Unanswered Spectral Questions to Mr. Robert Harley
default -- Sat, 05/16/2009 - 05:52
Dear Mr. Harley,
Thank you for your responses to my other posts regarding Spectral amps!
You helped me give up any conspiracy theories regarding Spectral :-)
However, there are a few specific questions that remain unanswered, probably due to being maked out by a lot of other posts.
I hope you might help me understand the following, if you can spare the time, either from your own prior knowledge and/or by referring to Spectral, if you can:
#1. What is the electronic/physical reason for putting the network in the middle of a cable
instead of incorporating it into the amp itself (with proper shielding, if required)?
#2. Are there indeed "universal" models to the DMA-250 and/or the DMA/360, as the many rumors say?
If yes, how do they compare with the "standard" (MIT-dependent) models?
#3. What is the damping factor of the DMA-250 and/or DMA-360?
#4. Why are important facts, such as issue of losing the warranty if other cables are used
and/or the existence of "universal" models, not stated very clearly in the DMA-250/360 descriptions?
(The warranty issue is "hidden" in the cables' descriptions)
Thank you very much!
Amir
P.S., I fully understand that "There's no substitute for first-hand listening". However, I don't have any access to auditioning Spectral systems in my country :-(
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1999 - 2011 NextScreen. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
"
Dear Mr. Harley,
Thank you for your responses to my other posts regarding Spectral amps!
You helped me give up any conspiracy theories regarding Spectral :-)
However, there are a few specific questions that remain unanswered, probably due to being maked out by a lot of other posts.
I hope you might help me understand the following, if you can spare the time, either from your own prior knowledge and/or by referring to Spectral, if you can:
#1. What is the electronic/physical reason for putting the network in the middle of a cable
instead of incorporating it into the amp itself (with proper shielding, if required)?
#2. Are there indeed "universal" models to the DMA-250 and/or the DMA/360, as the many rumors say?
If yes, how do they compare with the "standard" (MIT-dependent) models?
#3. What is the damping factor of the DMA-250 and/or DMA-360?
#4. Why are important facts, such as issue of losing the warranty if other cables are used
and/or the existence of "universal" models, not stated very clearly in the DMA-250/360 descriptions?
(The warranty issue is "hidden" in the cables' descriptions)
Thank you very much!
Amir
P.S., I fully understand that "There's no substitute for first-hand listening". However, I don't have any access to auditioning Spectral systems in my country :-("
My my, are we now having doubts?
Dear Mark (Sunday Viagra),
If you had the ability to remember/connect things, you could see there is not even one single little "doubt" that did not appear in the previous posts, but you do need your attention. Go ahead, waste some more space. At least you could save us all quoting an entire post for adding one stupid comment. Just referring to a post by name and/or date/time and/or one sentence would be enough.
I won't bother to answer any more of your stuff that is not a contribution to the issue at hand, so don't hold your breath when it isn't (i.e., almost always).
Enjoy your attention!
A
Prove yourself and stop pretending to know anything about Spectral!
Perhaps you should ask Spectral those technical questions. You are attempting to put me in the position of defending Spectral, which is not my role. If you have an issue with Spectral's approach, take it up with them.
Dear Mr. Harley,
Of course you are right. It was totally thoughtless of me to put you in such a position, though I didn't at all like that. I believe that "only" question #4 is offensive in that respect, but, still, it was my responsibility not to ask it.
I literally didn't think about where it puts you, only what interested me. I apologize for my carelessness and thoughtlessness, and hope you can forgive me. The only thing I can say in my defense is that at no stage was there any shred of malice, ill intention or challenge. There was only plain interest and much thoughtlessness.
I asked you these questions because I found no way to communicate with Spectral other than a transatlantic call, in my broken SPOKEN English (I write quite acceptably, but I hardly ever SPEAK English). I failed to find any "Contact Us" with an email address or a form I could fill.
I hope you can accept my apology.
If you're kind enough to understand and forgive, can you please help me with a Spectral email I can write to, or with any questions you find non-offensive?
If not, I can understand with no hard feelings on my side, just regret for having offended you.
Sorry!!
Amir
Does anyone know what speakers Spectral uses in their R & D of their electronics?
Dear Mr. Harley,
Thank you for yopur response!
I suddenly realized I've lost my focus on the main issue and got carried away with side issues such as the MIT cables.
The main issue is what to do, given that:
================================
* I fully understand that the DMA-360s are in a class of their own
* I fully understand that for obtaining the best from the DMA-360s, one has to use a complete Spectral system
* I consistently prefer my (mostly classical) music in multichannel over stereo-only (with very few exceptions
of tradeoffs), but Spectral do not make multichannel equipment, so that I cannot have a complete Spectral system.
It therefore seems conceivable that the DMA-360s are so good that even when not in their optimal environment, they still outperform all competition.
The main options I currently see are:
=============================
#1. Remain with the Hurricanes (which just went to the technician again :-)
#2. Buy DMA-360s for my existing system (with EMM Labs Switchman 3 multichannel preamp and B&W 800Ds),
with or without MIT cables (whose usage seems to be controversial as regards both sound and warranty)
#3. Buy Universal Spectral amp(s) for my existing system
#4. Wait for EMM Labs to issue power amp(s) someday, so that I'll have a complete EMM Labs system
#5. Shoot for other power amps, such as Nelson Pass
What would you recommend?
Thanks!!!
Amir
To Amir: My curt response wasn't to you, it was to "SundayNiagra" who seemed like he was attempting to engage in a debate with me over the validity of Spectral's approach and to defend his own choices in equipment. I've replied to your questions on another thread.
Dear Mr. Harley,
Thank you for clarifying the issue -- I'm very much relieved -- I felt pretty bed about the possibility of offending you without at all meaning to!!!
Thank you very much for answering my questions in the other thread!!!
Have a GRRRRRRREAT day!!!
Amir
I only questioned Spectral's approach and still think it's bogus.
Questioning a company's approach, methods, philosophies, etc. is one thing, and can be beneficial to legitimate learning, technical advancement of concepts and processes, etc. Stating that you think tey are bogus is nothing more than a person's opinion. (a person who does not work for Spectral and who obviously does not know what they do about their equipment; therefore I have to wonder if his opinion is worth considering at all. From what I read in this post, and from Spectral's web site and white papers, etc., they obviously know what they are doing and how their equipment works best; be it with special types of speaker cables or terminations for them, etc. What I also know is that Spectral is a very well reputed, extreme high end audio manufacturer with an industry leading designer at its helm with a proven sales record through competent dealerships and the reviews to back it up ... and the person that thinks they are still bogus cannot make the same claims of success. Perhaps, just perhaps, that person should keep his opinions to himself since arrogance is still the only personality trait that I know of that still overwhelms sheer ignorance even when that ignorance is clearly evident and abundant as is the case here. It sure does seem that if my "dear ole buddy and pal" Mark does not agree with something, then it that is how all of us should think. Unless I am wrong about him ? Hmmm ... could be.
Go to the Spectral site and read HP's review sans MIT cables!
How quickly and voraciously the ignorant attempt to defend themselves. It's almost entertaining. Almost.
I like the post from Amir on 5/17/09 where Amir says (Sunday Viagra) instead of Sunday Niagara. Maybe some Viagra is what dear ole Mark needs. Perhaps he is trying to assert his manliness by displaying his self assessed expertise into Spectral's design and performance parameters in a vain and futile attempt to impress us. I can hear his thoughts now ... "I am Mark. Hear me ... and my ignorance. Give me the opportunity, yet again my subjects, to display the vastness of my lack of understanding in spite of being proven to be wrong by competent professionals. Hear me." Quite possibly the best way for him to impress us would be for him to admit his ignorance and the errors of his opinions, shut his mouth, and leave. Wouldn't it be funny if he went and bought a Spectral amp and found out that it does indeed require exactly what Spectral says it requires ? I bet that he would never tell us that. Somehow, I suspect, that would be kept hush-hush-hush.
It is illegal for any manufacturer to require you to use specific cables unless they are supplied with said equipment. Again, go to the Spectral site and read HP's review of the Spectral 360 monoblocks SANS MIT cables. Other than the cable issue, I have nothing pro or con to say about Spectral electronics.