Comment on this system.

Tabl10, I own Eidolons and think they are among the best speakers available. I've also been pretty impressed with the Wadia in systems in which I've heard it. But, I've never thought the Spectral/Eidolon combination made music, and I've never understood why Eidolon dealers keep showing the Eidolons with Spectral gear. Others obviously will disagree, but for me, given my listening priorities, the Spectral/Eidolon combination sounds sterile and two dimensional, and I know this is not an issue caused by the Eidolons because they can sound absolutely marvelous with other electronics. Same experience with the M.I.T. cables in a variety of systems.
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I've heard Eidolons with a Spectral front end here in New England at a big dealer, properly set up in a good room.

They were not for me. Enough folks here have Eidolons so I'm willing to bet your friend could learn before he makes a big dollar mistake. Heed the AudioGoners who know what works with these, and you'll enjoy them right out of the gate.

Best,

Paul :-)

If i said that he could get everything for a KILLER DEAL, would that anyones opinion?

The good thing for your friend is that he can hear the combination he would be buying right there at the dealer's showroom. If the tonal balance and sound suit him (I agree with Rushton and Beemer in that I like the Eidelons a lot but have always been less than moved by Spectral electronics), then the fact it's a killer deal is icing on the cake, if not, why spend any money on a system you won't like (and don't expect to get the money back on resale, either). The one thing he'll have to consider when he listens is can he take the sound long-term; Spectral equipment sounds very clean, and can be impressive on first listen, but after a while I agree with Rushton, it seems sterile and cold. The other part of the equation, of course, is his listening space; if the speakers can only fit in his room with their backs to the wall, he should look elsewhere.

Just for the record - I talked with Neil Pattel some years back while opening his Mexico distibutor and shared with me that , by that time, he used Spectral year at one of his personal systems.

I have never heard Avalons with Spectral gear, the best match I have found is with Gryphon and Pass gear.

Fernando