B&k 200.2 , audio research 100.2 . Parasound a21 . Which one to buy?

Would you say the marantz is a good pre pro for music or would a halo intergrated be better ?? I really want to try that audio research amp though 

Would you say the marantz is a good pre pro for music or would a halo intergrated be better ?? I really want to try that audio research amp though 

I’ve listened to the Halo Integrated and it’s nice. Really haven’t done any serious listening to it but what little I have its not in the same league as the ARC 100.2. The Halo is an integrated with DAC and phono included for a lot less than what the 100.2 sold for years ago. As far as your Marantz pre pro goes I’m sure for what it’s designed for its great; especially at its price point. Pretty sure I’ve heard your Marantz in a theatre setup at the shop I referenced above. Would I use it in a two channel set up? Before I would answer that I would want to audition it that way but not sure why I would consider it for a two channel system only. I’m sure it’s very good but again it does a lot and I image for the same money a dedicated two channel preamp will probably outperform it. When I had my 100.2 I used it with a ModWright SWL 9.0 SE and that was a great combination. I recall the 9.0 has home theatre bypass if you need that. I’m sure your Marantz will sound very good on the 100.2. I don’t want to say the 100.2 sounds like a tube amp but it sounds closer to than any SS amp I’ve heard except a Pass. So knowing it has a little tube magic to it you might find it will be a nice match in your current system. Probably the strongest thing I can say about the 100.2 is it just disappears and you’ll forget it’s there. I did use a Kimber PK10 Gold power cord on it and that worked well too. If by chance you do opt for the 100.2 hopefully it still has the original PC with it because for a stock PC it was actually pretty good.

The Marantz is fine as a pre/pro for music.  If you aren't happy with the onboard DACs, just have your CD/SACD player do the work and use the "pure direct" or "direct" feature.  This feature takes the Marantz out of the picture, so to speak, and directly passes the signal to your amp.

I'm not saying it is as good as a Modwright or anything like that, but I don't believe there's any coloration of the sound by the Marantz while in one of the direct modes.  What is nice, for me at least since I use monitors for the front L&R channels, is that it will send the low frequency info to the sub channel, even in "pure direct".  

The feature set of the Marantz makes it nice for non-critical listening/background music via Apple airplay, Pandora, etc., etc.  I've been extremely happy with my Marantz 8801 pre/pro. 

adg101:  I'm curious as to your comment on the AR 100.2 sounding closer to a tube amp than any SS amp except a Pass Labs amp.  I'm actually looking at a couple of old Pass Labs multichannel amps (X3 and X5).  My Arcam P1000 (135w/ch x 7) is in the shop due to the soft on/off circuit taking a dump (I'm hoping that's it) so I'm proactively shopping (e.g., feeding the upgrade-itis) for other amps.  Since my front monitors are extremely revealing (ATC SCM 19v2), a sterile amp isn't what I'm looking for.  The ARs and Pass are of interest, but I need some headroom to drive the inefficient ATCs in my large listening space.  The A51 Halo is also a contender, but based on your comments above perhaps I'm better off looking at an AR or Pass amp and then something else for the remaining channels since those speakers aren't nearly as capable as the ATCs.