Need recommendations to replace ARC VT100 MkII

What is your range? I've seen the Ayre AX7e for around 1700 shipped (used). That's an integrated and the sound has beaten any integrated I've head it up against in stores etc...

Honestly, I was thinking the same as you about a year ago. I sold my Quicksilver preamp and have my Silver Mono's for sale along with everything else I owned. I bought new Vandy's and ended up with Ayre integrated. It gives me the best of SS and Tubes. I love how it sounds as do others. I've had it at a couple of distributors and even they liked how it sounded. One was so blown away that he even let it slip that it sounded better than the amps he sells for a LOT more (tube gear). I looked hard and if the others sounded better, I would have strongly considered it. I've heard these integrates in a few different systems and they just sound right. I wouldn't leave off the Ayre integrates (balanced mode) if you are serious about sound and ease of use. JMHO

Rogue can be a great choice for tubes as can the Quicksilver gear. I personally just switched after hearing the Ayre gear. It just gave me the best of all worlds as I don't want to roll tubes and I'm sick of taking care of them (that's just me). Personally, I felt the AX7e sounded better than most of the used Ayre stuff, plus it's smaller and needs one less cable. I too loved the sound of the AR integrated. The 100 I believe it was, but why get rid of your VT 100 just to go back to the same type of thing? Are you able to get to any stores to listen to see what they have to offer you? You may find a store that has great used gear too as most do and there you can figure out what sounds best with your gear. Just a thought.

Z, I was throwing out Rogue as some like their name/look. For the price they are nice. I agree that they aren't as neutral as the VT100's. Heck, I went with Quick gear (the Silver Mono's that I"m selling off now) over AR years ago. I was more musical than the amp that was closest to them in cost. I got accommodation price back then too so the cost differential wasn't huge. The dealer thought I was nuts until he came to my house and brought the AR amps and we A/B'd them both. Quick just sounded best with Proac Supertowers (selling these as I have new Vandy Treos). Most speakers have tipped up high ends in these price ranges and the Quicks are just musical and right. The AR gear can often be very very neutral and that's why folks love it, but they don't sound 'tube like' at all and most folks need that and don't realize it. Those V4's took things to a different level for Mike Saunders.

Get their ref pre....lol.... I would agree that you MUST have a great pre or NO pre ;).....It's funny as I am selling off a bunch of systems that my brother, parents and I have had over the last many years and I have been hooking things up and listening to them to make sure they work. One of my least expensive set ups years ago was the Mod Squad passive pre with the B&K ST 140 amp. Honestly, it helps open that dark amp up and makes it listenable even by today's standards. It's that Mod Squad pre that is pretty awesome and will be a pre that is dirt cheap right now and a great start if pared with an amp that can handle it. Like you said, Ayre does the same with the 7. I LOVE the 5 also. That said, I heard the Ref ARC pre with Ayre TOL mono blocks with AQ Wild balanced cable with Vandersteen 7's and the Musical Surroundings TT/arm and I don't know the cart.....It was the best sound I've ever heard. That ARC pre was just surreal. I've heard the same set p with the ARC ref amps too and it was glorious, but I couldn't AB it or anything. I really have liked the ARC stuff, but to me it's not 'tube like' at all. If you need something to the warm side of neutral, then go to Quicksilver.

What about Audible Illusions? I have really loved them for the cost. You and I agree on the ARC preamps. I had one many years ago and got rid of it pretty quickly and ran a CJ. When I got my Quicksilver full function pre, THAT'S when I realized HOW important a great pre amp was. I would spend more on a pre than the amp when setting things up. Honestly I would get rid of the ARC amp and buy the Ayre AX7e like I just did. I lucked into mine through a friend, but it was the integrated I was going to get. It cuts out one component and a set of interconnects. It's balanced which is worth switching over to. It's just an inky black background and subtly sounds proper. Piano sounds like a piano and it has the speed and quickness to make the Vandy mid sing. The Treo's mid is the same as the 5 and is as quick a mid as you can find. You must have the electronics that can match it's speed or you lose the true musicality of it. I've heard it with a few different brands and the Ayre 7 and 5 integrates just make them sound right. I took my Ayre to hear speakers at a dealers showroom and it made all their CJ top of the line gear and their Esoteric amps not sound as good. That made me smile.