Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Research, Inc. M300 MK II Amplifier (Tube) by bratscheboy

Model:	M300 MK II
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$10,995 plus upgrade (?$)
Description:	Tube hybrid mono blocks; 280 wpc
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Research, Inc.
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Research, Inc.

Review by bratscheboy ( P ) on April 26, 2007 at 23:17:43
IP Address: 65.89.233.50

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for the M300 MK II

I am by no stretch of the imagination as well informed as many of the contributors to these cyber-pages. I have, however, been interested in, and active with a stereo-audio hobby-obsession for many years. I subscribe to one of the prominent audio rags, have been to various CES shows in New York and San Fran, and have been in the professional classical music field for more years than seems sane.
I have been a solid state amp user for a number of years, and happily so, mostly because of my speakers, a mint pair of Infinity RS 2.5's, which I have lovingly cared for , and recently refoamed (woofers). They are notoriously inefficient, and need more juice than a cub scout at summer camp to make them sing. My latest greatest pairing involved bi-amping with PS Audio, and I really thought I was set. My buddy Roger Ingleby, President/CEO of Ovation Audio Interiors here in Salt Lake City, has kept his youthful enthusiasm for straight two-channel audio, and still gets excited about tinkering and tweaking on a spare afternoon. He it was who mentioned these amps to me, a trade-in fresh back from a factory physical and cleaning. He came over to my place and together we installed the amps, paired with an ARC LS 22 for preamplification.
The thing I noticed first of was a glorious sense of space and effortlessness to the presentation. The M300's took the Infinitys and drove them in a way I have never heard before. The tube palette of colors was there, but also a sense of almost limitless power and dynamic range. The recent re-release of the BSO recording of Saint-Saens Organ symphony with Charles Munch on SACD was deep and tuneful, while at the same time delicate and airy in the strings during the second movement. Allison Kraus's "Ghost in This House" was scary in its immediacy.
Out of space; buy a pair if you get the chance!

Product Weakness: Each mono-block is a two man endeavor to move any further than a few feet.
Product Strengths: Unmistakable authority, as well as musicality by the boatload. A sure bet for driving difficult loads. The old "iron fist in a velvet glove" analogy could not be more apt.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	ARC M300 MK II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	ARC LS 22
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony SCD 777ES
Speakers:	Infinity RS 2.5
Cables/Interconnects:	Ridge Street Alethius bi-wire, Transparent Ultra ic's
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Soundtrack, Bluegrass, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 18 x 9
Time Period/Length of Audition:	one month
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Each mono-block is a two man endeavor to move any further than a few feet.
Product Strengths:	Unmistakable authority, as well as musicality by the boatload. A sure bet for driving difficult loads. The old "iron fist in a velvet glove" analogy could not be more apt.