audio research vt 200 mk II vs the vt 200


HI, I AM NEW TO AUDIOGON, SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME.I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED ARC REF 2 MKII. PREAMP. I AUDITIONED IT WITH A SET OF ARC REF 210'S. THE SOUND WAS FANTASTIC. WHEN I GOT HOME I INSERTED THE REF 2 MK II INTO IT,S NEW HOME ON MY AUDIO RACK. I TURNED THE SYSTEM ON TO HEAT UP BEFORE SETTLING INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MUSICAL BLISS ,BUT THE MAGIC WAS GONE. MY PRESENT AMP IS SOLID STATE .THE MARK LEVENSON 332.IT SOUNDS OK, BUT A SMALLER SOUND STAGE. ANY WAY, MY QUESTIONS ARE (1), WHICH AMP IS THE MOST RELIABLE, THE VT 200, OR THE VT 200 MK II. AND (2)HOW DOES THE REF 2 MK II, SOUND PAIRED WITH THESE AMPS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECAPTURE THAT SOUND I HEARD WHEN I AUDITIONED THE REF 2MK II . THE NEW ARC REF AMPS ARE NOT AN OPTION, DUE TO PRICE. PLEASE HELP !!
jion

Showing 1 response by arcl60

Hi jion,
I'm still have a VT200 which is a great amp, i used it with an LS25MKII preamp and the match was fine (a lot of power, very dynamic, a lot of details, and a nice medium, the 25MKII provides a very open sound as well). The VT200 is a very reliable product, no issue since i had mine, i'm using KT88 and not the 6550c tubes. For the VT200 you need to be aware that the fan is little bit noisy. There is 3 positions for the fan speed, and mine is set on medium, so maybe the low position will be enough. When a said noisy, i just wanted to say the fan, the VT200 is absolutely noise free on the speakers. I listen a Ref2MKII, not at home but i guess it will be a great match. I upgrade my VT200 with VT150SE and i can tell you there are not on the same league, the VT150SE sound fantastic, the main difference is the VT150SE are sounding more liquid with a lot of air all around the instruments, the sound looks very easy, very natural. I recently upgrade my LS25MKII with Ref3 and the same result is observed between VT150SE and VT200.
However, i can tell you that the VT200 is an excellent product and for sure a good choice. Sorry i cannot comment on the VT200MKII , i've never listen to it. MKII uses 6H30 in driver vs 6922 for the VT200, i don't know if it makes a big difference or not.
Laurent