Music Reference RM9 - user comments please

Well, I still own the Music Reference RM9 Special Edition, I still love it, and I don't think I will ever sell it. After a few years, I starting missing my RM10 MKIIs, and bought them again this week - if 35 watts is enough power, it gives the RM9SEs a run for their money (the RM9SEs are 5x$$$), but of course the RM9SEs will drive many more speakers, including tough loads (e.g., Theil). They look beautiful, the sound wonderful, and they appear to be made to outlast you. While perfer the Atma-sphere amps with my speakers (Merlin VSMs), there is no way I'm selling the MRs, they are amps you can live with as long as you still listen to music, and the only remorse is if you sell them.

Clio9, after a lot of experimenting, and too came to the conclusion that with my speakers, the EL34 approach worked best, though the KT88s were pretty darn good, and different sounding, a different amp with that tube change.

Well I bought another VAC amp a couple weeks ago that uses EL-34 tubes and still come to the same conclusion. In a recent conversation with Kevin Hayes he mentioned the VAC Auricle Musicblocs can be rewired to accept EL-34 tubes. I'm seriously considering having this done. Less power output, but with my speakers that should not be a problem.

I was very tempted to buy one of the RM-10 MKIIs that came up for sale recently. In hindsight I should have.

Anthony, there is another one up for sale. I bought the other. I think they will love your speakers.

I bought the one that just got re-listed. Looking forward to hearing it.