In the early 1980's, a joint development effort between Spectral Audio and music Interface Technologies (MIT) resulted in the first time-aligned audio cables for use with high-speed audio components. The Spectral MI-500 Interconnect and MH-750 Speaker Cable completed the performance envelope of the Spectral electronics and became instant classics.
The Spectral/MIT collaboration represented the first fully integrated, ultralinear system of active components and passive cable networks in audio. By working with MIT to develop measurement techniques to observe minute noise and phase distortions in signal cables, Spectral was able to create an integrated system of electronics and optimized cables which was truly accurate in the time domain. Whereas these types of tuned systems have been routine in radio and microwave design, the Spectral/MIT venture led the way to introducing this important system concept to High-End audio
The Ultralinear Spectral System
The dc coupled, high-speed amplifier circuitry developed for Spectral audio components offers many practical advantages over conventional audio amplifier design, from superior transient accuracy to lower time based distortions and phase noise. In Spectral components this "ultralinear" circuit capability translates into improved linearity for grater resolution of a musical event occurring in a distinctive acoustic space.
Uncompromising audio circuitry must be extremely wideband, but wideband output can broadcast like a transmitter, to produce megahertz oscillations which ring and distort the audio signal. To prevent oscillations in the Spectral system, conventional "wire" cables have been replaced with precision tuned cable "networks" developed by MIT. The modular terminations of the MIT cables tune them to function like ideal low-pass filters, the perfect match for Spectral's high-speed, high-resolution circuitry. Tuning for ultra-high frequency roll-off achieves the best of both worlds - very fast rise and settling time in the audio circuitry for exceptional signal resolution, and precise bandwidth tailoring for absolute amplifier stability and RFI isolation. Integrating MIT cable networks with Spectral wideband components easily outperforms conventional bandwidth limited audio components and wire cable combinations in virtually all domains.
The Spectral Ultralinear Cables
Now after a decade of development experience with the MIT network technology, a new generation of cables designed by Bruce Brisson for Spectral systems is available. The Spectral Ultralinear series cables simplify system building with optimized interconnect/speaker cable pairs to support foundation as well as reference level applications. The ultralinear cables also represent fine value in the Spectral tradition, providing performance associated with far more costly networks.
Spectral MI-330 Ultralinear Interconnect
The Spectral MI-330 Ultralinear interconnect cable is the foundation choice for component interface in the Spectral system. MI-330 Ultralinear has been designed to offer maximum performance and sonic sophistication with an emphasis on high value. As a dedicated Spectral cable network, the MI-330 UL assures the precision time alignment and critical impedance matching that Spectral components require. The overall performance envelope of considerable more expensive MIT interconnects has been achieved in the MI-330 Ultralinear with exceptional balance and musicality. The Spectral MI-330 UL is also the ideal match to the MH-750 Ultralinear speaker cable and combines with the Spectral components for a powerfully real and transparent resolution of the source. Especially well suited for long interconnect runs between preamplifier and amplifier, the MI-330 UL is an excellent choice for all low level applications in the Spectral system.