Spectral DMC 30 SV series 2

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
I am again amazed Ack prices are over the top here in Holland. A new 30SV 24,5 K euro.

Import duties and distributor markup; happens all over with foreign products
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Wow ! Wonder if they are indeed just the 500ARs but , another production run? Using in production parts.

Guess the 400Sv are probably around 35k usd ?

Don’t know about sonic differences yet, only that it doesn’t look like any 500AR owners will “upgrade” but we will see. I am not changing amps
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
So after a quick audition of the 30SV Series2, it is lower in distortion, but I found it euphonic all around, fat in the bass, and far from neutral - these are important issues for me; it would be unfit in my system. As always, listen before you buy.
 

dan31

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2010
1,016
365
1,153
SF Bay
So after a quick audition of the 30SV Series2, it is lower in distortion, but I found it euphonic all around, fat in the bass, and far from neutral - these are important issues for me; it would be unfit in my system. As always, listen before you buy.
Thanks. I was not considering the SVv2, but its nice to know you found it euphonic. Definitely not what one would expect from Spectral. Any chance something else was contributing? Source or cables.
 
Last edited:

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Thanks. I was not considering the SVv2, but its nice to know you found it euphonic. Definitely not what one would expect from Spectral. Any chance something else was contributing? Source or cables.

It was one preamp swap for another
 

Mdp632

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2016
431
140
173
It was one preamp swap for another

Any chance they were plugged into different outlets on the Denali? I'm not certain on your V2 but, on the older V1 model, different outlets had different filtering applied to them.

Again, I'm not certain but, just throwing that out there.
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Any chance they were plugged into different outlets on the Denali? I'm not certain on your V2 but, on the older V1 model, different outlets had different filtering applied to them.

Again, I'm not certain but, just throwing that out there.

Took mine out, put new one in - a singular change. Same everything else. That's a true swap. I have never packed back up any component as fast as this one. We've all had those late-night sessions, right? Not this time.

My wild suspicion is that, because so many speakers are now priced so outrageously high and offer 2- to 2.5-way configurations at best for many of tens of thousands of dollars, something had to be done to "help" them produce "big" sound. Again, this is what I surmise, as I continue to scratch my head. I will be VERY glad to be proven wrong, so I'd like to hear from everyone else as well.
 
Last edited:

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
3,515
USA
Tasos, your experience reminds me of when I owned the Pass Labs XP 20 and auditioned the XP 30. I found the voicing to be completely different I kept the XP 20 because I found it to sound more neutral.

Fast forward five years to when I owned the XP 22 and then I auditioned the XP 32. This time the new model was much better sounding. It had a very similar total balance but had lower distortion lower noise and more clarity. So I upgraded. I think a lot of this has to do with system context and what one prefers.

I would be curious to know what Goodwins, your local dealer, thinks about the two units compared to each other.
 

dan31

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2010
1,016
365
1,153
SF Bay
Any update on what constitutes the V2 changes? I can’t see much more than some new parts and revised tuning. Hard to believe it presented such a change to the V1.

I am going to continue slumming with my 30SS v2.
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
I decided to move away from Spectral after they refused to sell me their Reference 500 amps because I didn't have a Spectral pre-amp.

Sorry to read that again my friend.
 
Last edited:

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Any update on what constitutes the V2 changes? I can’t see much more than some new parts and revised tuning. Hard to believe it presented such a change to the V1.

I am going to continue slumming with my 30SS v2.

Dan, all I can tell you is what one our local friends said recently in private: the 30SV is a “beast”. I would suggest you pick up one.
 

dan31

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2010
1,016
365
1,153
SF Bay
Dan, all I can tell you is what one our local friends said recently in private: the 30SV is a “beast”. I would suggest you pick up one.
I’m guessing the books are closed on the SV v1. I’m ok with what I have. If I go to the SV I will end up with the 300 amp. After that I would need to upgrade my cables. Just too much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ack

Kingling

Well-Known Member
Oct 11, 2020
3
3
68
43
Thanks guys! Good to know the news of the new 30SV.
Just got a used 30SV also from one of my friend.
Hope I will enjoy it for a few years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hiempie and ack

Hiempie

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2016
67
28
150
The new bulletin now on Spectral website
 

Attachments

  • 1605044581795.png
    1605044581795.png
    166.3 KB · Views: 20
  • Like
Reactions: ack

seventiesbis

New Member
Feb 27, 2021
1
0
1
81
So after a quick audition of the 30SV Series2, it is lower in distortion, but I found it euphonic all around, fat in the bass, and far from neutral - these are important issues for me; it would be unfit in my system. As always, listen before you buy.
Ack, any more information about this product ? Can it be used without a Spectral amplifier ? Are contributors to this website allowed to contact one-another by phone ? Thanks, seventiesbis
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Ack, any more information about this product ? Can it be used without a Spectral amplifier ? Are contributors to this website allowed to contact one-another by phone ? Thanks, seventiesbis
I have not bothered with this unit any more. You can use it with other amps, but impedance and sonic compatibility may need careful matching. Everyone should listen for themselves, especially when posts like mine are so lacking in content. And I assume anyone can talk to each other on the phone.
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing