Spectron vs any good tube amp.

In the past I own McIntosh 2102 tube preamp and when I tried Spectron with my speakers (at that time WATT/Puppy 8) I felt much more musicality with Spectron and bought it and then another one and use them with my new speakers SASHA (its next generation of WATT/Puppy - mots power hungry) and all tube preamplifier Joule-Electra LA-300 and I am extremely happy.

I know that Enjoy The Music reviewer Wayne Donnely sent back his $50k Sigfried amplifierx back and use Spectron - and this guy attend weekly Chicago Philarmonic.

I can give you more examples but its all useless. Spectron provides free home trials why won;t you listen for yourself in your system with your firends etc.

Mike

"My present speakers are 92DB, 8 ohm "

You don;t need ss power amplifier, IMO, if you like tube. Its very benign load.

I don;t know well 300b SET tubes but regarding the power needed for reproduction of the musical peak - your speakers will need much, much more then 1/10 of the watt or even 10 watts. Read small article on the subject written by Simon Thacher of Spectron (He is also tube man and work with Jud Barber of Joule-Electra on OTL tube amps)

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0708/index.html

All The Best,
Mike

Thank you Athmasphere for your posting. I always learn something new and ineresing from you.

However, my posting was completely misunderstood by Charles1dad (or, alernative I was unclear). I was not talking at all about loudness one would prefer in his own system and in his own room. Its subjective and I will not go there (but thank you again for explanation of what we hear when using SET)

I spoke ONLY about the reproduction of the musical peaks by real musical instruments. For example, I believe musical peak of Stenway is about 109 dB loudness at the position of about 10 feet from the piano.

So, if someone wants to reproduce accurate (i.e. not subjective) loudness of Steinway piano peak of 109 dB at 10 ft from speakers then one must produce appropriate and very specific power output from his/her power amplifier during this peak period. Measurments are provided by Simon from Spectron in his article but no way its 1/10 of the watt for 92 dB efficiency speaker with 8 Ohn nominal impedance.

Mike

" Why rely on atmasphere to 'tell' you what a SET amp(which one? there are many) sounds like, experience it yourself if you really want to know."

Charles1dad: you do have some problem with reading AND understanding at the same time. Athmasphere explained NOT (Nyet!) what a SET amp sounds like. He explained the composition of odd and even harmonic distortions extressed as a function of ..., to put it in clearly understood terms, the poisition of given volume control. These facts I was anaware of and thankful to him for kind sharing or teaching.

I did listen to a SET amplifier and not a single one. With single exception of $60k unit in listening room of Stereophile reviewer ( we listened to Schubert Male Songs) - I HATE its sound as its full of distortions and bleed my gentle ears.

When I attend live concert I hear music at whatever level musicians play it, be it 109 dB or 79 dB and without any distortions whatsoever. No distortion. Period! This is exactly what I am seeking in my electronic stereo system - the accurate as technically possible reproduction of live sound as I remember it.

My system with Joule-Electra flagship "450" preamp, two Spectron monoblocks with all upgardes and David Wilson's Sasha speakers is very close to this ideal and is under my budget (I love Alexandria II but at $169k cannot afford these magic speakers).

You listen whatever you want and at any conditions you want - just specify its your PERSONAL preferences.

" Unless you need to rock out at high decibels, I would venture to guess that a SET or OTL would be a more satisfactory experience than a Spectron (which I've heard - it did nothing for me)."

Correction: With OTL you can reach very, very "high decibel". A friend of mine owns MBL 101E driven by Joule-Electra VZN-300 OTL amp monoblocks and its a heaven !!!!!!!!!

Actually, you are wrong with SET too, sorry - another friend of mine own Vladimir Lamm's SET which drive Duo Avangarde and it also has extraordinary dynamic range !

What you personally like is, of course, different matter.

Mike