Spectral Amps and Legacy Speakers?

I am driving my Classics with a Bryston 4BST fed by an AMC tubed preamp and find the combination very satisfying. The richness of the tubes combined with the power and control of the solid state power amp provides wonderful tonal qualities, a wide and deep soudstage, deep and tight bass, and plenty of etchless detail. I recently tried a friend's "A" rated Adcom passive preamp and both my wife and I found it to provide dry, flat sound. I have heard good tubed power amps, and although the highs and mids are wonderful, I have found the bass to be too loose for my tastes. The tubed preamp/solid state power amp combo gives me the best of both worlds.

I cannot comment on the Legacy speakers as I have never heard them. But, I own a Spectral DMC-20 Series II preamp and a Spectral DMA-200 power amp. The Spectral gear is on the "detail" side of the detail vs. musical spectrum. With the Spectral preamp, the Spectral amp is incredible. It is veeeerrrry fast, but it is not grainy. If you go with a Spectral power amp, you need to drive it with a Spectral preamp to realize its full potential. The gain in fidelity is not additional, but rather geometric. I would not (personally) buy a DMA-180. When the 180 came out, it was touted by Spectral as being far superior to the 200; it is not. The 200 is the only full class A power amp Spectral made (except for maybe the 90?). People sold their 200's to buy the 180 per Spectral's advice. Many of these same people then turned around to sell the 180 and try to get a 200 back. I love my 200; the only problem I have had with it was a drift in the bias (occured bad enough once in 8 yrs that I had to send it back to Spectral). Before I got the Spectral preamp, I was using an old ARC SP6C1 preamp with the DMA-200. The tube preamp was actually less open, more harsh, with a bloated bottom end than the Spectral preamp. The Spectral preamp was much, much faster and smoother, so much so that the entire sound of my system was tonally different. Spectral is an investment because of the need to have matching equipment, but it is a worthwhile one.

I had that same adcom amp. it is to warm. it dulls over the music and blurs any image much like many tube amps do. but a great value for the money. the dma 180 is my dream amp. MIT good choice. your a soundstage and image buff huh? me to. If you get the spectral amp and have the price of admission avalon speakers are a must. they are made for each other.and MIT. Of all things try a passive preamp. there amazing! and way cheaper. cheaper yet better.For the love of god try one. please. Thanks Todd k.

I was left totally flat by the spectral amp setup I listened to. I felt the sound was detailed, but dry and lifeless. I'm more of a tube amp person, so I tend to dislike solid state amps. I have not listened to the pass or ayre amps yet.

If you want an amplifier that transcends tubes vs solid state, is extremely fast and detailed yet sounds like MUSIC go listen to the Jeff Rowland Model 10 amplifier.