Audio Research a good match?

If I remember correctly, Stereophile had a blurb about the VT-100 mkII in comparison to the VT-200 amp. Check the Stereophile website to find out which issue it was reviewed in. I know from auditioning that the VT-100 mkII is a very fine amplifier. If I were considering tubes, this would be on my short list for sure. It can defineately drive the Maggies.

I had a VT-60 on the MG-1 Maggies -- not enough power, but the VT-100 Powered them wonderfully. Unfortunately, I do not have the maggies any more (due to wife constraints), but I still am enjoying the VT100. The only draw backs I can see are the tube replacements at ~$500 every 2500 hours, and the heat of a tube amp. Sound and reliability have been flawless for 4 years (one tube change at an estimated 2500 hrs). I am going to send my amp in for the MK II update this summer. I have heard the MK II in my system and it is a wonderful update (My audio dealer was trying to get me to trade my VT100 for a new one at tube change time, but instead I rooked him out of a two week audition of the MK II). I think you will be very happy with the maggie / VT100MKII combo.

I auditioned a pair of dunlavy athenas with the ARC VT100 MKII and a wadia 850 run direct into the amp. The room was well treated with about a dozen floor to ceiling asc traps. I never have heard anything so good before or since. Sound stage definition was very precise. I compared the ARC to a Pass Labs Aleph (i think it was a 2) and the ARC was everybit as good in the bass and much smoother in the top without giving up any extension. I was going to buy the ARC until i found a great deal on some VTL monoblocks. The ARC may be a little more open sounding than the VTL (or it may have been the wadia..got to get me one of those!). You can't go wrong with the VT100

I actually heard this combination a few months ago at a dealer location in Austin,Tx. Fabulous midrange with good bass extension (perhaps not quite on par with the Dunlavy SC-5).I personally believe that the ARC VT100 MKII is one of the better values in high-end audio.

I owned a VT100MK2 and I own a Wadia 16 and Maggie 3.5's. I will tell you that it did sound good, but I will tell you that the Bryston 7bst's sounded alot better with the Maggie 3.5's on the low end and High for about the same cost.