Spectron amplifier - new black faceplate?

Just hooked up a pair of Apogee Scintillas 1 ohm models (remember those - the "amp busters"). Now these might just be the best speakers ever made - planars that go down to 20Hz and true dipole tweeter ribbons. I must say that in bi-wired bridged mono block mode I found the Spectrons constrained as opposed to the headroom they have when driving my Martin Logans. Maybe the bridging drops the impedance load to below 1/2 ohm and the amps are not comfortable in this zone? Yet to try vertical or horizontal biamping.

Hello Steve,

For explanation - look a few posts above, my post of 07-23-09. Our 7kW peak power monoblocks cover B&W803N nicely - every speaker with more difficult load will experience more and more clipping and other distortions. You noted it because you used to Spectrons driving easier impedance speakers.

I am afraid that you need one or two more Spectron and perhaps we need to add to the lost of "terrible speakers" such as (some) Martin-Loagn and (some) Audio Analyses your speakers as well. Glad to produce them for you and its also the right time for me to upgarde from Mercedez to Ferrari. Good timing...;--)
Oh - and don;t blame me, blame Keith Howard who did the measurments of real life power requirments of real-life loudspeakers and ...publish them. Its not my fault.

Hello Bostonbean,
Immesnely happy to hear from you the first impressions of these "toys" from exotic Orient "levitation..."? Brrrrr. Sounds like "Snake Oil" Thank you !

Simon

Hi Simon, Yes I am sure many will scoff at my comments but I hear what I hear. Thanks for recommending these modestly priced additions to my system.

Steve, Read up on the Scintillas and it looks like you have picked up quite a challenge with huge payoffs if you have the time, money and patience to get them setup properly. Keep us apprised of your adventures.

Will give some updates on the Scinnies as the project unfolds. After a quick repositioning, removal of absorption panels behind the speakers and going to stereo vertical bi-amping I now begin to hear what all the fuss is about from the avid / rabid Apogee clan!

With the biamping configuration, I heard no strain from the Spectrons and although the bridged mode sounded better on my Logans, the stero mode on the Apogees is clearly much superior as the amps are not doubling down to 1/2 ohm.

The speakers are amazing and I can compare with the Soundlabs AX1's. The bass really does go down to 20Hz - had to take out my subteranean TL loaded dual 12" woofers which used to load the room with prescence, (as opposed to bass thumping). I never found until now a substitute for the accuracy and speed of my old ESL 63's in the lower regions. BUt the Quads were light in quantity and rolled off quickly below 40HZ. NOT these babies, the bass panel is fearsome with the Spectrons and MRTW ribbons have incredible air and transparency with the Spectrons.

More to follow

Steve