2. amps-preamps
  3. 1180897750

Spectron Musician III Signature vs VTL Siegfried?

I have the Musician III Signature two months. In my review, a month ago, I wrote:

"the sound, excellent to begin with, dramatically changed for the better. The highs became something magical, I never heard such in any solid state or tube amplifier. Totally silky and extended to heaven!!!! The "see thru" soundstage became immensely three-dimensional, truly, I feel sometimes that I can touch musician, go around him or her, and soundstage huge to begin with became even more specious! Midrange became "alive" like in the best tube amplifiers I ever owned or even auditioned, its magic feeling!!!! Base have now both: more authority and startling clarity - so different from one-note solid state and mushy tube base. I can play it quietly and I can play it loudly - no slightest strain. Additionally, black background became even blacker again as never in any other amplifier I auditioned in the past. It adds to the overall "magic".

Last week, I got well broken in VTL Siegfried monoblocks for a a few days of auditioning. Spectron cost $$6.5k, Siegfried - $35k. Spectron weight 50 lbs, Siegfried - 360 lbs. Both declare power into 8 Ohms - 600 watts and and into 4 Ohms - 800 watts. Headroom, Spectron 3600 watts over 330 msec, Siegfried - unknown. As a matter of fact, VTL except power and few others does not disclose its specs even such important as bandwidth and distortions.

OK, playing - both show big soundstage and good imaging. Treble is Spectron's domain, VTL sound simply murky and veil. Midrange is warmer in tube amp, very pleasant on ear. Bass - here is my problem. First, I though VTL bass is better - weightier and richer. Next I compare a few discs and to my surprise I am starting to believe that this monster tube amp bass is full of distortions, full of warm rich details which are not present at all in cello which I played and Spectron is accurate and after few days even surprisingly for me, I fall in love with Spectron bass - rich weighty. Perhaps, one detail. I am not sure I can physically hear deep bass but I can feel it, my chest is "shaking" my listening chair leather is vibrating etc. I hear it in Spectron very much and just a little bit with Siegfried.
.
I am eager to know if anybody else have experience with Musician III Signature vs best tube amplifiers? Thank you very much for reply
dob
dob OP
577 posts
 
Hello,

I have my Signature, now, with more then 1000 hours burn-in. To my amazement, the amp continues to play better and better. Specifically, background became significantly more blacker. The top obtain some really heavenly qualities, bloom if you wish for luck of better word. ,Midrange has more finesse and bass is tighter which is very, very pleasant to hear. Its truly the best bass I ever heard in my entire life (except live concerts, of course). Its sound very different then 500 hours ago and it still improving..... I can't believe it!!!!!
Rafael
dob OP
577 posts
 
USE OF BALANCED INTERCONNECTS in Spectron:

Thank you Guidocorona and SimonTJU for bringing the subject of balanced class D amplifier versus single ended... You both are right, there are certain advantages to use them in balanced mode. Yesterday, I changed my interconnects between my preamp and Spectron amp from SE to balanced and.... to begin with, I think sound pressure increased by 6 dB so Spectron should change specs info in their web site. HOWEVER, sound became more "musical" more liquid, more "seductive" - slam appeared to me stronger (vicious!) and bass somewhat deeper. I have read your discussions and expected some changes ...but not as much. I can only wonder how Spectron will sound in balanced monoblocks mode....

One more thing - before, I had to turn off my amp every night but I don't need to do it anymore and background became even more blacker. Verrrrrry nice.
Thank you, guys again!
Rafael
cyrus
44 posts
 
Molly, Wondering if you were able to compare the Spectrum to the MBL's 9008 monoblocks?
dob OP
577 posts
 
Hello Cyrus,
Molly does compared , in one of his posts, rather favorably two ultra expensive MBL monoblocks vs single stereo 6.5k Spectron. I would bet that Molly's praise for Spectron would be even higher if he would compare two MBL's with two Spectron monoblocks in fully balanced mode. Still, even two, Spectron is many times cheaper then MBL's...
All The best
Rafael
schang's avatar
schang
20 posts
 
Hi all,
I think I'm the only one here have a chance to try the Bridged-mono balanced mode. See the ad below!
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1199571583
Since I'm the dealer so I won't say too much here. Also, lots of good things about the Musician III SE had been post here already.
I had a chance hosting a listening session during the RMAF in Denver using one single amp with awesome results. Interested parties can check out the Audio circle http://www.audiocircle.com under SP Technology Speakers. Lots of good comments about the system performance.
Last week, just for the fun of it. I try the bridged-mono balanced mode and the results was more than stunning. If you think one amp is good wait till you try two. Of course, make sure your speaker is low in distortion, high power handling. We're talking 2kW/8ohms, not many speakers out there can take this kind of "abused".
More to discover