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ARC VT100MkII

I'd appreciate if any of the VT100MkII owners can share their thoughts about this amp.

I am considering this amplifier.
It will be run via balanced cables with the rest of my ARC components - LS-25MkI preamp and CD3MkII cd player.

Cabling is Acoustic Zen Silver RefII from CD3MkII to LS-25 and Matrix RefII from LS-25 to amp. Speaker cables are Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun.

Questions I have about the VT100MkII amp:
1) What is its sonic signature? Is it relaxed, laid back, forward?

2) How hot does this amplifier get?

3) How audible is the fan noise from about 7-8 feet away at low volume listening?

4) Will it manage to drive my B&W N803 speakers?

5)Any issues such as reliability aside from re-tubing?

I listen mostly to rock, blues, jazz and some classical. I like natural, dynamic presentation, but not harsh, analytical or forward sounding. Imaging and soundstaging is important. Good bass is a MUST.

I have listened to this amplifier before and the only think I remember is that I really liked it but it was long time ago and it was driving speakers that are easier on amplifiers than my N803s are.

Thanks very much for your thoughts!
128x128audphile1
woodburger's avatar
woodburger
143 posts
 
Check out their site. Not really digital - I think analogue switched digitally.

As they say: "The Reference 9 SE incorporates an improved power supply board with a low-ESR capacitor bank. Further enhancements include a separate switching power supply for the analog front-end, ..." and from the 6Moons review: (this) "amplifier technology is based upon the principle that a power oscillator can be modulated by an audio signal to produce an amplified audio signal obtained with a reconstruction filter but without the bandwidth limitations of a fixed frequency carrier-based conventional PWM control. It uses a high-performance analog modulation technique and a close-loop control system. Therefore NuForce refers to its audio amplifier as analog switching amplifiers."

One of the more pleasant surprises I've had in this hobby .
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,019 posts
 
Interesting. So it is better than the VT100MkII?
mount_rose_music's avatar
mount_rose_music
116 posts
 
Okay, here's my experience
1. It gets hot, but not incredibly hot.
2. Soundstage is not it's real strength for a tube amp, a little forward, however its microdynamics are incredible in my opinion. I would call it relaxed and natural.
3. I have never noticed the fan noise really, unless there was no music playing
4. I have used it with wp-7. sonus EA-1, Revel Studios. It is not a bass fiend.
5. No reliability issues and I;ve owned this amp since they came out.

You say good bass is a MUST. As I see it, the Nautilus are not easy drivers in the bass, this isn't the best bass amp out there by far. For the prices this amp goes on Audiogon, it is a steal.... but if bass is a MUST, you are probably not going to be thrilled. Diana Krall yes, Stained, no.

Cheers,
Chris
audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
5,019 posts
 
thanks Chris!
gmorris
351 posts
 
The VT100 MKII is a "classic" amp. It is easily one of the best sounding amps ever made by ARC irrespective of price. I am using it coupled with the LS25 MKI preamp also. Its strengths include: dynamics, huge soundstage, midrange purity and beauty, and sheer musicality. It is also surprisingly powerful and works well even with difficult loads (maybe not at disco sound levels). In summary, the VT100 MKII is a music maker and is highly recommended.
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