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
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.
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
"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
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