Welcome 'smul' from the NL - Spectral user and musician

[mullard88]

Hi smul,

Thank you for answering my question and also for teaching me on how to access your profile. I just asked out of curiosity.

 

[smul]

alternative for spectral power amp

Arjan and I have been chatting for the last year on all-things Spectral, and he has a few experiences to share with us. Above all, he's a musician who's just cut his first CD, and a copy is on the way to me - please see www.alivemodernsavior.nl

I am doing the introduction to ease his pain

Welcome Arjan!

Been a happy but passive user on this forum with so many knowledgable people around.
But got a question now. I tried out several brands of amp in the last years (Mark Levinson, Audio Research, Pass, Classe) and settled on Spectral in the end.
A good friend of mine has heard all these amps to. Now he wants to buy a new hifi-set and he likes Spectral the most just like I do.
Only, Spectral is too expensive for him.
If you like the Montrachet on the winelist you probably end up drinking the Australian chardonnay or the one from Santa Barbara. Same idea :b.

What would you recommend if someone likes Spectral but want to spend say 1/3rd?
My advice for a pre would be a (second hand) Music First Audio passive pre I guess.

cheers

arjan

 

[FrantzM]

Been a happy but passive user on this forum with so many knowledgable people around.
But got a question now. I tried out several brands of amp in the last years (Mark Levinson, Audio Research, Pass, Classe) and settled on Spectral in the end.
A good friend of mine has heard all these amps to. Now he wants to buy a new hifi-set and he likes Spectral the most just like I do.
Only, Spectral is too expensive for him.
If you like the Montrachet on the winelist you probably end up drinking the Australian chardonnay or the one from Santa Barbara. Same idea :b.

What would you recommend if someone likes Spectral but want to spend say 1/3rd?
My advice for a pre would be a (second hand) Music First Audio passive pre I guess.

cheers

arjan

arjan

Not a teasing remark or a joke. Why not older Spectral gear? Such as the still wonderful to my ears DMA-180 or the DMC-10... They go for not mcuh on the used market and sound very close to today's Spectral. Right now on Audiogon there are a Spectral DMC-20 and a DMA 250 for a total of $8200. If it is above his budget, back to the older Spectral. In my book Spectral is as good or better than the megabucks electronics. Takes a back seat to no $100K electronics.

 

[nirodha]

arjan

Not a teasing remark or a joke. Why not older Spectral gear? Such as the still wonderful to my ears DMA-180 or the DMC-10... They go for not mcuh on the used market and sound very close to today's Spectral. Right now on Audiogon there are a Spectral DMC-20 and a DMA 250 for a total of $8200. If it is above his budget, back to the older Spectral. In my book Spectral is as good or better than the megabucks electronics. Takes a back seat to no $100K electronics.

I agree. Even when looking for 1/3 of the price, Spectral is still the brand to look for. I didn't buy new either (360) and love them to bits.
Wim
P.S. not using a pre since my dac (dCS Elgar plus) takes over that function. Works as a charm