I have a 100. 2 and also love it. Bought it when it first came out. It is very musical and drives my Maggie with ease! I have not compared it to any thing newer.
SS amps as good as the classic ARC 100.2?
Browsing various "archives" I came upon many recommendations for the Audio Research 100.2, which has been discontinued some ten years. Is it still a reliable "gold standard" worth paying $$ for, or are there better modern alternatives, SS amps at least as good and within the same price class, and (perhaps) not Class A? The ARC 100.2 was $3500 (today maybe retail $5000 adjusted for inflation) and ran Class AB but was biased very high, 150W idle.
I have Bel Canto S300i Class D, First Watt F3 Class A, and Unico SE hybrid. I like them, but tubes are better....
I listen mostly to small ensemble classical (Early Music), vocal, and some jazz. The qualities I look for, and can get from tubes, are Palpability, Presence, and Pulse. I have attended a lot of live concerts often within spitting distance of the performers. I stick to realistic listening volumes and sensitive speakers so I don't think I really need all that much Power/Prat.
Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated! -- William
I have Bel Canto S300i Class D, First Watt F3 Class A, and Unico SE hybrid. I like them, but tubes are better....
I listen mostly to small ensemble classical (Early Music), vocal, and some jazz. The qualities I look for, and can get from tubes, are Palpability, Presence, and Pulse. I have attended a lot of live concerts often within spitting distance of the performers. I stick to realistic listening volumes and sensitive speakers so I don't think I really need all that much Power/Prat.
Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated! -- William