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In Reply to: RE: ARC VT100 MKII vs. VT130 SE posted by TubeAmpQuestion on December 08, 2010 at 12:07:50
with MF KW SACD and ARC Ref pre driving the Watt Puppy 5.1 speakers. Definitely the VT130 SE was more robust and visceral than the VT100. In terms of highs and midrange frequency responses they're about even, however, the VT130 SE was much better in plumbing the depths of the Wilson's speaker than VT100 ever could.Sadly enough, he upgraded his WP5 to MAXX2 speakers and the VT130 SE just didn't have enough oomph to drive them properly so he bought the Krell 250M CX model power amp.
BTW, He kept the VT130SE of which he uses it to drive his B&W 30 Signature Speakers.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Edits: 12/09/10 12/09/10Follow Ups:
It is interesting that you found the VT130 SE to have better low end performance than the VT100 MKII as I've read that the VT130 SE is not so great in this area. Wes Philips actually referred to the bass response as "anemic" in his 11/1996 Stereophile review of the VT130 SE. Perhaps his version did not have the Infinicap upgrade - judging by the date of the review this may well be the case.
Do you know if you were listening to a VT100 MKI or a VT100 MKII? If it was a VT 100 MKI it would have had 1/2 the energy storage capacity of a MKII and it may not have had the Infinicap upgrade (almost certainly not if it was a stock MKI).
So, if your listening experience was a pre Infinicap MKI vs. an Infinicaped 130 it might explain why your perception and that of Mr. Philips are so different.
I would be very interested to hear your opinion of the soundstaging capabilities of the two. Was one markedly better/differnt than the other?
Thanks again for your response - it jives with my gut feeling re the two amps and directly addressed my inquiry. And, if your personal choice of amplifier is any indication, you are in a very good position to judge how visceral these amps are. The D-250 is a thing of beauty.
before trading it to the VT130 SE. I do know that he did upgrade the VT130 SE with Infinicap after.As I said, they were both even in reproducing the highs and the midrange frequency responses. But the VT130 SE was much better in resolving the bottom end. In terms of imaging and soundstaging, again the VT130 SE was much better in this regard while driving the WP5.1 speakers. As it did a excellent job in helping the Wilson speakers made the walls, floor and ceiling disappear, while listening to Patricia Barber Cafe' Blue cd in his listening room.
Compared to my D-250, the VT130 SE sounded a little anemic and cooler, rather than visceral and organic however, the top octave frequency response of the VT130 SE was much better as the D-250 tends to roll the highs off a tad earlier.
BTW, I could lived happily with either one of them.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Edits: 12/09/10
The VT100mkII had a larger capacity power supply which improved the soncis a bit over the VT100, and the VT100mII added a quiet muffin fan on the bottom panel inside the amp for improved cooling. The VT100 didn't have the fan.
If you visit the ARCDB (unofficial Audio Research Database), the picture of the VT100 they used, is actually my VT100mkII that I had in my living room audio setup years ago.
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