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mate for Spectral amp that is not Spectral

Hello all,
I have a Spectral dma 180 series 2 and need to match a used preamp to it. I am looking in the $4-600 range. That is why A Spectral pre is unattainable.

I would love to hear your thoughts. I would love a phono section as I have a Revox tt but it is not a deal breaker. Driving Maggies and I have MIT cabling.

thanks for your help,
Ken
kidgreen
9 responses Add your response
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Get a Hafler 110 preamp with phono stage. $200 or less! I have one in my collection ($150). Still an excellent choice, regardless of what the audio snobs say!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I also have the Revox linear tracking TT in my extensive collection!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Another good choice within your budget would be a PS Audio 4 or 5. Both offer excellent sound quality! I also have two of the PS 4's. But alas, both are missing the external power supplies.
kidgreen OP
5 posts
 
Thanks so much for your thoughts. I have a line on an Audio Research at $600 so the top of my range but I was not sure the Spectral will play nicely as it is somewhat picky, right?
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Any preamp with sufficiently low output impedance (most) will work well with Spectral amps. And no need for special and expensive IC's either!
kidgreen OP
5 posts
 
Love my revox!! Needs a new cartridge and balancing. Do you know who does that?
audio_d
56 posts
 
be careful with non-spectral preamps into spectral power amps.i'd save more for a spectral preamp.
kidgreen OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for your thoughts. That is of course my ideal but I have been looking for over a year and have come up empty. Had a line on a dmc-5 but no cash. Now I have the cash but no opportunity.
carey1110's avatar
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carey1110
566 posts
 

The Spectral 180 is particularly finicky about having its own preamp. They are very sensitive to RF and if you don’t have the right interconnect and preamp the amp can oscillate and over heat. The 180 runs hot anyway.  Once that amp breaks the company wont work on it anyway due to age. Spectrals repairs  have be limited to their newer stuff due to part’s availability, unless you can find a dealer that will work on them. 

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