ML-2 is a legendary amplifier without peers - really.
Not only can it compete with modern designs (2020), it’ll subjectively and objectively outperform 99% of them.
Sonics far superior to anything of the time (70s) from Threshold, Krell, Phase Linear, Harman, Marantz or anything else. Phenomenal build quality & design.
ML later opted for far more complex, multiple gain-stage, massive feedback circuits and so was the magic of ML-2 gone forever.
I had a dealer-friend and had the chance to frequently listen to the newer ML amps (and other brands for that matter) and compare them to ML-2’s.
Nothing came even close to the sound of the Ml-2’s.
I found (and still do) the sound of the newer ML creations unable to match the sweetness, effortlessness, natural timbre and depth of the ML-2’s, 33 and 33H included.
ML-53’s sounded way too flat and bright for my taste, almost pierecing :-(
Remember: For best sound quality RUN SINGLE ENDED, NOT BALANCED!This is very important.
Problems?
Low power:
For low sensitivity speakers playing in large, deadening rooms, 25W in 8 ohms is not gonna cut it.I know guys who’ve modified it for higher power (60W in 8 ohms), but you’ll need electronics knowledge and tools to do it, so not recommended for John Doe.
Logistics:
Big and heavy. You must put them in your own separate listening room. Or as my wife put it: either they go or you go ;-)
Electricity consumption:Actually not that bad, compared to say Aleph 2’s or some older Krell (prior to Plateau Bias) which were electrical ovens.
I’ve heard a cpl of Chinese clones... they’re not even close, so don’t throw away your money. In one word: If you find one = get it !!
