Spectral system TAS#190
-- Sun, 03/15/2009 - 12:08
Hello Robert,
I enjoyed reading your recent review of the Spectral system (and re-read for perspective your initial interview of RF/KJ in FI magazine, way back in 1998). Spectral seems quite happy with a press update every ten years. I've got a few questions which I hope can be clarified.
1. Spectral seems to recommend (unofficially) single-ended cables to connect their electronics (I'm refering here to their "non-universal" products), while still supplying a couple of XLR's on the preamp and amps. What is their logic or rationale in this respect, within their overall paradigm for full system integration ?
Why bother with XLR's, then ? In his "unauthorized" review of the DMA-360s ten years ago, HP remarked that balanced connections were his clear preference, and the man heard what he heard.
2. The SDR-4000 looks like their legacy CD player, like the Linn CD-12 was in its time (best possible transcription of Red Book CDs). One thing that I find confusing is the scarcity of digital I/O on this reference/signature unit.
With PC audio/servers and HD tracks gaining momentum, why not provide more I/O options on the SDR-4000 ? Do you know more about the design objectives that would account for the limited I/O options ?
3. And to finish on the issue of a full Spectral system synergy, what are the reference speakers ? Electrostatics ? (there used to be a Quad version modified by Entec way back) . Avalon Eidolons ? Wilsons ? Politics aside, I assume the Spectral team must have their reference speaker, one that best expresses downstream the fusion of all their design goals ?
Best wishes,
Jean-Francois
I don't know about questions 1 and 3, but I'll hazard a guess on number 2. One of the biggest advantages of a single chassis CD player is that there can be a single master system clock, and therefore the player is in complete control of whatever timing errors (jitter) reach the DAC. An external DAC must take in S/PDIF or AES digital signals that are already clocked, and must therefore have substantial additional circuitry and logic to "reclock" the signal and hopefully reduce whatever jitter is already present. Maybe Spectral just didn't think they could integrate such reclocking in a way that would not compromise CD playback, or that lived up to the standards of the internal clock.
When Spectral visited me to hear the system, they insisted on single-ended interconnects, although I had on hand identical runs of balanced and single-ended MIT Oracle MA. The power amplifier has a balanced input topology, which made me wonder why they recommend single-ended. I listened to both single-ended and balanced inputs on the DMA-360 and prefered the balanced.
ScottB is correct that Spectral didn't provide digital inputs on the SDR-4000 so that they would always have complete control over the clocking.
I believe that Spectral's reference speakers are Keith Johnson's design (which I've heard at show). They are spectacular.
RH you did a great job writing that review of Spectral. Spectral has a mythical image in high end and it was nice to have the veil lifted in your interview with the designers.
My question is to those who have heard the Ayre KXR and MXR and a Spectral top flight system,what is similar and different about the way the respective companies reproduce music? Soundstaging and imaging?
For example, both companies strive for neutrality in their sound, yet which one is more neutral? Is the Ayre as dynamic or fast as the Spectral?
Thank you in advance for answering my questions.
Dear WD
Allthough I have limited experience with Spectral gear, let me share my experience with you.
Whilst performing listening test 2nd half of last year, I have been able to listen to Spectral DM15SS pre-amp and DMA160S power amp combo in my own listening room. Unfortunately I have not been able to listen in my setup to a combo of DM30SS and DMA360 since the Dutch distributor nor my dealer have these at their disposal. As indicated in another reply on your question, Spectral gear is very difficult to get in Europe (and especially in the smaller countries like Belgium where I am living).
Even so, I really was blown away by the Spectral combo I was testing. It sounded very spectacular, foucussing my attention on details I never heard before. However, I was listening more to the details, and my attention was not so much atracted by the music itself. Again, note this was not the DMA300SS and DMA360 combo !
Whilst continuing exploring my shortlist, I also tested the Ayre MX-R and KX-R combo, and again I was blown away, this time by the musical experience. In fact I liked them so much that they now make part of my system. The main characterics of the Ayre KX-R/MX-R for me are : tremenduous detail, great soundstage (and there the KX-R really plays), extremely musical and sweet. It is thue, even CD's of lesser recording/production quality can be enjoyed through the Ayre combo.
And there I believe lies the biggest difference with the Spectral gear. Probably the Spectral gear is able to reveal the truth even more than the Ayre combo. However, the Ayre combo comes very close, also in speed and dynamics, but focusses more on the music than on the record.
If the Spectral combo, as reported by Robert, would have been available for testing (and for buying), I might have bought those. I now have the Ayre combo and can't be happier. In combination with the Magico V3 speakers, they are driving me forward in the discovery of new musical explorations, such as jazz and classical music, besides the pop, rock and blues music I have been and still am listening to up till now. µ
My current stereo setup is :
source : Accuphase DP800-DC801
pre-amp : Ayre KX-R
power-amp : Ayre MX-R's
interconnects : MIT Magnum MA
speakers : Magico V3
speaker cables : MIT Magnum MA
Regards
Dirk
Thank you Dirk for your response, thats exactly the kind of detail I was looking for. Interesting that you are using MIT cables with Ayre. Do the MXRs have plenty of headroom for your V3s?
Hello WD
The Ayre combo has replaced a Pass Labs X1 pre- and X250.5 poweramp. Main reason was the X250.5 running very hot with the Magico V3's.
Before the Magico's I was using this Pass Lab combo with Wilson Sophia 1's and these are definitely easier to drive.
The Ayre MX-R's have no problem at all in driving the Magico V3's. In fact the MX-R's are running cooler than the Pass X250.5 with the Sophia's. So plenty of headroom.
The reason I am using MIT cables with Ayre, is just the fact that I had them with the Pass Labs. I know tha t Charlie Hansen recommends short, non-networked cables, but I find it a wonderfull combination. I have looked into eventually selling them, but it seems to be impossible to get a fair price here in Europe.
Regards
Dirk
Thanks for the comment abou the Spectral review. My experience with Ayre is confined to their integrated amplifier and mid-level CD player.
I've had to return the Spectral system and can tell you that nothing in my experience comes close in resolution, speed, and soundstaging. The DMA-360s are absolutely stunning in their reproduction of the spatial aspects of music.
Hi Robert,
I too have listened to Spectral over the years. In the late 80's I was impressed with its speed and resolution, but, and this could have been system interactions (Speaker selections) that emphasized my observations, the systems I heard were cool at best, sterile at worst. None the less, Spectral caught my ears and I stayed in contact with Keith (Aside from him being a brilliant and engaging man) at shows and over email.
Fast forward to this year - I was in Wilmington Delaware at Overture, an authorized Spectral dealer, and had the pleasure of an audition at the hands of Terry Manacker, owner and all around wonderful man. WOW! Speed, detail, huge and well defined sound stage and true emotive warmth to the presentation. Terry's selection of music was perfect, and his demo room tuned beautifully. Emotional communication is what I hear so infrequently from high resolution systems these day; the Spectral system showed me real music. What else can you hope for? Bravo Spectral!
My best - John
One quick question: Did you get your cheque book out and buy this wondrous system?
As a high end dealer in the UK (with 20 years in the business) I finally closed my doors last october - yes, we had lots of people enraptured during our dems, but they were mostly people we never subsequently heard from again....
I'm not saying you're one of them, but the high-end as a business proposition is dead in the UK and will never be revived, partly due to the time wasted demoing gear to very credible potential customers who have absolutely no intention of buying. High end might be generally overpriced but after twenty years of dealing with Joe Public I can safely say I don't particularly care for him.
Bill.
What speakers were they hooked up too at Overature?
Dear sir,
With upfront apologies for my Dutch version of the American language: thank you very much for this long awaited review. It was worth waiting for, I think the company and the gear fully deserve this in depth treatment.
I do have a few questions concerning some details in the story:
Furthermore: thanks again, I look forward to more articles like this. Maybe the next one on Avalon??
Best regards,
Peter Morren (The Netherlands)
Thanks for your comments, John. I've listened to Spectral equipment (at home) about once every 8-10 years. These latest products are by far the best they have produced. I'd love to hear them at Overture; they are a terrific dealer who has stayed true to high-end audio and delivers great sound.
The volume control and the floating power supply are, I believe, new in the DMC-30SS. I understand that the floating power supply, developed for the SDR-4000 Pro, was adapted to the DMC-30 preamp.
I can't comment on the sound of various Spectral preamps; they rarely grant review equipment, and it's been 14 years since I had a Spectral preamp in my system.
As for the limited product availability, Richard Fryer addressed this in the interview. They proceed at their own pace and build the equipment to a certain standard, which takes time.
The Oracle MA is certainly a step above Oracle V2. MA does everything Oracle V2 does, but better. They have a very similar overall character.
Finally, thanks for your feedback on the review. It was the kind of system reviewers live to listen to and write about.
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