Anything as " fast" as SPECTRAL gear?

"02-09-15: Csontos
I think it would be useful to get a subjective description of just what the attributes of a 'fast' amp are sonically. What does speed sound like in an amp in comparison to mediocrity? Anyone?"

All components contribute to a systems illusion of speed, so its hard to isolate just the amp. But overall, from a subjective perspective, you need to listen to how the system is reproducing the attack, resonance and decay of whatever instruments are on the recording. When the attack, or leading edge of a note is being highlighted more so than the other 2, you'll probably interpret that as speed, or PRAT.

Can you give an example of an amp that is outstanding in this regard?

"02-09-15: Csontos
Can you give an example of an amp that is outstanding in this regard?"

I bought a Musical Fidelity A3.5 integrated. It had way too much attack, or speed. So much so, that unless you have a really dull sounding system that needs a band aid fix like that, it just wears you down and starts to sound like a gimmick. Its kind of hard to find an example like that any more, because most designers have been trying to get their designs to have more of a balanced sound to them. And for the most part, they've been successful. Tube designers try to get they're gear to have more SS qualities, and SS designers trying to get some tube aspects in their designs. That type of thing.

I once knew this girl who was really fast, very high slew rate, but I don't think as fast as Spectral gear :)

Is "fast" a desirable attribute?

Yes. The human ear/brain system has a tipping point wherein if the reproduction of music is not 'fast' enough, the processing moves from the limbic system (emotional center) to the cerebral cortex (intellectual center).

But by and of itself speed is not the final arbiter- it must occur within an otherwise musical framework.