Audio Research D200 or new Rotel 1080

What is all the fuss about with ARC solid state! Yes they build fine tube products but their ss amps are very good as well. I have tried many brands of ss amplifiers and I find the ARC solid state to sound superb! I currently own a ARC D200 ( also owned the ARC D240) and I love em! It is by far the best sound to date. Only thing to come close in transparency, clarity and detail is the Odyssey Stratos which is also verrry good in it's own right, a superb amp. The differences between these two amps would come down to personal preferences only. ARC ss amps are built to military specifications with military grade parts. You can expect the very best when you buy their products, tube or solid state, period.

Thanks for your responses, I purchased the ARC D200 and I am very happy. I wanted to upgrade my NAD C350 but I didn't think I would get a bang for my buck upgrade by purchasing a $1500.00 integrated. I decided to take it slower and use the pre-outs on my NAD. Next I will be looking for a LS 9, 12 or 15. Any other suggestions would be great! Thanks,Paul

Hi foodman, I am currently using a ARC LS9 with my D200 and it sounds wonderful. Very transparent preamp. The best yet! I'm using both pieces in balanced mode.

Paul

if you get the chance an Arc LS5 (all balanced inputs)
it is the most musical preamp this side of the $10k reference II and mates incredibly well with the D200.

audiotom

Hi Audiotomb, your right! The LS5 is an excellent choice. Although I have not personally heard one yet, I have read nothing but high praise for it's performance. In fact it seems to have set an audio reference standard in which other preamps are compared. I'm not sure it would be a fair to compare a less costly solid state (LS9) to the more expensive tube preamp (LS5). However for a ss preamp, I really enjoyed the LS9 and give it high praise! I compared it's performance to the more expensive Krell KBL and came to the conclusion that it was a toss up, finding more smiliarities than differences. Thad Early was the principle designer of the LS9 and was employed by Krell in the eighties. hmmm. That in my opinion says alot for a ss preamp that costs less than half as much as the Krell. I sold mine only to go to a tube pre and I may purchase the LS5 myself. Anyway I would like to add one more comment on the ARC D200. I wish I would of discovered the ARC D200 amp way earlier because it would of stopped an endless search for the perfect ss power amp. The D200 in my opinion sounds just right, allowing me to hear into the musical landscape like never before, without the solid state nasties. I only wish that this Audio Research site could of been more informative on the attributes and differences of Audio Research gear which would include ARC ss amps. Other opinions would of been very helful and I hope this one is. Many thanks