ARC ref 210 vs ref 150

The Ref 150 is a great amp with original KT 120s or with KT 150s which I installed at Dave Gordon's recommendation prior to introduction of the SE series.
They both sound great, the KT 150s slightly more so IMHO. Not a night and day difference so fear not if you go for an original stock Ref 150.
As to my light and airy comment--this does not relate to warmth and bloom but a bit of steely coolness in the warmth and bloom that the Ref 150 vanquished.
The Ref 150 has tube bloom in spades with a palpability that is simultaneously well rooted in space but holographic--a trick that I have heard from no other amp.
The Ref 150 is the best overall amp (together with the Ref 250) that I have heard in my 20+ years as an audiophile. This comes from someone who has never purchased a solid state amp. I believe it would make a great sound with your speakers which I have heard. I cannot comment on your pre as I have not heard it.
I did prefer my amp over the Ayre monos. In fact the only solid state amps I have heard that I like almost as much as the Ref are the D'Agostinos. In short, I highly recommend the purchase. Of course, if you can listen to it first, that wuld be ideal.

Unfortunately, I cannot listen to it first before I purchase. Your comments hit my concerns right on.

It's interesting that you have heard the Ayre mono's and preferred the Ref 150 to them. In what ways was the Ref 150 superior.

I have heard the Ayre mono's AB'ed with the no frills D'Agostino Master Power Classic (likely not the Momentum you heard). In this case, with Avalon speakers, the Ayre's sounded better and more forgiving (read rolled off) to me.

With regards to the pre, it needs to be matched with an amp with a fairly high input impedance. The Ref 150 SE is listed on the ARC website as having one of 300 kOhms and that should be sufficient. Is that the same with the Ref 150?

“a palpability that is simultaneously well rooted in space but holographic” – man that sounds tremendously good.

Mickey, you wrote "[w]ith regards to the pre, it needs to be matched with an amp with a fairly high input impedance. The Ref 150 SE is listed on the ARC website as having one of 300 kOhms and that should be sufficient. Is that the same with the Ref 150?"

The answer is yes. The specs between the Ref 150 and 150 SE are almost identical. Ditto the GS 150. You should note that the Ref 150 (SE and non-SE) and GS 150 only have XLR inputs ... no RCA/SE jacks.

The Ayres were very very good. They were not quite as powerful on the bottom end as the Dags.
But the difference between the Ayres and the ARC was simply the difference between excellent tubes and excellent solid state. Better bloom, 3d presentation and palpable images from ARC. Slightly greater transparency from Ayre. In many other areas, they were virtually indistinguishable.
I am a tube fan. So, for me a great tube presentation beats a great ss presentation.
A ss guy will prefer the Ayres.

I think I would prefer the ARC too.

Thanks that was very helpful.