mcintosh 501 vs 2102


i have the 501's love them, love them love them. but since i have a tube pre amp. (shindo monbrison) and just got a new mcintosh c2300 (in box never used yet) i was thinking to take the whole plung and go all tubes. now do i need all the power the 501's give me. no. who does really? 75-100w is good enough. to power almost all 4om speakers that i run. so has anyone tried the 2102, my dealer does not have it in at the moment,
thanks
ltleo74
that was a great link. so downunder, in what way did you enjoy the tubes over the 501. i have the 501's for a while and i love them, but i did grow up with ss, i grew up listening to the mc2500 that at 20yrs old (org owner) still looks and sounds as if it was brand new. but i do like how tubes give you that ease, almost warmth. i just got the c2300 but have not opened the box, i am using my shindo monbrison still. how did the c2300 blend with the 501 and how do you like it with your 2102? when you say more revealing, in what way do you mean?
The bass on the 2xMC2102's gets larger and grows with the music as you turn up the volume, the 501's bass gets tighter as does most SS bass. I think the tube bass is more natural sounding.
In the upper frequencies again the Mc2102's have better depth and more of a 3d effect, whereas the 501's sound somewhat mechanical and 2d in comparison.

The C2300 sounded better with the MC2102's than did the 501's.

Don't get me wrong, the 501's sound good but if you like the sound of tubes, you won't look back.

cheers
thanks alot. for your indept comments. just wondering did you ever test the 275 remake? i was thinking of maybe doing two of them.
No never heard the MC275. Me I like the idea od my tubes cruising with 200 watts for 16 x KT88's or 6550's vs 150 watts with 8 x KT88's or 6550's.

Whuch amp do you think is working harder??
I have the 2300 and the 501s and it's the perfect combination as far as I'm concerned. I have not heard the 2102 but I was deciding between the 501s, 402 and the 275 as monoblocks and I felt the 501s were the best of the lot with the 2300. It's just a wonderful combination in my opinion.