I was a (20) yr Spectral owner. DMC 12 Never a problem,(outboard power supply) A pair of DMA 360s, Goodwins original demo pair. Again, never a problem! Waited 5 1/2 months for a Spectral 30SV! For (1) week it was "Magical" Then decided that it did not want to play well with others! First with Manley Steelhead; Then it decided that it did not like my Pass Xono either!
So I recently divorced from Spectral ( was not going to wait for the Mythical Spectral Phono Stage! ) Bought a pair of Pass 160.8s driven directly w/ Manley Steelhead (rolled NOS Telefukens) last night. Wife noticed as soon as she came in the front door ; that the sound was even better!!
I would have to say: Vinyl, Manley Steelhead (w/ Telefukens) , Pass 160.8s, Avalons. I am one happy guy now! Everything that I have searched for in the last 20+\- yrs has all come together.
The Spectral DMC 12 and power supply both ran Cool. The Spectral 30SV runs warm; just as it states in the manual. Don't know if this will affect its performance/ longevity. Happy that I decided to not put up with its Wide bandwidth circuits! Old tubes and Class A SS is even better.