Cost Effective Audio Research Combo


Hi folks. I'm really looking for some guidance putting together an Audio Research amp/pre combo. I'm a former Naim user that wants to move to more power and different gear. (The good Naim stuff has just gotten way too expensive). I'm considering a Bryston 3BSST/BP20 combo or something used from Audio Research. However, while I can talk to you up and down about HiCaps, SNAICS, etc, I know little about the AR brand and some of the better products of the recent past. (Other than the fact that the SP9 was panned by Stereophile some years back). Here is what I am after:

About 100-150 Watts of Solid State power amp.
A nice tube or hybrid preamp that runs cool and has a GREAT phono stage.
I don't want any gear that's more that 5 years old.
I'd like to spend around 2000-2500 on the used market for the pair.
Comments about how what you are suggesting stacks up against the Bryston combo mentioned above

Thanks so much!
dodgealum

Showing 1 response by magnepanmike

The 100.2 is not a digital amp. The 150.2 and the 300.2 are. Never heard of a 200.2???

The 150.2 actually retails $1,000 less than the 100.2 and can be found on A-gon for about $1800.00.

I have a 100.2 and indeed it is one of ARC's best.