Last week I compared the Red Dragon M-500 Monos to ARC 100.2 with ARC SP 16/Vandersteen 3A Sigs and I preferred the Dragons, although the ARC sounded good. The Dragons had more bass, better high end extension which is very sweet sounding with more detail. Sound stage was about the same. The impedance mismatch with the tube preamp was not so much a problem. I've heard that the new model will have a buffer to make input impedance higher, better suited for tube preamps. I really like how the Dragons perk up the 3A Sigs. Of course the ARC 100.2 mates quite well with them also.
It will be interesting to see how the new versions sound in comparison.
It will be interesting to see how the new versions sound in comparison.