SPEC-1 Pre-Amplifier

The SPEC-1 Pre-Amplifier was introduced by Pioneer in 1975.  It was so well designed and in such demand by audiophiles, it remained in production for six years.  Pioneer was intent in designing and building a pre-amplifer with performance specifications (hence, the SPEC-1 designation) that rivaled far more expensive pre-amplifiers on the market. 

This pre-amp had a frequency response of 10 to 70,000 Hz.  It's total harmonic distortion was only .05% and rose to no more than .10 % at peak output.  Pioneer used premium capacitors, resistors and other components internally to achieve the best sound possible within the price-point Pioneer was was dedicated to achieving.  And the SPEC-1 wasn't cheap.  In 1975, it had a list price of $500.

The SPEC-1 was designed and built for serious use.  It was a full 19-inch rack-mount design with grab handles that meant this pre-amp was all business.  It was so ruggedly built it weighed nearly 25 pounds!  It was not only used by discriminating audiophiles but was also used in recording studios.  If the SPEC-1 had one shortcoming, it was the use of Pioneer's standard speaker connectors instead of audiophile-grade speaker wire posts

Of course, form followed function, but that resulted is a very handsome piece of equipment that remains so to this day.  Good industrial design products remain timeless and undated, and this is true of the SPEC-1.  It is still much sought-after by audiophiles and Pioneer collectors today.

SPEC-3 Pre-Amplifier

Your eyes are not deceiving you, this unit is a SPEC-3 pre-amplifier.  The photo was sent to me by John Weeks in London.  Until I received this photo I was unaware of the existence of the SPEC-3.  

Only SPEC-1 preamps and SPEC-2 and SPEC-4 amps have appeared regularly on eBay in the U.S. , but never any SPEC-3s.  The SPEC-3 was sold only in England, Europe and the Far East.

The control layout of the SPEC-3 is indeed different from the SPEC-1 preamp.  Unfortunately, the image is not sharp enough to make out what the controls are.  When this information is provided I will include it here.