can anyone comment on sound of ARC VTM-200 monoblocks

Gregory Macdonald -- Thu, 04/29/2010 - 14:10

I am contemplating purchase of used (2001) pair of Audio Research VTM-200 monoblocks. (According to ARC, these amps were succeeded by their Ref. 210 monoblocks.) I have read some old reviews, and there's no doubt the VTM-200s provide stunning dynamics and impact, but I would like to hear from folks who have owned and / or lived with these amps re their experiences. Captivating? Involving? Palpability of instrumental / vocal images? (I would be driving the new Magnepan 1.7s. so power isn't an issue.) Thanks.

DrJazz -- Sat, 05/08/2010 - 18:44

They will be stellar with new maggy 1.7

I have owned 1.6s, 3.6s and 20.1s. Still have first & last.
I haven't bought ARs yet but have heard VTM100 with 1.6s and Ref 210s with 20.1s -- both excellent
I'm deciding between AR, Ayre & Pass for my 20.1s
Good luck !!

Gregory Macdonald -- Sat, 06/12/2010 - 12:16

Thanks for your comments, Doctor. BTW, I have been driving a pair of the Maggie 1.6s with an Ayre V-5xe power amp, and I would say it's one of the most involving and satisfying amplifiers I have ever owned. I have also heard Ayre's MX-R monoblocks driving various speakers, and I still have those amps on my "when-I-win-the-lottery" purchase list. And I don't mind giving Ayre a plug here because my dealings with Ayre have shown them to be a first-class, customer-oriented company. A couple years ago I contacted Steve Silberman at Ayre to discuss a warranty repair for my K-5xe preamp, and the service was outstanding -- they paid for shipping both ways and gave me a two-day turnaround at the factory. Silberman said "We want to keep you in the family." I think that business philosophy informs their commitment to fine design and build quality, and I also think it deserves to be noted here on this Absolute Sound forum.
.....

Greg

Jonathan Valin -- Sat, 08/14/2010 - 14:47

I reviewed the VTM 200s and lived with them for quite while with Maggie 1.6s, Maggie 3.6s, Maggie 20.1s, Nearfield Acoustic Pipedreams, Krell LAT-1s, Sound Lab M-1s, Rockport Hyperions, and a whole bunch of other speakers. The were classic higher-powered ARC pentode amplifiers. Tremendous bloom, lots and lots of air and light, big life-sized imaging, huge soundstage, tremendous three-dimensionality, and a midrange with unusually lifelike timbre and texture. They were not world-beaters in the bottom octaves, tending to be a little plummy and ill-defined, and they were also a little soft and rolled in the top octaves though very sweet and listenable. (The bottom and top are where the latest generation of ARC amps have been most greatly and obviously improved.) They also had the classic ARC balance, which is to say neutral-to-a-little-bright, without any of the syrupy sweetness and darkness of most big tube amps. Though the 200s were not the last word in low noise and high resolution compared to solid-state or the current gen of ARC tube amps, and did not have the transient focus and speed and detail of something like a CAT amp (another you might consider, BTW), they did have an overall dynamic authority that was very much like the real thing, plus that three-dimensional bloominess and light and air (things solid-state and CAT lack) that are addictive. I think they would make a good match with the 1.7s, where there the amps' bigger bass would probably play to the advantage of the speaker (which can use some filling out in the bottom) and their softish treble would also compliment the 1.7s' ribbon super-tweet. This said, it has been my experience that Maggies tend to fare just as well, if not better in certain respects, driven by solid-state. If you could get your hands on a pair of Goldmund SRM-200s, I would certainly give them a listen as well. I'm not saying they will better the ARC 200s, but they will give you an equally lifelike sound with a somewhat different set of virtues (albeit without the three-dimensionality of the ARC).

Gregory Macdonald -- Mon, 08/16/2010 - 00:12

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights, Mr. Valin.

Greg