Spectron Musician III - Can anyone comment on it?


I am currently on the hunt for a pair of amplifiers that have massive peak power capability with excellent micro dynamics and neutral presentation. I am driving a pair of Martin Logan Statement E2's

The Spectron Musician has been reviewed exceptionally well everywhere I looked and seems to fit the bill but I just can't get over 25 years of snobbery telling me to avoid switching amps because linear amps just sound better and, hey, the name on the faceplate ain't Krell or Mark Levinson!

Can I PLEASE get a few people with experience listening to these amps tell me why I should or shouldn't buy them?

I desperately want to buy a pair of the BAT VK-600SE's since I own mostly all BAT equipment but to produce, say, 110db peaks one would comfortably need several thousands watts of power in the bucket to meet the challenge. I don't think the BAT amps have that under the hood.

Advice?
sashua

Showing 4 responses by psag

I just received my pair of Musician III SE Mk2 with bybee and V-cap upgrades, to use with Vandersteen 5a's (mandatory biwire). I set them up in biamp configuration with new speaker cables, and they sounded very nice right out of the box- very relaxed presentation and extended highs. I just got off the phone with Simon, and he recommends that I now try monoblock configuration, which will be my holiday project. Simon returned my email with a phone call on the eve of a holiday weekend- What audiophile company gives better service than that?
Here is a followup to my post from a few days ago. I've now listened to the Musician III single amp, biamp, and monoblock. Here are my impressions in comparison to my previous amps (entry-level Class D monoblocks, which I will refer to as 'the old monos'):

One Spectron amplifier only: Similar to my old monos (with >1000 hours of use). The single Spectron had more natural and brilliant highs and better overall dynamics and power than the old monos. The old monos had slightly fuller and warmer midrange. I'm told that the Spectron midrange will be changing and improving by 300-500 hours.

Two Spectron in biamp configuration: Very similar to one Spectron amplifier.

Two Spectron in monoblock configuration: Big difference! It sounds like I am using bigger speakers and more sensitive speakers. Notes are more forward, more defined, fuller, and more detailed from attack to decay. Soundstage is expanded in width and depth. Dynamics are increased, and crescendos are more powerful. Also higher frequencies are more brilliant and lifelike than the old monos. I had chills again, which I never had with the old monos.
Rafael,
They are Rowland 201s. Not really a fair comparison, given the switching power supply utilized the Rowland, which is both excellent and practical. The Rowlands are only a fraction the size, weight, and cost of the Spectrons. A more fair comparison would be the Rowland 312, but I don't know if it can be used as a monoblock.

The Vandersteen 5A is relatively sensitive for a speaker of its size and capabilities. As others have mentioned, it will be driven capably by at least some 50 watt amps.
Hello Guido,
Yes, I'm sure the 301s would have been a great match for the Vandersteens. The 201s have a warm rich midrange but I wanted something a little more forward and immediate to "push" the Vandersteens, and I believe that the Spectrons fit that description.