• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Which MIT cables for vintage Spectral components?

dodo_audio

dodo_audio

New Member
Hi,
I couldn’t pass on a nice Spectral DMA-100S and DMC-12 power/pre-amp combo that was available locally.
I plan to use it as a second all analogue vintage system in addition to my main system.
I read statements like “you must use MIT cables” all over the manuals but they don’t specify which types? I’ve tried some decent non-MIT cables which seem to work fine, but I still would like use recommended period correct cables. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Register to hide this ad
Any good inexpensive audio cable will work for low level analog audio signals. No special (read: expensive) types required. You will pay through the nose for MIT cables, and you are paying for mystique if you do.
 
Spectral amps, as I recall, typically have much higher bandwidth than nearly all other audio amps, like -3dB point into the megahertz range.

I wonder if that's why they (apparently) so strongly recommend a specific brand/type of cable? Known characteristics not conducive to HF oscillations or something like that.
 
You may have an amp that can maybe go to a MHz, but it will never receive an audio signal anywhere near that. You still won't need a fancy cable, since the cable will still never carry more than an audio bandwidth signal; I don't care if the amp goes out to infinity.
 
egellings said:
You may have an amp that can maybe go to a MHz, but it will never receive an audio signal anywhere near that. You still won't need a fancy cable, since the cable will still never carry more than an audio bandwidth signal; I don't care if the amp goes out to infinity.
Click to expand...

The point re. a consideration of oscillation due to cable properties isn't about the bandwidth of the audio signal.
 
I had a DMA50 long ago and used standard interconnects and speaker wire with no
issues. Didn't have a clue about the MIT stuff then ...

Fantastic power amp by any standard!
 
Easy to find the answer on their website here.

"A System Approach

The most sacred principle of the Spectral design philosophy is our central concern with the integration of the music reproduction system. Each audio component, however exquisitely designed and crafted, is but one link in a chain. How each interacts with preceding and successive components in the chain is of the utmost significance for the final listening experience. Spectral was the first component manufacturer to collaborate with a High End cable company to achieve a totally optimized, integrated component system. Our path breaking work with MIT (Music Interface Technologies) in developing phase-compensated interconnects and speaker cables is a first in the audio field. The same overriding concern with fully integrated systems motivated Spectral to move quickly to the forefront of innovative, High End digital front-end design. And it is why our new preamplifier and amplifier designs like the DMC-30 and the DMA-150 are optimized to work together and to derive superior performance from the transducers our customers choose."
 
E-Stat said:
Easy to find the answer on their website here.

"A System Approach

The most sacred principle of the Spectral design philosophy is our central concern with the integration of the music reproduction system. Each audio component, however exquisitely designed and crafted, is but one link in a chain. How each interacts with preceding and successive components in the chain is of the utmost significance for the final listening experience. Spectral was the first component manufacturer to collaborate with a High End cable company to achieve a totally optimized, integrated component system. Our path breaking work with MIT (Music Interface Technologies) in developing phase-compensated interconnects and speaker cables is a first in the audio field. The same overriding concern with fully integrated systems motivated Spectral to move quickly to the forefront of innovative, High End digital front-end design. And it is why our new preamplifier and amplifier designs like the DMC-30 and the DMA-150 are optimized to work together and to derive superior performance from the transducers our customers choose."
Click to expand...
I see explanation of why you need MIT cables but nothing on which type for that era of components. New cables are of course way too expensive.
 
Last edited:
If you can't find a specific MIT cable recommendation, find an MIT cable with the lowest capacitance. Spectral amps don't include an internal RC network, sometimes called a "Boucherot Cell" between the output and ground. This is a choice the designer made. So you have to limit the capacitance the amplifier sees or it will oscillate and potentially fail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom