Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Sound World, Houston

Summary:
The Audio Research 100.2 power amplifier (I bought a demo model) is paired with an ARC LS16 MKII preamp, Rega Jupiter CD player, ALR/Jordan Take 4 speakers, along with Kimber Kable interconnects and AudioQuest Bedrock speaker cable.

I listen to predominately classical music. The system's sound is magnificent, and the amp has wonderful clarity and power. There is no sense of strain with transients, and no sense of clouding or hardening with even the most difficult of source material. Arleen Auger hits her high notes with complete ease and purity. Orchestral tuttis build and peak with no strain or loss of layering or detail. The plucking of each single string is distinct even in the quietest passages of Sibelius symphonies. The amp is at its best with chamber music. The Emerson Quartet's Shostakovich quartets have a sense of involving magic. Every detail is audible, and the overall sense of space is remarkable. One has the sense of being there instead of listening to equipment.

At the dealer, I also listened to ARC tube amps. The ARC tube amplifiers, especially configured as monoblocks, had a velvet liquidity that the 100.2 does not quite achieve, but at what for me is a prohibitive cost. Someday, perhaps . . . In the meantime, the 100.2 is so satisfying that I have no regrets.

The ARC LS16 MKII preamp (which is a hybrid product with transistors and tubes) enables the 100.2 to achieve a soundstage that is wider, and with a greater sense of "air" and space, than what the ARC's quite good solid state preamp (LS12) could accomplish.

Strengths:
This amplifier is strong all the way around. It is an eminently musical product that allows performances to shine through.

Weaknesses:
None, unless it is a weakness not to be a tube amplifier costing twice as much or more.

Similar Products Used:
See review summary.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Audio Dimensions, Ro

Summary:
I am sorry. I had a VT100 (II) (Tube type) andt his model at the same time and mixed the reviews up (see below). I had them for two months. Bottom Line is I returned the VT100 and kept the 100.2. Price had nothing to do with my choice.

I Like tubes. I LOVE tubes. I am in anguish over the beauty of a glowing tube...of the sense of sound sliding from them. My preamp is a tube preamp. I WANTED to buy a tube power amp (again).

However, I kept the 100.2 and took the VT100 back to the store. Part of the reasons are listed below. The VT100 was too big. The fan made too much noise for my taste. I loved the bass, but...

the 100.2 sounded better. It was more accurate. It had more midrange bloom(?). On the right recording it would sound like the VT100, but the VT never could get the 100.2 sound.

Strengths:
Size.
Quiet.

Weaknesses:
I wish it had a few tubes, just to make me feel better.

Similar Products Used:
see other review below.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from sound world

Summary:
I'M VERY LIKE THAT PRODUCT

Similar Products Used:
home

Price Paid:  $1700.00 from Used

Summary:
I am using AR 100.2 to drive Thiel 3.6 speakers. They are not easy loads as the impedance drops to below 3 ohms. However, AR 100.2 handled Thiels with easy and provided plenty of slam at the bottom.

This amp was able to control the top-end of the Thiels like no other amp I've auditioned. Thiel's top-end is problamatic to many amps. But not for this amp. Crashing symbols, piano, sitar, were reproduced with a sweet delicate natural decaying pattern without being harsh or edgy. Thiels uses every bit of power available. This unit put 100W at 8 Ohms, 200W at 4 Ohms and yes, 360W per channel at 2 Ohms! As a result, it can handle many difficult speaker loads and it shows.

It is a MUSICAL amp. It do wonders to the mid-range. Best mid range clarity I've heard is from a front loaded Lowther Medalians driven by 300Bs. Since getting AR 100.2, Thiel midrange got as good as if not better than the Lowthers+300Bs. You can bring life to your favorite singers in your own listening room using this amp with a matching speaker.

Bottom-end slam and contorl is nothing short of SUPERB. Yes, a Krell FPB may have something to say in this area, but at much higher cost. This is not one area where Tubes amps can compete with SS. Tabla, drums, double base, piano (lower keys) were reproduced with breath taking accuracy and punch (provided your listening room is in decent shape).

This amp is the dark horse among many other amps I've listened to over the years that include some excellent tube and SS amps. AR is more interested in pushing their tube gear to the customers than SS for very obvious reasons. However, if you're looking for a SS amp with plenty of power, slam & control, but with midrange clarity and warmth of an excellent tube amp, AR 100.2 is that amp. Go listen and decide it for your self.

Strengths:
Dark, Warm and Lush sound of Tubes from a Soild State amp

Weaknesses:
Nothing I can complain

Similar Products Used:
PS AUDIO 200CX, Aragon 4004, Bryston 4BST, CJ M2500

Summary:
Outstanding! Versatile because it does tube sound so marvellously sweet and natural and yet have the dyanmics, control and range close to many solid state amplifiers, and little coloration. Most of my audiophile friends who come to listen, rate it very highly. It has hardly any faults at all. With the ARC LS22, it drives the ProAC 3.5 extremely well. With CEC TL1X, Genesis Lens, Audionote 3.1 DAC, I can get : Transparency (9), dynamics (8.5), control (9), highs (8), mids (9), mid bass (8) low bass (7.5), vocal (9), details (9), Quietness (9), depth (8), focus (9), staging (9), and high scores in almost other important aspects.

Can produce very involving music and what beautiful stage and ambience, and you can listen through the whooole night, without feeling fatigued. Change to KT88 tubes in place of 6550c, and wow, the sonics open up more in 3-D, and you get incredible sweetness and lushness in vocals which I enjoyed so much!

With the LS22, and 100.2, you can tune the front end to deliver more details, sweetness, to the sound that you like most as 1oo.2 is neutral and has wonderful transparency and control.

Had tried many (mainly tube) amps and got disappointed before that I couldn't get enough sweetness and lushness of vocals without sacrificing details and control. After getting very positive feedback and advice from many audiophile friends (very important people, and what a great help) I happily got my hand on a Mark II, and this most beautiful item in my setup, I think, will stay with me for a very long time. Simply love the music it exudes so effortlessly to fill my hall.

Strengths:
Dynamics, transparency, quiet, range, versatile, tube-sound but with close to solid state virtues,

Weaknesses:
Could have a bit more Weight and lushness. May not be able to drive a bigger speaker like B&W 30 signature

Similar Products Used:
Diva, Classe 200, Airtight, Audionote Conquest, Unison, Bryston