I heard the 100.2 at the dealer's and was very impressed with the sound it produced. I can bet no one can ever find a solid-state amp as musical as this one. This SS puts even some tube designs to shame.
However, I discovered that pairing the 100.2 with the LS9 does NOT bring the best out of the beauty. The immense sense of musiciality and power was injected into the music only after the dealer switched the preamp to the ARC LS25.

Of course, I bought the 100.2 and to make full use of my current system, I utilised the Meridian 500 transport. I added a Meridian 518 digital processor/preamp and bought a used ARC DAC3MK2 from the 2nd hand market. The DAC3MK2 drove the 100.2 direct through the balanced outputs. This way, I managed to get 95% of the sound quality I heard at the dealer's for 3/4 of the price of the LS25 and 100.2 combo.I have never heard better sound from my Guarneris !!!

A must listen for ALL audiophiles - solid state and tube fans alike.

Saludos: Este será probablemente el primer review en idioma español. Mi equipo:
Pre-Amp: Krell KRC-3
Transporte: Sonic Frontier
DAC: Audio Research DACCables: JPS interconectores y parlantes (Balanceados y Bi-cableados).
Accesorios: MPingos + OCJ (Original Cable Jacket. Ademas de sistema de tierras,
Cable Digital: Referenc de Transperent.

Nueva adquisicion: Amplificador AUDIO RESEARCH 100.2 Tiempo de Comprado: 36 hrs.
Primeras impreciones: Luego de haber probado: Levinson 331 y 332, ademas de Krel
FPB 200, Sonic Frontier Line 2, Aronov 9600, Krell Kva 250, Mesa y el biejo
Levinson 23.5, he tomado la determinacion de adquirir el 100.2.

Razones: No es tan pretencioso y arrogante como Levinson, es mas dinamico que le krell, es mas detallado y preciso que los tubos analisados. Sin llegar a ser
perfecto y probablemente teniendo defectos que otros no tienen, su conjunto me
produce mayor satisfaccion. Es un amplificador de sumo detalle, con excelentes voces, dulce bajos deviles pero definidos, medios y voces excelentes, profundidad devil (puede mejorar con el tiempo), luego de 2 hrs de funciona-
miento inicia a dar su verdadera entrega. Lo que otros critican yo lovaloro: es
un amplificador de estado solido con algunas caracteristica musicales del tubo,
pero que todabia no es lo perfecto que me gustaria. Finalmente, es la única
alternativa para aquel que gusta de este tipo de sonido, por ejemplo, los
poseedores de amplificadores Audio Research de Estado Solido (D130, etc.).

Esperaremos a la siguiente generacion de este tipo de productos a ver si logran
alcanzar el nibel y rendimiento de Krell y levinson pero con los buenos atributos de gran musicalidad y dulcura en la musica.

This is a remarkable amplifier. The sound is warm and very liquid while retaining a very high degree of detail and definition. The sound is very transparent, but far from sterile. You can listen to it forever without fatigue. And you will want to listen to it forever because it produces simply beautiful sound.
Before purchasing the Audio Research 100.2, I auditioned the following:
- McIntosh MC-300 (yuck! very grainy and harsh);
- Adcom 5802 (somehow manages to make planar and electrostatic speakers
sound boxy)
- Bryston 3B and 4B (both clean, clear and pleasant to listen to, but
unremarkable soundstaging and depth);
- Classe CA-100 (another relatively clean piece, but a bit cold, and
lacking in depth and presence);
- Cary monoblocks (warm, classic tube sound, but lacking in bass extension
or definition);
- Levinson 331 (very nice amplifier, almost like a stepford wife, perhaps
too perfect, and lacking in distinguishing personality, also pretty
spendy).

At $3500, the 100.2 certainly is not the cheapest amp on the shelf. But, it would be easy to shell out a lot more cash and get less musicality.

When I finally connected the 100.2 to my system, it was as if the clouds parted and the sun began to shine through. The lush listening experience I had been searching for finally took shape in my family room. Spectacular fullness, bloom, warmth and liquidity flowed forth. And the clincher for me was the depth and three-dimensionality of the front-to-rear image. It surpassed every other amplifier I listened to, including the Levinson 331.

Although I did not have the money to buy the amp at the time I auditioned it, I lost interest in auditioning anything else. I knew that the 100.2 was the place to be, and I would just need to sit tight and save up some money. However, just reassure myself, I auditioned a Levinson 331 (even though it was really out of my budget). I wanted to see just how good the 100.2 was. I thought I should see how my virtually certain selection stacked up against one of the most highly regarded pieces of electronics in $5000 and under price range. The Levinson was impressive, but. . . . Frankly, the it lacked the warmth, fluidity and musicality of the Audio Research 100.2. The 100.2 simply made me want to sit down and listen to music moreso than any other amplifier I have heard before or since -- in any price range.

After purchasing the 100.2, I had the chance to hear it side-by-side with the legendary VT-100. Everything the VT-100 is famous for, I though the 100.2 did just a little bit better. A little tighter, a little better definition, a little more impact.

I have been told that many of the big-wigs at Audio Research now have replaced their other Audio Research products with the 100.2. Word on the street is that some of them think the 100.2 makes their earlier solid state amps sound "broken." I believe it, and I can see why they feel that way. This is an amazing piece of electronics. It is destined to become a classic.

The only issue I have been able to come up with that even begins to qualify as a criticism, is that you have to be careful about simultaneously hooking it up to a notably warm interconnect (i.e., Cardas Gold Cross) and a tube preamp at the same time. The sound can almost get a bit soft and start to lose a tiny bit of definition. I have found the 100.2 to match up most effectively with good solid state preamplifiers (i.e., the ARC LS-9).

There are some very good amps in the under $5,000 price range. The Audio Research 100.2 ranks among the best of them. Whatever its liabilities may be, it makes up for in sheer musicality.

One more noteworthy thing that I forgot to mention in my review of the 100.2. This amplifier has unusually good bass extension and definition. Magnepans will still need a subwoofer to really kick you in the gut, but the 100.2 seemed to add an extra half octave in listenable bass output to my Maggies. None of the other amplifiers I listened to (with the possible exception of the Levinson 331) filled the bottom end as well as the 100.2.

Audio Research 100.2
I have owned both the Audio Reasearch 100.2 amp with LS9 and the VT100 with LS15.
while both are great products the 100.2 and LS9 combo do not compare with the VT100 and LS15. 4 stars for the 100.2 and Ls9. 5 stars for the VT100 and LS15

This is my fourth AR power amp. Th 100.2 is by far the best! Beats Krell 600. No need for a subwoofer for my Magnepans.

Clean, Smooth, warm

NOPE.

Comparing ML334 with ARC100.2, I like ARC100.2. This amp give you very smooth sound. You can listen to your music all day long without fatigue. But ML334, it is too excellent. It is good for listening just a couple hours, not an all day.
Under $5k, this ampere is the best. You can't go wrong with ARC 100.2 ($3500). It is worth for your investment.
Sorry, I can't stop loving this amp.

Similar Products Used:

Mark Levison 334
Bryston 4B

Bottomless, seamless, smooth, warm

None

The smoothest solid-state amp ever, unbelievable with my MG-20's and ARC-DAC-3

Similar Products Used:

ARC Classic-60, Krell, Classe, McCormick

Just recently completed an upgrade of my entire system, starting with B&W 802 Matrix III, Rega Planet CD, and finally settled on the ARC 100.2 and LS 15 pre amp. I compared with Bryston (4b), Classe (200) & Krell (250a, & 500i) and found the ARC to be in a class by itself. The sound is smooth, open, detailed and I can listen to it all day with no fatigue. The match with the LS 15 is great. You'll have too look elsewhere if your into megapower, but for sheer musicality I don't think you can do better for the money. Don't believe those who tell you ARC can't do solid state. Highly recommended.

Beautiful delicate midrange of tubes combined with the speed and bass authority of solid state.

None (that I have found)

This is a music lovers amp. Music sounds very natural through this amp, with no listener fatigue. It sounds much more powerful than it's 100WPC power rating. I recently replaced a Bryston 4B amp with this one. The Bryston is a 250 WPC amp, while the AR100.2 is only 100WPC. Not to worry, this amp feels every bit as powerful as the Bryston and sounds much more dynamic. The 100.2 is a real sleeper in that it combines all that listeners love about tube amps with the strengths of the best solid state. I don't know how they did it, but Audio Research designers have managed to duplicate that beautiful AR tube sound in a solid state amp. The amp does run hotter than many solid state amps do, but not near as hot as its's tube counterparts. I had the opportunity to listen to a Audio Research VT100Mk2 amp, and I liked the sound of the 100.2 better. If you want the midrange beauty of the best tube amps along with the speed and bass power of solid state amps, then you owe it to yourself to audition this wonderful amp. You won't be sorry that you did.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 4B, Audio Research VT100Mk2