One thing I wanted to add is that the 2301 has musicality and sweetness that is absent from the 601,452,1.2kw etc. The 2301 is one special amp even if it’s a 10 year old design. My findings are with me comparing it to those amps that passed through my living room.
In regards to the magico: this is WHY I chose to keep them. They easily let you hear what happened to the sound when you switch out components.
If I were to try to compare audio research amps vs McIntosh amps hmmm. Ok what I can say and mind you this is from 2 different set ups. The gs150 had balls and good bass but if I compared it to the 2301s I would say that the 2301s are sweeter with more of a mellow sound that engages you. The gs150 had balls and power but I could also say that at times you could have mistaken it with a little bit of solid state sound. This is not the case with the 2301s. Nothing about the 2301s sounds like solid state. That said, I can’t comment on the 160m amps. I’ve heard from credible sources that they are the best amps to come out of ARC. I would definitely love to try them some day.
If I were to say what audio research does best then it would preamps and Luxman would be amps. ive owned the 900u FOUR TIMES and maybe a 5th time if I decide to bring monos again. That’s perhaps the amp that made me realize how mid fi some brands are. It kills the pass labs 350.8 and anything below it. I can’t comment on the 200.8 yet but Just remember I was floored with the 200.5s.
Ive never owned ayre but a couple of people who owned it told me that the mxr twenty Monos are smooth and detailed but they don’t have any dynamics. They can’t force bass out of the woofers. This is what’s held me back from owning those Monos. I like an amp that has full control of the speaker.
Lastly, if you own a 900u amp and are thinking of selling it to buy something else, you better be sure of what you’re doing. I’ve had a hard time beating the 900u. The Rowland’s 925s were the only ones that did it. It’s very difficult to find a fault with the 900u. Often times when I sold
them and tried something else I realized I went backwards.
In regards to the magico: this is WHY I chose to keep them. They easily let you hear what happened to the sound when you switch out components.
If I were to try to compare audio research amps vs McIntosh amps hmmm. Ok what I can say and mind you this is from 2 different set ups. The gs150 had balls and good bass but if I compared it to the 2301s I would say that the 2301s are sweeter with more of a mellow sound that engages you. The gs150 had balls and power but I could also say that at times you could have mistaken it with a little bit of solid state sound. This is not the case with the 2301s. Nothing about the 2301s sounds like solid state. That said, I can’t comment on the 160m amps. I’ve heard from credible sources that they are the best amps to come out of ARC. I would definitely love to try them some day.
If I were to say what audio research does best then it would preamps and Luxman would be amps. ive owned the 900u FOUR TIMES and maybe a 5th time if I decide to bring monos again. That’s perhaps the amp that made me realize how mid fi some brands are. It kills the pass labs 350.8 and anything below it. I can’t comment on the 200.8 yet but Just remember I was floored with the 200.5s.
Ive never owned ayre but a couple of people who owned it told me that the mxr twenty Monos are smooth and detailed but they don’t have any dynamics. They can’t force bass out of the woofers. This is what’s held me back from owning those Monos. I like an amp that has full control of the speaker.
Lastly, if you own a 900u amp and are thinking of selling it to buy something else, you better be sure of what you’re doing. I’ve had a hard time beating the 900u. The Rowland’s 925s were the only ones that did it. It’s very difficult to find a fault with the 900u. Often times when I sold
them and tried something else I realized I went backwards.