Audio Research and Martin Logan Montis

That should work fine. I had my VT-100 on my SL-3's and had no problems. The model you have is easier to drive. Actually, I saw a couple of VT-100 listed here in good shape, at reasonable prices. You would probably be happy with the combo.

"03-02-15: Georgelofi

I would be wary of any tube amp with these speakers to make them perform at their absolute best.
As at 4khz they give a nasty 3ohms and -55 degree phase angle. Which would be more like a 1-2ohm load as seen by the amp."

Shouldn't be a problem regardless of what the specs are. I drove my SL-3's with my VAC amp that puts out 32watts/channel.

Also, if you'll remember back when these speakers were current, Stereophile put together a recommended system with the ML Aerius powered by an ARC VT-50. The Aerius was a little easier to drive than the SL-3, but still, they weren't too far off. And the VT-50 had half the power of the 100.

"03-05-15: Georgelofi

Bfin3
It may sound very good with your 80w tube.
But with this statement for the measured Stereophile tests, it maybe not at it's "best" with tubes."

I haven't read Stereophile in years, but one thing I remember is that you have to watch them with their measurements because the person doing them is usually not the person reviewing them. And when that happens, they don't have listening tests to verify there will be a spec related issue in actual use.

Going by actual experience with ML, and looking at the specs ML lists, I don't see cause for concern. Unlike the SL-3's and some of the other models mentioned, this pair of ML's has a powered woofer. An advantage none of the others had. The amp just has to drive the panel. ML list's the speakers at 91db and recommend a minimum of 20 watts. I've never been one to trust amp specs, but speakers are another matter. They don't want someone to buy they're speakers and have bad results due to low power, so most manufacturers seem to recommend what's really needed to drive the speakers. But also, looking at a recommendation of an amp that puts out 200 watts into 4 ohms, who's watts are we talking about? All the companies measure them differently.

What difference does it make if the system sounds OK?

What about a different speaker like the Prodigy? Would you say the same about that one?

"03-06-15: Georgelofi

03-06-15: Zd542
What difference does it make if the system sounds OK?

What about a different speaker like the Prodigy? Would you say the same about that one?

Well your not listening to a flat frequency response, it like having a fix tone control embedded, + - 4db from 20hz to 20khz"

In order to have a situation like that, some pretty big assumptions have to be made. All the other components in the system, including the room will have to be neutral and deliver a frequency response that is flat, in order for that one issue listed above to manifest itself as a specific problem. By the time you're done picking matching components and setting them up in any given room, another component could balance the imperfection in the FR out, or even make it worse. None of this happens in a vacuum. Its a challenge getting all the components in a system, set up and working well, given they're flaws as well. Not to mention, planer speakers, in general, don't measure well to begin with. They never have and its something you really have to accept when you buy them.

The reason I asked about the Prodigy was was that, when it first came out, I was invited by my dealer to attend the new product seminar that ML gives when a major product is released. I'm not sure if they do this for all dealers, but the one I used to go to was very big and did a lot of volume. At the seminar, they selected some components in the store to do the setup, and the ML rep. (Gayle Sanders), picked an ARC VT-100 to power them with. He could have chosen anything. The store had no shortage of big, powerful solid state amps. And the Prodigy looks to be a much more difficult load than the Montis that we're talking about here. So, if an amp like that is OK for the guy who designed the speakers, I'm OK with just leaving it at that. But that's my own personal decision, and I won't try force it on anyone else. To be fair, I've heard ML sound great with Krell, Threshold/Pass, Counterpoint, McCormack and ARC solid state amps. There's no shortage of good choices regardless of personal preference.