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Similarities and Differences-VAC 200IQ versus Music Reference RM-200

I've been reading years of forums but never saw a comparison between VAC 200IQ (or predecessor 200Phi with no continuous bias) and the Music Reference RM-200.  Both are 100 watt, Class A/B amps using KT88 pairs, have multiple low impedance taps and highest quality transformers.   The RM uses solid state input versus VAC's 6SN7s.  It is well known that the RM tubes last 5 times longer than typical KT88s (10,000 hours) versus ARC amps (2,000 hours-I know, my former and my friends amps).  I don't know how many hours a VAC output tube typically lasts.

Does anyone understand the design differences?   Are they more similar or different.  How significant are their differences?  (disregarding the continuous bias feature of the IQ model).

Has anyone compared these two amps?  
fleschler

Showing 1 response by pdreher

pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,191 posts
 
I owned the VAC Phi 200 (not IQ).  Bass was exceptional, but I moved on as it lacked finesse, transparency, decay and air.  Excellent build quality, but I expected better sound quality from a VAC amp.  It did seem to be harder on tubes than other tube amps I've owned.  I preferred the VAC supplied Penta's, but they are the ones that failed.  Switched to Gold Lion and they held up well, but were a step down from the Penta's from a sound quality perspective.  I like Gold Lion KT88's in other tube amps, but for whatever reason, I did not care for them in the Phi 200.

While I've not owned the RM200 and I do have a Music Reference RM9 MK2.  It's the second best sounding tube amp I've owned, second only to a 5 times more expensive VAC Renaissance 70/70 Signature with KR 300B's and vintage VT231 driver/splitter tubes.  The jRM9 MK2 is a mid to late 1990's vintage amp I had refreshed by Roger Mojeski several years before his premature passing.  It's a great amp and can run on a variety of power tubes (EL34, KT88, 6550, KT90...).   I would not hesitate to own the RM200 based upon my excellent experience with the RM9 MK2. 

Other amps to consider... McIntosh MC275MKV, Quicksilver V4 mono's and Manley Snappers.
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