Back in February I received my first Spectral SV piece in the form of a DMC 30 SV preamp, driving my DMA 260. It was clearly better than what I had previously, but I was told that in no way would I be able to hear the true benefit until I had an amp with SV technology, namely the 400 RS's or a 300RS. Well today I finally got my DMA 300RS and I can tell you that the combination with the DMC 30SV took my system a quantum leap better top to bottom even after merely several hours. In fact, after the first bar of music less than 5 minutes after initial plug-in and cable connection, I sensed the difference, and by the 5th bar had no doubt. The noise floor of the combo is substantially lower as is the decay of each note, which to my ears sounds like better clarity and more realistic. While a used DMA 260 is a great amp for someone wanting to get into Spectral inexpensively, other than the necessary MIT cables (Overture will probably be selling mine in the $5k to $5500 range), the 300 is worth the substantial price increment compared to my trade in value and certainly worth the $8K difference when new.
However, today I heard a three stage SV system and finally was able to clearly understand the SV difference. I heard my preamp, new power amp fed by the SDR 4000 SV, so that the SV circuitry was in play start to finish. The best way I can describe the "SV" difference is simply faster, quieter and more resolution, which makes for a much more believable sound. My preamp is so much more impressive with the SV section in the amp than with the 260 without the SV topology.
However, when the entire pathway is through the SV circuitry, it is truly the first time I have heard the full SV impact without any limitations in the pathway. To put it simply, it is so impressive, that I can say without any hesitation, it produced the best sound I have ever heard. Pardon my crude interpretation, but it sounded like the best analog I have ever heard, with the well known features of a high end analog unit, but with a noise floor and speed that I suspect is not possible until a SV phono stage arrives.
The SV combo does not have any sense of solid state or tube, both of which have a sound of their own. IMHO, it sounds like music and is as involving as live music unplugged.
So despite my promises that my buying spree of the last 12 months is over because I need to feed my divorce drained retirement, I made one more purchase and ordered a SDR 4000 SV, which will arrive when it arrives.
However, today I heard a three stage SV system and finally was able to clearly understand the SV difference. I heard my preamp, new power amp fed by the SDR 4000 SV, so that the SV circuitry was in play start to finish. The best way I can describe the "SV" difference is simply faster, quieter and more resolution, which makes for a much more believable sound. My preamp is so much more impressive with the SV section in the amp than with the 260 without the SV topology.
However, when the entire pathway is through the SV circuitry, it is truly the first time I have heard the full SV impact without any limitations in the pathway. To put it simply, it is so impressive, that I can say without any hesitation, it produced the best sound I have ever heard. Pardon my crude interpretation, but it sounded like the best analog I have ever heard, with the well known features of a high end analog unit, but with a noise floor and speed that I suspect is not possible until a SV phono stage arrives.
The SV combo does not have any sense of solid state or tube, both of which have a sound of their own. IMHO, it sounds like music and is as involving as live music unplugged.
So despite my promises that my buying spree of the last 12 months is over because I need to feed my divorce drained retirement, I made one more purchase and ordered a SDR 4000 SV, which will arrive when it arrives.