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


I have a Marantz 7702mkii as a pre pro and want to get a two channel amp to drive my monitor audio silver 8 's . The B&k is the most affordable , but I am intrigued by the a21 and audio research 100.2 .Which one would best match up to my speakers , and if neither which route would you go ?
nesto719

admranger: If you need an amp with power and finesse Pass are definitely great amps. If a 100 watt 8 ohm amp that doubles at 4 ohms is enough for your ATCs then the ARC 100.2 will definitely work on very revealing speakers but looks like you need a multi channel amp. I used to use it on Apogee Centaurs which were pretty revealing being a full ribbon tweeters. I personally don't think later or current SS amps from ARC compete with the 100.2 and many others agree. If a Pass is in your budget it is a much better amp; has the finesse of the 100.2 but more everything... cleaner, more extended, more control if your speakers require it. There's many great amps out there and the Parasound's are very good but between the A23 and A21 you can get a lot more amp buying used in my opinion; I know these two amps. My dealer has never had a set of the JC 1's so I won't comment on those beast; those appear to be different animals which I'd love to hear someday. Can't speak on the A51 but I know they have sold many of them and I suspect it's a real nice amp but betting its signature is the same as the A21 which is a very nice amp remember so I wouldn't be afraid to try it. I've never listened to the X3 or X5's but I'd be surprised if they aren't pretty darn good. Another shop here in town used to be a Pass dealer and one of the owner uses an X3 and I believe he's always liked it.


Hopefully your Arcam is an easy fix. Good luck.

I really want that tube sound without having to go tubes , so sounds like the 100.2 wins over vs the parasound a21 . The intergrated halo interested me because I like the sabre Dac and always thought  that a intergrated would be better than using a AV prepro for music 

The 100.2 isn't real tubey or do I think it will fool you being a tube amp but it doesn't sound like a lot of SS amps either; it has no edge to it. A lot of tube amps are starting to sound more like SS amps these days so maybe it is somewhat accurate to say it sounds like a very neutral tube amp.

I took home an ARC hybrid HD220 that I compared my 100.2 to and that amp retailed for around $9K! Maybe I can't hear but I preferred the 100.2. The HD220 was lifeless to me and didn't have the magic the 100.2 has. Be surprised if anyone on this site who has or has owned a 100.2 thinks that amp isn't a really nice amp. Yes the HD220 went back to the dealer and I eventually ended up with a Pass. I have owned tubes and still enjoy tube amps but I don't want to deal with the cost and maintenance of them. Tube preamps are a different story; tube life is much longer and cheaper to re-tube.

Well I must ask,  is the 100.2 really worth 1700 ? Does it help make non cd music sound decent still or is it strictly an amp for high quality sources? I guess I'm stuck over the more is better mentality, with wanting a higher powered amp , thinking it will do a better job than a 100 watt amp. I really wish I could demo the amps I'm interested in instead of having to buy something , while crossing my fingers hoping that's it's the real deal !!