2. speakers
  3. 1270447920

I think I've made up my mind

After having auditioned the following :

1. Avantgarde Uno G2 + Audio Note SET amp/Pathos Twin Towers integrated amp
2. Magico V2 + Soulution 720 pre + 710 power amps
3. Sonus Faber Elipsa/Wilson Sasha + ARC Ref 3 + Ref 110
4. Thiel CS3.7 + Parasound JC1 pre + JC2 power amps

...and after weighing all factors like room interaction, degree of difficulty of setting-up, value for money, magazine reviews, and comments posted here and AVguide.com....

...the winner is: Thiel CS3.7 + Parasound JC1/JC2!

Now for the cables. MF and JA of Stereophile noted that the specs of Parasound show ultra-wide bandwidth and high-current capability which reminds me of Spectral amps. Therefore, would MIT Magnum MA speaker cables and interconnects be a good match? Anyone has any other suggestion? Thanks.
jtein

Showing 7 responses by rrog

rrog
1,958 posts
 

How many of you believed Spectral when they said their amps would go into oscillation if you didn't use MIT speaker cable?
rrog
1,958 posts
 

The truth is they don't want you to screw up the sound with a cable that doesn't mate well with their amp. So, they tell you to use MIT or it will void your warranty.

I have heard Spectral with many other speaker cables and the amplifier worked just fine.

Maybe more companies should do this to ensure satisfied customers.
rrog
1,958 posts
 

My point is; what's at the end of the speaker cable?
rrog
1,958 posts
 

Spectral could have easily incorporated bandwidth limiting in their amplifiers and allowed the use of other cables. So, what do you think the reason is for the MIT speaker cable requirement? Could it be money from MIT for telling their customers they have to use MIT speaker cables? They are also telling you to use MIT interconnects.

This is an example of where highend audio has gone wrong.

Don't get me wrong. Spectral makes very fine equipment. I just don't agree their philosophy on some things.
rrog
1,958 posts
 

Ok, tell me how this benefits you in your system and what the advantage is over other amplifiers.
rrog
1,958 posts
 

The people manufacturing tube amplifiers don't make a big deal out of speaker cables. They just say to choose an efficient cable and keep the runs short.

I keep thinking I want to get back into solid state, but good solid state sound is both complicated and expensive. Then there is this issue with Spectral and MIT which I am convinced is a marketing ploy. How convenient, you don't have to experiment with cables because it is already done for you. I still think Spectral did this so their customers would be locked into a sound they approve of.

It's easier to get good sound with tubes. Besides, solid state manufacturers continue to say their latest amplifier is the most tube-like product yet.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Ack, The discussion regarding the ARC Ref 3 and Pass amp is exactly what Spectral wants to avoid. I am in fact a believer in not only the sonic matching of components, but also the electric matching which is where the system is either make or broken.
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