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The Best Tube Amplifiers vs Spectron ?

Before I bought Spectron stereo amp for my Watt/Puppy 8 I used McIntosh 2202, excellent tube amp and one of the best I ever owned. However, Spectron was better or even much better in all respects, most interesting - harmonic richness of midrange closely approximated the real music. The key is that this amp need very long time to fully break-in.

Today, I have read the latest Spectron's review (see http://spectronaudio.com/reviews.htm) where reviewer preferred Spectrons over state-of-the-art $50k VTL Siegfrieds!!! Amazingly, he wrote "The Musician III Mk II monoblocks have a crystalline purity in the reproduction of every voice and instrument that sounds more to me like the essence of live, unamplified music -- which I attend, on average, more than once a week year-round -- than any other amplifiers -- at any cost, based on any technology-- that I have ever heard."

I must agree with him (plus with Spectron you have no output tube maintenance, no heat, no huge weight) and I wonder if others have similar experience.

Mike.
michael_moskowich
ajackson1
156 posts
 
Hence, the adage, to each his own.

I did the same A\B using my Cary MB 500 CAD and the Spectron and the Cary stayed.

If the Spectron works for you, great, enjoy it, that is the whole purpose of this hobby.
psag
518 posts
 
The current Spectron stereo amp without upgrades is no doubt a very nice amp, particularly for difficult loads. However, comparisons with the best amps out there should be against the Spectron monoblocks with both available upgrades.
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Off topic, but I was just reading one of the reviews from the link at the top, and the reviewer has Apogee Stages.

I was a little surprised that the Spectron mono's can't drive the Apogee Scintilla speakers....(they are rated 1400 watts@.5ohms).

We have had two members of the Apogee forum try them...they went into shutdown both times, with repair needed once?

Of course, most amps can't drive the Scintilla.

Dave
dob
577 posts
 
"I was a little surprised that the Spectron mono's can't drive the Apogee Scintilla speakers....(they are rated 1400 watts@.5ohms)."

Hello,

If you mentioned Spectron rating then it has 1400 watts into 2 Ohm and not into 0.5Ohm load - to the best of my knowledge.

I know that Spectron stereo would have difficulties to drive Apogee Scintilla but I have no doubr what so ever that two monoblocks can drive these speakers.

I heard about one case then person expected from Spectron monos the same effortless presentation as he had with easier load speakers - of course, he couldn't get it. Next, he switched monos into two stereos and here he had some problems. I would presume that anyone having difficult situation woild call manufacturer for advise first.

Regards
Rafael
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Rafael

No, these were the monoblocks. I can point you to the thread at the Apogee forum if you like?

The manufacturer is aware, and was surprised. I think I took that power rating from the review I read, it must be wrong.

No disrespect intended towards the Spectron...most amps won't drive the Scintilla.

Dave
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