jwmazur

Responses from jwmazur

SACD Opinions: Gimmick? Like it? Don't? Why?
I thought it was good, but not spectacular when I first heard it. Not enough of a difference to see what the hubbub was all about. Your "Life Jacket" in this is to either start with the stock player and have it modded and hot rodded or, just buy o... 
Best Used Solid State Amp for less than $5000?
I have owned 28 amps in the past 12 years and have auditioned both the Pass X250 and 150. The Spectron Musician II resides in my system and, boy, am I glad it does. I don't look back. You can get this amp new under $4K. Give Galen Carol Audio a ca... 
Where are your maggies??
I bought my 3.6's new and had the roller coaster ride. The brightness puzzles me because you don't have reflectve surfaces. Pay attentention to the toe-in they mention in the manual for this will affect the phase relationship between the bass and ... 
I think I want a tube preamp
I agree with Khaki8!! This preamp is fantastic. I put some NOS tubes in it and it went even further. The dealer, Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio gave me a great price on it and was great fun to work with. The importer, Morningstar Audio Imports, ... 
Which amp is best to drive Magneplanar 1.6's?
Maggies require lots of power to satisfy their hunger. Two amps that I can recommend are the VTL MB250 triode monoblocks and the Spectron Musician II. First off, the VTL's made for a great full-bodied sound that had good extension on both ends. Th... 
Use of Digital Amps: Need serious help
I can't say that I have heard the Spectron with purely a digital signal but, I have used a passive line stage with it and it was a bit dry. Since then, I have used a tube preamp that sounds fantastic, a giant killer, the MiniMax. It added the warm... 
Best SACD/CD player I can get for $5k new or used
Why don't you just buy the Kern modified SCD-1? 
Musician II owners what preamp works for you?
Kana813, John at Spectron says the Musician II does best with the RCA's and that balanced is not necessarily the best way to do it. I do agree the sense cables from Spectron ARE the way to go. 
Musician II owners what preamp works for you?
Oh, man, do I love the Eastern Electric MiniMax. It is a tube preamp that you do not have to have a king's ransom to buy. Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio was great to deal with on the purchase. I tried a passive attenuator with the Spectron but t... 
McIntosh MR7083 vs. Magnum Dynalab MD100 tuner
Head over to fmtuners.com and read what many experts have to say. Sounds like you might live in Denver. 
SONY SCD-1 vs the New Generation of Competition
I had a CD23, non-"T", and had wonderful sound. They did have unit variability, though.The Sonys are pretty much the same from start to end. You can perform any level of modifications to them and get sound that is better than a lot of todays offer... 
Discontinued components that you wish the manufact
Great American Sound!!!!!! 
3.6 Maggie owners input needed on amps...........
Same situation for me from 1.6's to 3.6's. I went to a Spectron digital amp. Absolutely amazing-clarity, soundstaging, depth... It is astounding how it can make the Maggies rock when you want it. I know it is out of your price range now but, it is... 
Besides Spectral, what else do I try........
I have tried a Spectral preamp/amp, Transparent cable system in a previous system. I have owned 28 different amps in the past 12 years. Give Spectron a look. A digital amp that has quickness ( slew rate, rise time ) and neutrality. It allows you t... 
Next step up in Amplifier for ProAc Response 3.8
YES! Give a try to the Spectron Musician II. I have had many amps that I have purchased, let alone tried, and I feeeel sooo comfortable with the Spectron. It has 650 wpc and is so clean. Good, fast bass is the low end of things. We have had so man...