Spectral DMA360 Vs. MarkLevinson Vs.PASS
Sam -- Tue, 09/28/2010 - 17:01
Any one heard these and compare the top reference level amps under 20K? Example Spectral DMA360 vs. Pass Vs. Mark Levinson Vs. Audio Research Ref210 Vs. Air Tight ATM3? Is it all about taste and speaker match or does anyone stand out significantly over the other? Should one MUST select a speaker first? or can a speaker be added to a reference level amp later? i.e. would one be limited to the speaker match with any of the above amplifiers?
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Speakers come LAST!
I disagree. Speakers come First.
Once you find a speaker you like it is very easy to swap amps or pre-maps to get tweak for the exact sound you are looking for .
Garbage in, garbage out! Speakers are ONLY as good as what's being fed into them. Start at the front, then work your way back. Btw Sam, did you ever purchase the VPI table?
True. If you have very good pieces on the front end, even mediocre speakers will sound good. I recently hooked up $60K of gear in front of a $650 pair of B&W 685's that Wayne Garcia raved about, and the system sounded damn amazing.
But I find that since the speaker makes the biggest sonic difference, it is the most important part of the chain. Even if I like everything at the front of the chain, there is nothing like the Soundlabs (for me, or your favorite speaker for you).
"But I find that since the speaker makes the biggest sonic difference, it is the most important part of the chain. Even if I like everything at the front of the chain, there is nothing like the Soundlabs (for me, or your favorite speaker for you)."
Au contraire, the turntable/arm/cartridge, or digital front end is the most important. If it doesn't come out of the front end, then it won't come out of the speakers.
no, my son got laid off from construction job and moved in with us with his family. Darn economy. It will have to wait. Although my last 2 contenders were Basis 2200 with vector 4 and VPI Classic.
Sam, I have heard only a few of the amps you are referring to. But here are my thoughts:
I find Levinson gear too cold and analytical. It's for guys who never leave their house to listen to live music. You end up intelluctually thinking about the music, but don't connect to it emotionally. To me the emotional connection is the purpose of the hobby. However, it is a hobby and others may find they like Levinson. But, if you are thinking of Levinson, be sure to check out Bryston as well. It is more neutral and you get more for you money (as you are paying a premium for a "Levinson" brand).
I think Audio Research is good. Depending on your speaker load, you may find that the bass is a bit flabby and the highs are not extended enough. But this is true for all tube amps.
As for Pass, there are 2 lines you should consider. The XA line is more "tubey". It kind of sounds like a tube amp running in triode. The transients are not sharp. The micro-dynamics are missing. The bass is not as authoritative as it should be and does not set a good enough foundation to my ears. But this amps delivers great harmonic richness in the midrange. If you listen to a lot of vocals, this may be your ticket. The X.5 line trades off the harmonic richness with great bass and dynamics. It sounds like real live music. It would be my personal choice.
These are some of the tradeoffs. Your tastes and speakers should drive your decision making.
Curiousmind,
Are you referring to the XA or XA.5 line. I've owned both the XA160 and the XA160.5. They are very different animals and to my ears the XA.5 does not lack bass authority or foundation and the transients are sharp, at least with analog if the VTA is properly set. I found the XA to be more like your description. I have not heard the X.5. I have also found that the preamp used with the Pass gear can make a big difference.
Peter, I meant to contrast the XA.5 series and the X.5 series. I do stand by the comparison above. I find the XA.5 series "too smooth" for my taste. I prefer the x.5 series. There is a reason Mr. Pass makes both lines - as tastes differ. I have heard both amps in the system using a Pass preamp.
Curious,
I dont agree with your description of ARC's amp either. It is true that not all speakers will work well with tube amps however that does not mean what you are describing is the sound of the amplifier. Many of the worlds leading speaker companies use tubes,many of the reviewers prefer tubes, many listeners ( including myself) prefer tubes. I have many speakers through my stores over the years and there are those that work better wih solid state gear. Large cone/box speakers may not be the best choice for tube amps, so one really has to decide what speakers they prefer to actually choose an amp that they prefer and one that will drive the speakers properly. I dont believe that ARC, CJ, McIntosh, VTL etc. all sound the way you describe them nor that the amps you like sound "like real live music."
To the author of this post- choose your speaker prefence before you commit to buy a 20k amp.
Good listening
Elliot, I agree with you for the most part. The only speakers I really like are stats and planars, as I am very sensitive to in-congruency of the crossovers. I should have qualified my comments about ARC and low powered tube amps in general more directly by saying that I find petered out highs and flabby bass when running speakers with difficult loads.
I do love tube amps also, but only if they have a lot of power - I own the VTL MB-750's! I have none of the mentioned problems with my Soundlabs when I power them with the VTL amps running in tetrode. The VTL's do sound like real live music to my ears. I go to jazz and blues clubs once or twice a week. (However, I can't stand the sound in triode, unless it is just vocals.)
I agree with you that Sam should pick his speakers and bring home the amps he is interested in to figure out what will get him off the most.
I agree he should identify the type and perhaps the brand and model of speakers he wants to own and then he can find the propereelctronics. I love planars, electrostats as well but there are others that sound amazing as well i.e. Nola's, Reference 3a, Scaena etc that use cones and still sound amazing with tube gear.
E