Compared Spectron to Sanders Magtech 4 Mags 3.6?

Hi,

I have the current Spectron mono blocks. They should drive the Magnepans easily. I've used one amp, then put the second in and set them up as mono's. Using two makes a big difference. It really is amazing. I think for the Spectrons to sound their best they need a tube preamp like the Joule (which I am entertaining ordering), or tubes in the source components. I would like to try the Sanders Magtech someday just to compare, I've heard great things about them. I am a big fan of dipole or open baffle speakers. Some are easier to setup and have a bigger sweet spot to me. Like the other posters said you have to live with your system for a while and see what you like and what you don't like. It takes me a long time to figure out what is good/bad in my system. Enjoy the ride, that's part of the fun.

Thanks, Michael (Sufentanil). Good advice, especially about buying gear used and seeing how it works. Just based on what I've learned on Audiogon, I'm pretty much down to the Sanders and the Spectron (from a huge list). Winnowing down that list has been very helpful.

fwiw I had an Innersound ESL amp (a Sanders design) with Maggie 1.6 and always wished I had kept it after buying something else. It was very lively and open, anything else on the Maggies sounded a bit dull and lifeless.

let us know how it goes...

No offense, but you've posted numerous of "choose this-or-that for me" questions recently and you're all over the map.

I believe you've stated in a previous thread that you can't audition any systems and don't have dealers near you.

It sounds like you've decided you want Maggies and are looking for electronics to drive them.

Here's my advice: Get your Maggies used, and get some amplification used. (Both the Spectron and Sanders amps have excellent reputations for driving them; you can't go wrong with either one.) Then spend a few months listening to your system. Decide what you like about it and what you don't. That will then allow you to fine-tune your system, and if you choose well-known items used then you can resell them for little (if any) loss. Your tastes will evolve, as well. Don't underestimate the importance of the changes in your listening preferences over time.

I think you'd do well just to make a command decision just make a choice and try it out. There is not just one product that will work great and all others won't. Many sound remarkably good, although perhaps in different ways. Just get SOMETHING and listen to it for at least 6 months or so.

Also, try to find people in your local area that you can hook up with and listen to their systems. The more different equipment you listen to, the better your understanding of what's out there and what your listening preferences are.

Just my two cents.

Michael