Spectral Amps - Without MIT Cables

[mullard88]

Hi alecm,

On your questions in post #17:
1) Normal operating temperatures of the Spectral DMA 360 and DMA 100S in my place is just slightly warm to the touch of my hand.
2) May I clarify what you meant in your second question?

 

[acousticsguru]

Hi David (acousticsguru),

On your post #14, I am sorry to read that your power amp oscillated and blew on you. May I ask what power amp is this that oscillated and blew on you?

The one that blew was an older DMA-200 Class A (in perfect condition at the time, since repaired and completely refurbished, in the meantime sold at loss, but an amp I still have fond memories of, except it uses a fan), but what I'm concerned about is that the earlier models were less prone to oscillating (they were built to perform with music-hose MIT generation, not sure if you're old enough to remember?), in general I'd say the more modern generation the Spectral amp ("the faster the amp, the faster it'll blow", as one importer once put it, referring to DMA-260 and later), the less I'd recommend using non-MIT or Spectral-branded cables. Used first-generation DMA-360s (not sure which you have?) with aerospace cabling before, sound was awesome, heat seemed reasonable. Temperature isn't really an indicator for the bigger amps - trying different cables with a smaller model such as DMA-90 Series II, touching would give away which cable one is using in a blind test: it will barely run hand-warm with the Generation III cables, and almost hot enough to fry an egg with e.g. Kimber or aerospace etc. In short, I wouldn't bet on being on the safe side with the bigger ones only because of the sound or the temperature - there's no such thing as a pre-warning signal for oscillation (and at any rate, one wouldn't be able to pull the plug in time either)!

Greetings from Switzerland, David.

 

[mullard88]

Hi David,

Thank you for your reply. I owned a DMA 200 about 25 years ago; it was a Damian Martin design. I have the second generation DMA 360.

 

[alecm]

and DMA 100S in my place is just slightly warm to the touch of my hand.
2) May I clarify what you meant in your second question?

This is exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you!

 

[microstrip]

(...) 1) Normal operating temperatures of the Spectral DMA 360 and DMA 100S in my place is just slightly warm to the touch of my hand.
(...)

Serious audiophiles should get at IR thermometer to check the temperature of their equipment!

More seriously, this tool can be very useful for preliminary diagnostics and monitoring, as well as controlling bias currents. This tool costs around $30 and has good precision, for more accurate measurements I own a IR Bosch meter.

 

[f1eng]

I bought a DMA180 whilst living in France. It was well after I had upgraded that I first heard about the "need" for MIT cables, though that was what I did use. The dealer mentioned nothing about it.
I loved that amp!

 

[robbyd]

I had a DMA 180 on loan once for a period - the bass it thumped out was incredible, much more than my 360s - but it did melt its feet while I had it!

 

[Roef]

Hello, I am new here on WBF and have a question : I have the opportunity to buy a used dma 200S but have no other Spectral equipment and no MIT cables in my system.

My system: Brinkmann Spyder/12.1/Rohnt/EMT Ti turntable set
Muys SS preamp/phonoamp ( will be on the market next year)
Raidho Ayra C1.1 speakers
Interlinks/speakercables: A-capella silver cables

As the Spectral dma 200S is sold abroad I do not have the opportunity to test the amp in my system and therefor I would like to know if there is anyone who has some experience with the Spectral- silver cable combination.