Spectron Musician III - Can anyone comment on it?


I am currently on the hunt for a pair of amplifiers that have massive peak power capability with excellent micro dynamics and neutral presentation. I am driving a pair of Martin Logan Statement E2's

The Spectron Musician has been reviewed exceptionally well everywhere I looked and seems to fit the bill but I just can't get over 25 years of snobbery telling me to avoid switching amps because linear amps just sound better and, hey, the name on the faceplate ain't Krell or Mark Levinson!

Can I PLEASE get a few people with experience listening to these amps tell me why I should or shouldn't buy them?

I desperately want to buy a pair of the BAT VK-600SE's since I own mostly all BAT equipment but to produce, say, 110db peaks one would comfortably need several thousands watts of power in the bucket to meet the challenge. I don't think the BAT amps have that under the hood.

Advice?
sashua
Dear Ted,

Thank you very, very much for all your help in set up of two Tweek Geek rooms. I truly appreciate your efforts.
If I offended you somehow I deeply apologize.

May be I also was too harsh on Mike Garner - he is very nice fellow but I stand behind my statement that he is not YET experienced enough dealer for the set-up of very hi-end system.

I am sure next year he will prove me wrong !!! I wish him only well, he is very talented fellow and will go far.

One think I cannot apologize for is for my ears. To my regret I hear what I hear. I am truly terribly sorry that my comments was taken by you rather personally.
Moreover, testimonies of other people who's ears or qualifications I don't know are probably not the best argument as far as I am concern. Moreover, I been there and I heard what I heard...sorry

Again, thank you a lot for your help in the set up. Its difficult work and we all, enjoyed your work.

Thank you and
All The Best
Rafael
Dear Ted,

I missed something. I was not Sunday there. From the accounts of varios people - my understanding is that Mr. Bob Smith, designer of SP Technology speakers arrived Saturday night and re-arranged set up. Moreover, he uninstall $6k Synergistic Research speaker cable and install that of David Elrod - twice cheaper and new cable made much of the difference.

So, you are probably right in regard to Sunday, I am sure you are right in regard of Sunday....but I wasn't Sunday there, sorry.

I will try to buy from Mike Garner this "magic" speaker cable if its not sold already

All The Best
Rafael
Dob,
No harm no foul. I was confused by something in your first post about Mike's rooms that led me to think you were speaking from second hand experience, not first hand. You are clearly knowledgeable and have every right to your first hand (ear) opinion about the sound in the room, regardless of our differences. Thanks for the comments and retraction of your initial negativity against Mike. Did I meet you while you were there? Sorry you couldn't hear the Sunday setup. Thx
Ted
Hi Guys,

I'm just wondering if anyone can guess the difference, particularly in how relaxed, palpable, liquid the sound is when comparing a stereo Mk2 with both Bybee and VCaps, to monoblocks without either of these upgrades. I can just barely afford two without upgrades, but could purchase one stereo Mk2 with both upgrades. My speakers are 88db 4 ohm, and manufacturer suggests amps up to 350W, so it is not a matter of needing more power than one stereo amp...

Thanks in advance!
I think Don Shaulis addresses almost (no Bybees) that exact issue in his StereoTimes review. I could be mistaken but I think he surmised that stock monoblocks are a better sound than a heavily optioned stereo amp.

A quote:
The MK2 with V-Caps clearly bested the SE in smoothness, low and mid bass (upright bass, guitar, and piano) definition and midrange weight. Vocals were silkier and pianos had more sparkle and authenticity. Violins were less strident. I would call it a toss up with respect to dynamics and drums. The latter was a hard comparison to make since after listening to the monoblocks, the stereo amplifiers were found wanting.