This seems like as good a time as any to throw in my quick impressions of the D-100s, which I purchased some time ago now. I'm using the amps in a less-than-high-end set up, using a Marantz SR9300 receiver as a preamp and a modified (Audiocom Superclock II, Bybee Silver Slipstream Quantum Purifier) Marantz SA8400/Bel Canto DACII combo as the cd source, as well as a Marantz DV8400 dvd player in a combined hi-fi/home theatre setup. I have Elac 207.2 floorstanders up front.
My experience wasn't entirely trouble free, with my initial impressions marred by a loud thumping noise whenever I changed inputs on the receiver, changed chapters on a dvd, or changed tv channels. Armed with advice from Dusty at CIAudio (who was extremely helpful) a local audio technician (here in Australia) fixed the problem for about $50 (I'm not very technically minded and forget the details!). To be fair, I would guess the problem was caused by a design flaw in the Marantz, or a simple incompatability, rather than a problem with the D-100s themselves.
With that fixed, my system just sings. I can't believe how much better these amps are than those in the Marantz receiver (and compared as well to the amps in an Arcam AVR300, bi-amped, which I also auditioned in my system). It may not be that surprising to many of you, and I was certainly expecting an improvement, but the extent of the improvement over the Marantz is overwhelming. I actually thought the Marantz sounded reasonable, but I now just can't listen to its internal amps.
The D-100s are just so smooth and liquid. Before buying them (being in Australia, I purchased without audition) I was a little concerned that they may sound a bit bright. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are very neutral and as I say very smooth. In my setup, in my room, I really can't fault them. I have heard the suggestion, from people really looking hard for a comment to make, that the D-100s don't go as low as some other, more expensive, amps. That may be true, but the bass in my system is now much tighter and controlled than before and goes plenty deep enough for me (to the extent that I feel no need for a subwoofer for movie watching).
I am very happy with the amps and, for the money, can give just about anyone a taste of the high end. Highly recommended.
My experience wasn't entirely trouble free, with my initial impressions marred by a loud thumping noise whenever I changed inputs on the receiver, changed chapters on a dvd, or changed tv channels. Armed with advice from Dusty at CIAudio (who was extremely helpful) a local audio technician (here in Australia) fixed the problem for about $50 (I'm not very technically minded and forget the details!). To be fair, I would guess the problem was caused by a design flaw in the Marantz, or a simple incompatability, rather than a problem with the D-100s themselves.
With that fixed, my system just sings. I can't believe how much better these amps are than those in the Marantz receiver (and compared as well to the amps in an Arcam AVR300, bi-amped, which I also auditioned in my system). It may not be that surprising to many of you, and I was certainly expecting an improvement, but the extent of the improvement over the Marantz is overwhelming. I actually thought the Marantz sounded reasonable, but I now just can't listen to its internal amps.
The D-100s are just so smooth and liquid. Before buying them (being in Australia, I purchased without audition) I was a little concerned that they may sound a bit bright. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are very neutral and as I say very smooth. In my setup, in my room, I really can't fault them. I have heard the suggestion, from people really looking hard for a comment to make, that the D-100s don't go as low as some other, more expensive, amps. That may be true, but the bass in my system is now much tighter and controlled than before and goes plenty deep enough for me (to the extent that I feel no need for a subwoofer for movie watching).
I am very happy with the amps and, for the money, can give just about anyone a taste of the high end. Highly recommended.