Spectral with Transparent Cabling

[edorr]

I am toying with the idea of trying out a Spectral DMC 30SL preamp. I know Spectral prescribes MIT cabling. Can I use Transparent cabling as well? I presume the network filters work more or less the same.

 

[ack]

The cabling requirement is strictly prescribed for the amps, if you have one; not the preamp. If you want to use networked cabling still, suggest you stay with MIT - they are the clear leader and innovator in this field, with numerous patents, and of which, the expired ones have now made it into Transparent (like this one with the in-series inductor to filter UHF). I don't believe Transparent has any patents. Lately, I am paying a lot of attention to this MIT patent which is the basis of the so-called articulation poles they tout. I will post thoughts on all their patents in due time, but based on the new MIT cables I am evaluating, they actually appear to work. Having said that, there are some other really silly patents, like this one, and if memory serves me right based on a Transparent speaker cable I had long long time ago, that also was copied in part into the then-current Transparent cable (it just so happens that their network boxes back then were easy to open). But it is also true I have not heard recent Transparent offerings either.

 

[edorr]

The cabling requirement is strictly prescribed for the amps, if you have one; not the preamp. If you want to use networked cabling still, suggest you stay with MIT - they are the clear leader and innovator in this field, with numerous patents, and of which, the expired ones have now made it into Transparent (like this one with the in-series inductor to filter UHF). I don't believe Transparent has any patents. Lately, I am paying a lot of attention to this MIT patent which is the basis of the so-called articulation poles they tout. I will post thoughts on all their patents in due time, but based on the new MIT cables I am evaluating, they actually appear to work. Having said that, there are some other really silly patents, like this one, and if memory serves me right based on a Transparent speaker cable I had long long time ago, that also was copied in part into the then-current Transparent cable (it just so happens that their network boxes back then were easy to open). But it is also true I have not heard recent Transparent offerings either.

Thanks. That is all I need to know. I just want to try the DMC 30SL (I may be able to get my hands on one cheaply) use my existing Transparent cabling, and be sure I won't be blowing up any equipment in the process. This does not appear to be a risk. I have class A monoblocks, no spectral amps.

 

[chrisr]

Ack, don't pay too much attention to that MIT patent 6,658,119 -- it expired in January 2012 for failure to pay a maintenance fee. They let the child patent 7,242,780 go abandoned as well by failling to pay a maintenance fee in 2011. Both technologies are now in the public domain.

 

[ack]

Very interesting... thanks! With plenty of life yet to it (granted in 2003), why would they do it... I am involved in private discussions with others here about this patent, its true merit and the whole articulation thing, and this definitely raises some eyebrows...

 

[chrisr]

Could be any number of reasons. After a very quick look, it looks like they are letting other articulation network patent applications go too:
Serial no. 12/271,930 - abandoned 2011
Serial no. 11/619,848 - abandoned 2011