DMA-500 Anniversary Reference Monoblocks

ack

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We should be so lucky

Yes, but considering that the 400s will continue as a product, until perhaps upgraded, it's not an unreasonable asking price
 

MM622

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2013
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May I know this DMA-500 is a replacement product for DMA-400 or a limited production's product?
 

ack

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They are both current products, and only a few select dealers can carry the 500s.
 

Mdp632

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May 29, 2016
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They are both current products, and only a few select dealers can carry the 500s.

Any Eta on your pair ? Btw looks like the 300RS is being replaced by the 300SV. Which should be a 500 tech wise in a stereo amp configuration.
 

ack

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Any Eta on your pair ? Btw looks like the 300RS is being replaced by the 300SV. Which should be a 500 tech wise in a stereo amp configuration.

My pair arrived but I won't buy until I sell my 400s at a reasonable price. I am surprised that no owner of the 500s - and there are many - has not provided any listening impressions so far. For my impressions, you will just have to wait :cool: but for now, I will just quote the dealer's characterization as "pure and natural", and I am not basing this on what I hear in the store and with the Magico M3s.
 

Mdp632

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May 29, 2016
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My pair arrived but I won't buy until I sell my 400s at a reasonable price. I am surprised that no owner of the 500s - and there are many - has not provided any listening impressions so far. For my impressions, you will just have to wait :cool: but for now, I will just quote the dealer's characterization as "pure and natural", and I am not basing this on what I hear in the store and with the Magico M3s.

Congrats and enjoy.
 

ack

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marty

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They are both current products, and only a few select dealers can carry the 500s.

Since you can count the number of Spectral dealers on the fingers of one hand, it seems foolish to me that there is any distinction between a dealer and a 'select" dealer. Is there really?
 

ack

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Since you can count the number of Spectral dealers on the fingers of one hand, it seems foolish to me that there is any distinction between a dealer and a 'select" dealer. Is there really?

In the US, yes, it's silly, there is only two that carry the 500s. But there are another ~100 more around the world. It's sort of a reward to the best dealers. Nonetheless, I don't care for such business practices in high end audio, or other sh*t like one Pass dealer owning most of the US market, etc.
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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In the US, yes, it's silly, there is only two that carry the 500s. But there are another ~100 more around the world. It's sort of a reward to the best dealers. Nonetheless, I don't care for such business practices in high end audio, or other sh*t like one Pass dealer owning most of the US market, etc.

Pass has a unique approach. You can’t compare them to other brick and mortar dealerships. They are not direct to consumer but they’re not conventional dealership model either. The consumer happens to be very well served by the Pass model in my opinion. I would not compare Pass Labs to Spectral when I comes to marketing approach and other services. For instance almost all models are always available with in-home trials.
 

ack

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Pass has a unique approach. You can’t compare them to other brick and mortar dealerships. They are not direct to consumer but they’re not conventional dealership model either. The consumer happens to be very well served by the Pass model in my opinion. I would not compare Pass Labs to Spectral when I comes to marketing approach and other services. For instance almost all models are always available with in-home trials.

I think Pass has a sick sales model
 

ack

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Warming up

Fascinating amplifiers, claimed to measure better than the 30SV preamp, including distortion... quite impressive... more to come

T5D_6136.JPG
T5D_6128.jpg
 
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edwardce

Member
Oct 7, 2010
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ack, two questions about the DMA 500, from your pictures. There appears to be a spacer under the knurled aluminum foot that the amp rests on, is this a compliant material? The wiring harness that connects the output stage to the speaker binding posts looks like the one used prior to the RS series amps, not the massive black ones they had, any explanation on this? I am looking forward to hearing these new amps, not sure where though now that Overture isn't a player. Thanks for your posting!
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
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ack, two questions about the DMA 500, from your pictures. There appears to be a spacer under the knurled aluminum foot that the amp rests on, is this a compliant material?

Yes it's Sorbothane. I will be adding a layer of Isodamp when I get off my butt one day

The wiring harness that connects the output stage to the speaker binding posts looks like the one used prior to the RS series amps, not the massive black ones they had, any explanation on this?

No idea; I can only guess that it's part of the overall capacitance and inductance of the circuit, possibly in conjunction with the speaker cables. There is no technical bulletin either for us to to be able to tell anything on this. I can also tell you that I briefly replaced the MIT speaker cables with some thin hook-up wire I have, in a test to make sure I didn't blow the speaker cables (see my system's thread discussion on this), and the amp ended up sounding literally like a 1960's hand-held transistor radio - no kidding.
 

ack

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May 6, 2010
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awsmone

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Apr 6, 2014
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So Ack

given your experience with 400s and the DAC, were people right when they said the 400s were too bright and there was an issue
 

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