A few more observations after another week of further experimentation with tuning and tweaking the M1200 amps.
I’d forgotten that I had a nice pair of Luminous Audio Synchestra Signature speaker cables buried in my closet full of cables. They had sounded dull and lifeless with the BHK but with the M1200 amps it’s a completely different story. Even more sense of ambience and air without any attendant harshness than the Furutech cables. Remarkably different results from my experience with the BHK250.
I also have found the the M1200 amps seem susceptible to the effects of RFI/EMI. Unfortunately, our home’s internet connection enters the home in the same room shared with the main listening system and the router is too close to the audio rack. I used a couple sheets of Stillpoints ERS cloth to shield the box holding all the power supplies and router and that definitely affected the sound the M1200s for the better. Smoother, more organic instrumental timbre, better orchestral string tone. The one remaining area where I’d felt the BHK250 was notably better than the M1200 amps was the different ways they rendered the string tones and oboes of period instrument orchestras that were closely miked or in a lively acoustic venue. Attending to EMI/RFI shielding definitely helped narrow that gap greatly. I think I’ll continue exploring this avenue of tuning further with Mad Scientist’s Cupcakes & Black Discus ( or something similar.)
Lastly, further experimentation with footers has continued. I tried a combination of two Boston Audio graphite footers in back and one Stillpoints SS in front and that was better than three Stillpoints. However, when I installed a new set of IsoAcoustics Orea footers, that was better still. They have no tendency to highlight the treble at all, a very even handed enhancement of resolution across the frequency range. No downside at all to these that I’ve heard.
Very different amplifiers in that the 25 watt Decware has to be carefully matched with the right speaker. The BHK will work with most anything I’d imagine. The ability to mix n match driver, power, and rectifiers in the Decware means one has a plethora of choices in tuning the final sound of the amp as well. I had the Decware for years before I hit on the right choice of partnering equipment but when I did, it is absolutely wonderful. I’d used a BHK preamp, Dehavilland Ultraverve, and Aloia preamps with the Decware but it wasn’t until I partnered it with a ModWright LS36.5 that magic happened. My second system now is the Decware (with Gold Lion KT77s,) Modwright LS 36.5 pre, Arcam FMJ CD37 SACD, KEF R500 speakers (they work extremely well with the Decware amp in a fairly large listening area,) a JL Audio Fathom F112 sub, and a PS Audio Stellar P3 regenerator. The Decware isn’t an “old school” syrupy tube amp but it has an abundance of harmonic virtues that one associates with good tube amplification. I can’t use the Decware with my Tidal Piano Cera speakers in the main system (not enough power) so I can’t really give a valid A/B comparison. The listening room is responsible for half the sound of one’s system and the my two rooms are quite different so there’s that difficulty as well in making a comparison.
I’ve been tempted to order those Zen Monos for some time. They will play well with a larger variety of speakers than the Torii. However, Decware’s 2+ year waiting list is a discouraging factor for sure.
Speculating here (based on some general experience), but I think the best you could do with such a comparison is to get a sense of the basic “character” of each amplifier and learn if they are similar or not.
I think the current and wpc on offer are sufficiently different to make this a proverbial apples to oranges situation.
i have auditioned the M1200’s myself. Your documentation of your experience is spot on with what i experienced. I had a pair of Krell monoblocks. I preferred them because of their more relaxed musical presentation. I did regret sending the 1200’s back. They had a different sound that was appealing to me for some different music genres.
I had a once in a lifetime opportunity deal on a Levinson No. 534 amp. I ended up returning the Levinson and kept the M1200’s. Classical & jazz simply sounded more alive with the M1200’s
A really good review!
I personally would avoid having to tune a component too much with certain cabling and tubes as then one usual doesn’t select the best cabling but just the best for this status of themsetup, which usually means compromises in other regards if one wants to further improve in cabling later on.
I have to say that my opinion of the M1200 amps continues to grow. It’s been almost two years since I have written much about the M1200s. In the interim, I’ve added a Luxman M700u/C700u amp/preamp to the mix and have been enjoying them immensely. Over the last couple of months I’ve started mixing up component combos and have been listening to the C700u preamp paired with the PS Audio M1200 amps and then pairing the M700u amp with my PS Audio BHK preamp. I’ve been rather amazed at how each mixed combo outperforms the pairings of like manufacturers. The Luxman pre/amp sounds great but it is a bit clinical and dry with my Tidal Piano Cera speakers. The BHK pre adds a wonderful bit of bloom and texture and at the same time has noticeably more detail and nuance paired with the Luxman amp vs. the M1200s. The PS Audio M1200 amps sound amazing with the Luxman c700u preamp. Again, there’s much more detail and nuance apparent without sounding the least bit edgy or harsh. I should also mention that I went from using XLR Luminous Audio Synchestra interconnects to XLR Shunyata Python Zitrons although my basic impressions of the superiority of the mixed brand combos was formed before making that change. This has been one instance where the supposed advantages of sticking with the same manufacturer’s components has not been the case.
You’re not alone pairing this type of combination. I have a Mark Levinson No 523 preamp feeding a pair of M1200’s, and this combo is just wonderful with the FR20’s
I used to have a BHK250 and on some pieces of music with high dynamic range, playing loud, it would shut down driving my Magnepan 1.7i’s. I even sent it back to PSAUDIO to get it checked and they couldnt find anything wrong with it. I replaced it with M1200’s and I am so happy I did. Besides keeping my room cooler, they make my Maggies SING!!!
Three years since first posting this and I still rotate these amps into service intermittently and find them very satisfying. Of late, I’ve been using them paired with a DeHavilland UltraValve III and find that to be an extremely musical and entertaining pairing. Every little upgrade or modification to the system is easily heard. The M1200s alternate with a Luxman M700u and ModWright KWA99 mono amps in our main system. They partner equally well with a Luxman c700u or ModWright LS36.5 preamps.
