Spectral DMA 150 compares to Rowland Model 6 and 8

Vtin:

Just a note. Spectral now has a 150 Studio Universal which has a small Spectral preamp circut inside. You can use it with a non-Spectral preamp. The sound is comparable to the 360 mono blocks at half the price. I am using it with a Theta Casa Nova and Spectral interconnects/speaker cables.

-Greg

I am thinking of connecting a Wadia 850 directly to a Spectral DMA 150 (without a preamp), would there be any matching problem? Do I need a Spectral pre-amp to go with it?

What is Spectral 150 Studio Universal? Is that the same as DMA 150 II?

Greg
Your post implies that the standard DMA 150 cannot be used without a Spectral Preamp. If that's the case, does this hold true for the DMA-180? I'm looking at a used DMA 180, but I have a preamp from another manufacturer. Does this mean I cannot use the DMA 180 with that preamp?
--Matt

Matt
Both the standard DMA-150, and DMA-180 require a Spectral preamp. Spectral also requires the use of MIT interconnects, and speaker cables to keep the warrantee in effect.
It does limit your options, but as stated above, the synergy is incredible.

Carl

The Spectral amp requires significant current for its input driver, something Spectral preamps provide while others *may* not. Spectral amps require MIT speaker cables since the wide bandwidth requires a low pass filter or Zobel network to prevent potential amplifier oscillation due to RF resulting from the Megahertz bandwidth. Spectral's approach is that the cable is part of the system, which makes sense when you think about it. I owned a Spectral DMC-20 preamp; incredible dynamics but a bit too brilliant. I also have a Rowland Model 2 amp and battery, which is very clear, a bit round and warm but with purity of timbre. Rowland M6/M8 also use input transformers, something I've found to be very beneficial and have added to other parts of my setup to break the ground noise from leakage current that's tied to the equipment chassis. TIs do this safely; lifting the safety ground on a plug is a dangerous way to float equipment. I'd say Rowland and Spectral are opposite approaches. Both are interesting. I'm considering adding a DMA150 myself for an alternative system. The difference is that you have to really go for a Spectral preamp/amp/speaker cable system to do it justice (why have a wide bandwidth amp if the input is rolled off? Defeats the purpose). Good luck.