Music Reference RM200 or David Berning ZH270?

I can't comment on the Music Reference but it has gotten high marks by most listeners and appears to be a very good value at its price point.

Now the Berning is something quite different from most tube designs in that is sounds more like a ss amp in the bass because into an 8 ohm load at full power it goes down to almost DC which no other tube amp to my knowledge does. What you get is clean, articulate bass much like a ss amp. So in many respects, especially at the price point, the Berning is really alone. The midrange is an area where there are many fine performers and this would be a matter of taste but the Berning again has an advantage in the respect that you have three feedback settings to adjust for the impedance characteristics of the speaker as well as the amount of resonance preferable to you.

The thing that is so notable about the Berning that I haven't heard from any but much more expensive tube amps is in clarity. It resolves space across the board better than just about any amp in my experience. Transients are clearly resolved along with low level information from top to bottom. This you get along with the warmth and presence of tubes.

So Slowhand, I'm not going to say that you will like one better than the other because I don't know what is the most important aspect of sound reproduction to you and I haven't heard the Music Reference. What I will say is that in this price and power range the Berning is a "must hear" product for ANYONE considering any amp, ss or tube. It is quite special and a radical approach in amplifier design.

As an owner of the Berning ZH270, I would second all the above positive comments on this amp. While I haven't heard the MR amps, I have compared the Berning to several other tube amps including VAC, VTL, vintage Marantz, ARC and Quicksilver -- none of these come close to the combined strength of the Bernings -- incredible bass and fabulous midrange and highs! IMO, the only way you could better the Bernings would be to purchase the Joule Electra OTL's. You might be able to "equal" the Berning by bi-amping your speakers with Krell on the bass and a vintage EL-34 tube amp on the midrange/tweeter (to capture the complete magic of the Bernings). Like Tubegroover said, the Berning should be a "must" audition for your system.

I haven't heard the Berning.But own the Music Reference RM9 MK2 and simply put it does one thing Amplify the signal.If you don't like the sound than it's upstream.This amp seems to have no signature at all.I talked to Mr.Modjeski about it and the only reason this amp isn't made anymore is because of cost.If made today this amp would retail some where around $5000.00(more expansive to build than the RM 200).It has three settings for feedback adjustments.And has the bass that will rival ss amps without question.I guess both amps are great.Hard choice I wouldn't want to be in your shoes!Good luck

There is an intresting thread of the nOrh LE2 amp that will be coming to market at AC.The page below references a Berning amp and if the new amp is anywhere close in performance to a Berning it is a steal.

Read the bottom article for the amp reference.

http://www.norh.com/news.html

Thanks for all of your responses and input. I am in the process of buying a Berning ZH270. I know from my research on these 2 amps that they are both excellent choices, but I have grown to value and respect the opinions of the great people on Audiogon. I will let you know how the amp sounds in a week or so. Thanks to everyone.