from 40 years ago :-)
Imagine 1957 is also ultra-vintage
This is awesome! I've been a happy Spectral owner for many, many years, and it's true, why would anyone sell theirs? Also, one tends to forget that there are relative bargains at all price levels, not just inexpensive, and Spectral provides just that. It'll take an absolutely ridiculous amount of money (think house instead of car) to do better.
Try audition vintage that is restored in top noch way. If you can get your hands on stuff like that. That you will hear that there was veerryy transparent gear.
Try Sony or Yamaha Vfet designs, or Pioneer exclusive....
You don't see many Linsley-Hood pre/power/phono amplifiers either ! And I know why.
didn't they require specific interconnects?
No, but Spectral amps do
Solid state cam be great, but it can't match the warmth of tubes, especially class A tubes. ;)
When did 20-25 year old amps became vintage? In my perspective, i always thought vintage is something, let's say 40 years ago? If 20 years is equal to vintage, i really have "vintage" in my set-up then, but never thought about it that way? Amps in particular, somehow quickly ends up being vintage, as in my mind, a good amp could defiantly also be your "end game" amp. A good amp has no age, as iv'e learned with my amps (Lavardin), which indeed are end game amps, and in a couple of years from now, they can be called vintage too ;-) Me myself is way pass being vintage, as i'm 51 years old, but hey: i like being vintage. BTW, sounds like the Spectral guys is doing some of the same approach to the market as Lavardin, who only has a few selected sellers in the world, and not many reviews out there for u to find, but those reviews you can find, tells it all for me and other believers in that brand. Some companys doesen't really have to shout out about their products, because they are THAT good. Cheers from Denmark
Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste
What amp did you use them with?
Pass XA25, First Watt F7, SIT3
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac What about the Zen Triode?
Not a simple circuit, but a good mix of surface mount, IC's, and lots of high quality through hole parts. Shielded transformers. Nice!
Audio Alchemy DLC. I heard that was a very transparent preamp.
Hey Steve I hope you read this comment or anyone else who has an opinion on the HumminGuru ultrasonic machine shipping this fall at a relatability price of about 500.00 USD it ships from China and was apart of a Kickstarter program. I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this product they have a website taking preorders and am anyone having input of if this is a true good to be true offer or if anyone has ordered one your input would be great fully appreciated thanks
You must give Heavy sun by Daniel Lanois a listen !.
THIS IS EPIC. The elusive spectral which is never reviewed....gets reviewed. please get ahold of more of their stuff and dive in?? Thanks.
Respectfully, something built in 2003 isn't vintage. Old maybe, but not vintage.
The newer model doesn't seem to be lacking any jump-factor - ua-cam.com/video/BEx739TUG6Y/v-deo.html
"please allow me to introduce myself, I'm Steve Guttenberg"... those were ACTUALLY the original lyrics that the rolling stones went into the studio with... but after the second recording take, the producer butted in and said... hhmmmm , i dont know... A jewish new york audio enthusiast will just FREAK people out, WAY too extreme... HHmmmm , lets play it safe, be more family friendly and make the song about Satan..........Absolute TRUE story..........
:)
And the price?
It’s sold. $3,900
My limited experience with Spectral during the mid 80’s was that it had a very “white” sound. It had little soul. I believe they chased definition at the expense of the overall sound. Not my taste.
"Vintage" in the context of describing older consumer electronics is just marketing blather for something that is out of current production and out of warranty support, obsolete and possibly archaic.
Electronics degrade, analog or digital both. In many ways this might not result in "worse" audio, but after 20 years your high end amp just isn't the same. This has nothing to do with whether you like the sound or not.
was just thinking that. one often hears that electrical components go "out of spec". it makes me wary of older equipment (as much as I am tempted by it!)
They’re famous for the phono stage. You didn’t say whether you listened to it......
The DMC 30 does not have a photo stage, spectral no longer does phono stages
So it has a lot of 2nd order harmonics. Got it.
If you can FIX IT it might be better equipment.
Wouldn't it be sad if someday all the people who use high speed insertion machines no longer had the energy to do what they did,? And man had to take over fixing items designed for the Vance Packard generation of throw it way and keep the 401-K feed the wealthy? - m
Every "high-end" DAC and balanced pre-amp should have a phase inversion switch.
Sympathy for the devil 😄
Sorry you miss your knob!
1st
Impressive! Most impressive, but you are not an Audiophiliac Jedi yet!