Spectral DMC 12, 20 or 30 preamp?

A Spectral DMC-30S just replaced a Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp in my system. I would *not* at all characterize the sound of the DMC-30S as "thin" or "lacking body". In fact, I find that it does a great job of giving a sense of weight to the music. Bass performance is also quite a bit better than it was with the Line 3. I'd say that all aspects of bass performance have improved.

The most striking difference though between the two preamps was that the Spectral seemed to remove layers of noise. I hadn't realized how much noise had been present with the Line 3 until it was gone.

IMHO, the DMC-30S is an amazing product.

Bear,
Is the split passive RIAA a phono only concern?

Schubertmaniac,
I've listened to the DMC 12 vs the ARC LS3 and the Purest Sound systems in my system, and the DMC 12 is a big improvement, even with the Arcam front end. Bass has more impact and control, more detail comes through, dynamics are better, and the fatigue factor is reduced. Soundstage is bigger, too and the Overall balance is improved. That's the reason I want to go with the Spectral pre amp. Question is, does the additional cost for a 20 justify performance difference? According to Bear, I shouldn't really expect much change. By the way, what kind of digital front end would you recommend?

Thanks,

Robert

Hi Robert,

If it is going to cost anything in the area of $2,500.00 I'd forget the Spectral and find a used NYAL Minuet in A, send it to Stephen Sank, and be perpared for a 6 to 8 month wait while he works some serious magic on it.... I have heard Spectral with the Thiel 1.6's, using a GCD-750, and while it is impressive, Sank's moded Minuets sound like Spectral's on steroids due to the 6DJ8 tubes! Spectral WITH warmth, bass, everything. Just do not let him use anything but the standard case for the preamp. He'll make up a seperate power supply which is fine, but my Minuet is now in a wooden box, not it's metal case, which I would have prefered!

Remember, my advice is worth every penny you paid for it! :-)

Lou

The day that Spectral gear sounded "whitish" (HP of TAS) and thin are long over. To my ears and mind, Shubertmaniac, is absolutely right. As far as I can see,Robert, in your system the DMC 12 would be just fine. However, one day you might wish to upgrade DC-player, amp and/or speakers and would be happy to own a DMC 20, which in its Mark II version has a far deeper layering of the soundstage and is without that tad of grain, the DMC 12 still had on my Quads. Bass with the DMC 20 is incredibly clean, fast and punchy. I'm sure you would like it. Cheers,

The *difference* between the DMC 12 and the DMC 20 *is* the split passive RIAA *and* a change in the board layout and materials... iirc the 20 used a foamed polypropylene pcb material. The gain stages were otherwise identical.

Neither of them used any ribbon connectors.

As I mentioned I have no idea what is in the DMC 30, and no idea what if anything they have done to these models in any newer versions.

All of them are very clean, and low distortion designs. Imho, far better than a majority of solid state preamps.

Robertd made a comment in which he somehow misinterpreted what I wrote earlier. "...According to Bear, I shouldn't really expect much change." I'm not sure what he was thinking about, but I don't think that's what I was talking about.

Anyhow, if I had to own a commercial solid state preamp, Spectral's would be on my list.They are clearly a step or two up from the average stuff being sold.