This review deals with one of the genesis products from Spectral in 1986. This was the second preamp produced, with the DMC 5 being the first. This is a ultra wideband preamp extending to 1.2 MHz. and is one of those empirical designs from the gifted minds at Spectral. This was and remains one of high end audios benchmark products of the past century.
The DMC 6 preamp is powered by a stand alone power supply attached to the main preamp via embilical cord. This was the companion preamp to the DMA 50 and DMA 80 power amp. Finished in a beautiful soft silver front that is quarter inch thick. The all steel chassis is robustly built and has a black textured finish. The rear panel supports gold plated RCA's attached to the chassis itself, nice touch there. The gold plated circuit board is a work of art in itself. very well laid out and using parts of very high quality. Sealed pots for volume and balance control. This is no doubt a serious preamplifier for the discriminating audiophile.
The separate power supply is a hefty item, which should be placed as far from the preamp as the embilical cord will allow. Another nice touch there, to make sure that no transformer interaction can degrade the musical signal.
On the front panel the controls are from left to right;
Input Select: Tuner/CD/Phono/Aux/Tape
Record Select: Tuner/CD/Off/Phono/Aux
Mode: Left/Right/Stereo/Reverse/Mute
Output: which is the Volume Control
Balance: Output to left and right channels.
All these controls are of high quality and have that solid yet silky feel to them in keeping with the status of Spectral and their products.
The all important on board phono section, which is the high light of this preamp is well thought out and a joy to use and hear.
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There are indeed today very few preamps with on board phono sections and this is the configuartion that appeals to me. I have tried many out board phono sections, but none of them appeal to me, more cables to run and another power source in the chain to deal with. But that is my preference.
Once installed let the Spectral run 24/7 before any critical listening and evaluation took place. In the days to the run up for evaluation it did not dissappoint.
By the above play list a wide genre of music was played in both LP and CD format. Of course being the dyed in the wool analog maven that I am, vinyl was first up for the evaluation.
Could not be impressed more with the Spectral DMC 6 in vinyl playback. This phono section is truly stellar as one would expect from Keith Johnson. Its ability to delver the music with a depth, clarity and outright emotion to be able to get oneself totally immersed in the music. The way it has the ability to seek out the layers of the musical experience and to retrieve those signals and pass them through to the listener is a joy not often encountered. Prior to this I thought the Klyne SK5A preamp with its phono section was the best I had heard. However the Spectral DMC 6 is clearly its equal if not in my opinion surpassing the Klyne by a small margin. Not to disparage the Klyne at all, but the DMC 6 is extraordinarily one of the finest preamps to pass through here in many,many years.
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When this preamp broke onto the market it was priced at $2,495.00 a hefty sum indeed for 1986. In todays dollars that equates to $4,995.00. Although some 24 years in service, in my opinion still ranks as one of the best audiophile preamps I have had the pleasure to own and hear. One can hurl all the audiophile positive adjectives and still come up short on what this preamp is capable of, even by todays standards.
For some odd reason used prices on the Spectral DMC 6 are quite soft in my opinion, why I have no idea. For instance a Klyne SK5A will command a price of $1,200.00 or more same of the Coda 01p. Threshold FET 10 is in same range of the above. Many of the Levinson and Krell preamps will be in the $1,500.00 range or more. While the used average price of the Spectral DMC 6 is only about $700.00. However the trick here is to find one, they very seldom come up for sale and when they do they are snapped up at damn near light speed - so what does that tell you?
A world class preamp for that kind of money is an outright gift by any standard. Plus Spectral remains in business so parts and service remain available, a valid point in considering any piece of pre owned audio gear. It was often said that the Coda 01p is the Rolex of preamps, that being said then the Spectral DMC 6 ranks as the Cartier of preamps.
If needing a sterling preamp for your system, look no further, prices will not remain this depressed very long on the Spectral DMC 6. This should be on your short lists of preamps and a wake up call.
