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Spectral DMC-90's as Mono Amps?

Anyone here have experience running a Spectral DMC-90, "bridged" (i.e., as a mono amp)? Can you describe the experience?

I own a DMA-90 (which I purchased new, ca. 1995) with which I continue to be extremely satisfied. I am in the hunt (still!) for speakers, and several models of speaker at the top of my list probably demand more horsepower than my single DMA-90 can muster. It occurred to me that, rather than purchase a new higher-horsepower amp (and sell my DMA-90), I could purchase a second DMA-90, same approximate vintage as my own, and run each DMA-90 "bridged", one DMA-90 per stereo speaker. (What do you think of this idea?)

Thanks in advance.

rx7audio
rx7audio

Showing 5 responses by rx7audio

rx7audio OP
24 posts
 
Thanks, Tan. A long time ago I remember seeing a system which had Wilson speakers powered this same way. I don't remember whether I liked the sound or not, though.
rx7audio OP
24 posts
 
Razmika,

Can you elaborate? The amp has a specific switch on the back panel intended just for this purpose. You've actually listened to music played through such a system, and it sounds compromised?
rx7audio OP
24 posts
 
Tkmetz, thanks for describing your experience. Maybe it is at this increased noise level Razmika was hinting. Certainly, this is something to seriously consider. This and the fact that I would be purchasing (and needing to maintain) a nearly 20-year-old electronic component. However, truth is, one of the features that attracted me to the DMA-90 was its sleekness. "Portly" amps—even portly Spectral amps—are not nearly as beautiful (to me) as my svelte DMA-90, never mind whether I could even afford one of the newer Spectrals! (I know, I know: I'm so shallow!)
rx7audio OP
24 posts
 
I telephoned Spectral a couple days ago and was transferred to "Mark" in the service department for a brief but informative conversation. I learned from him: (1) In general, if a Spectral amp seems to be working fine, there is absolutely no need to send it in for evaluation/service. (2) Even a 20-year-old Spectral amp is still quite young; they are designed and built to mil spec standards. And (3) the DMA-90, in particular, is an extremely robust amp, quite bullet-proof!

So, it seems my concerns about maintaining a--another--nearly 20-year-old Spectral DMA-90 would seem to be unfounded, which is terrific news!
rx7audio OP
24 posts
 
Thanks, Shubertmaniac, for describing your experience with bridged DMA-50's.

Based on what I've read in this thread and elsewhere on the Web, I've just made the decision to forgo purchasing a second DMA-90 with the intention of running both in bridged mode.

Instead, my intention now is to think carefully about whether I actually *need* the additional SPL's that more power would allow. If so, and if I ultimately decide to purchase the inefficient monitors I've targeted, I'll endeavor to purchase a newer, higher-power Spectral amp.

Thank you to all of you who responded here. You've been a great help!

Best Regards,

rx7audio
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