I haven’t seen much about a direct comparison between these two amps. Most of what I’ve seen compares these to the BHK250. Anyone have direct experience with the M700 and M1200? What differences can I expect from the tube integration in the M1200?
I don’t really care about more power as I use very efficient speakers (normally Klipschorns and Tekton monsters).
I had both sets of amps at the same time. I couldn’t justify the additional cost of the M1200 and I don’t want to get into tubes again.
They do sound different and the M1200 is a bit “better”. I am very happy with the M700’s!
Thanks kline42. Mind me asking why you don’t want to get into tubes again? Too much maintenance?
Tubes are absolutely no bother. If you are using the 6DJ8, 7DJ8 and their equivalents in any PSAudio product they are good for a long time. I pulled 4 Phillips Miniwatt’s from my 300’s and tested them after 3000 hours and they still tested almost as new. I have a pair of 70’s Telefunken tubes in my BHK pre and they’re still going strong after 4000 hours. I don’t understand the concern? Tubes certainly go a long way to making these amps special.
I’ve owned both the M700 and now the M1200’s. For me the 1200 sounds better in my system over the M700’s without a doubt. The tubes are a big part of the magic with the M1200’s IMO. The tube input stage gives the M1200 more sonic character, voices are cleaner and the overall sound is better! The M1200 does a better job of extracting details with improved clarity then the M700. But if I owned Klipschorns I would probably opt for a preowned BHK 250 over the M1200/M700.
I also have owned M700s and now own M1200s. The M700s are fine amps and I would have been perfectly content if I’d never listened to the M1200s. To me, in my system, they sound better in every way and probably most importantly, enough so, to me, to justify the price tag. Things just sound more like live music. The imaging, the sound stage, the detail, the bass, everything.
Well said David. The M700’s are great the M1200’s are better!
Hello all,
I own the 700s and love them. I also use a Rogue RP1 preamp. The tubes really add a larger and airier sound stage! The combo of PS audio and Rouge is a great mix. If I was starting over I definitely would have gone for the 1200s.
Regards,
Jeff
A 700 loyalist here. They’re my first class D amps (not counting B&O Beo-Lit and Naim Mu-so 
) . Prior, my rack had AB and pure A power amps. Each had their own flavour!
The M700s are driven by a BHK Preamp, and the tubes are doing their magic at every level especially with analogue playback. The M1200, though not on my upgrade list, is technically different technically from M700 & S300. Key differences that matter to me are lower distortion, and improved damping factor. So, bass is cleaner, and highs are more natural. ICE Edge + tube input stage = major step up from M700.
Not sure if my expeience is unique or just my imagination but after upgrading from the S300 to the M700 and listening for a while, I find the highs seem a bit more bright than the S300. The soundstage is much broader, the mid and bass is much better but has anyone else seen that difference on the highs?
And related, would the M1200 have a big difference on the high end?
How long have you had the M700s? If I recall mine were bright out of the box and took a long time to burn in. Search for other topics in the M700s and M1200s but I think PSA recommends a couple hundred hours before critical listening. When I got mine, I left them on 24/7 with the radio playing for a week before I really started evaluating them.
I did not notice the M700’s to be bright when I had them. What preamp/speakers do you have connected to the M700?
I did upgrade to the M1200’s because I NEEDED the tube input stage. There are other threads with good descriptions on the sonic differences between the M700 & M1200, but there is a difference in midrange and high end with the M1200 (smoother and sweeter).
I did not own M700 amps, and my previous amps were a set of Vicent hybrid mono-block that was highly regarded in TAS reviews. To me the M1200 sounded a lot better than Vicent. The high is exceptionally smooth in my system in fact.
I am currently using a Marantz SR5014 as my pre amp and driving my center channel. This is so I have the ability to view movies as well as listen to music. But when listening to music, I run the Marantz on Direct to bypass the center as well as the other portions of the Marantz.
It isn’t the best option for pure music but a compromise to watch movies and television on my 4k tv.
It just seemed there was a bit more shrillness on the highs compared to the S300.
But overall, the M700 is a great improvement over the Marantz amplifier as well as when I hooked up the S300.
I just bit the bullet and bought a used M1200 and will be picking it up this week.
It’s replacing the M700 which replaced the S300. (Do you see a pattern here?)
What are the differences between the ICE boards from the M700 to the M1200, other than the power?
Are they sonically that different?
Yes.
As good as the M700 is, the M1200’s are just so much better
You will truly enjoy listening to the M1200’s. I also did the same thing you have done. Going step by step. You will find as I did that each step up was a sonic improvement. In some respects I wish I bit the bullet and acquired the M 1200’s from the get go! However I needed to wait for each unit to debut first before acquiring each unit. The M1200 are by far the best of the series although they also cost more money as well. It’s the old adage, one gets what one pays for, right? You will not be disappointed in any way. From top to bottom, they are great sounding.
Happy listening……
If one wanted to look for a negative between the M700 and the M1200 I would say that the M1200 have less “ringing” to their sound. It became very noticeable once I was able to compare them side by side. The M700 emits more ringing in the upper registers that became somewhat fatiguing after prolonged periods of listing as compared to the M1200. Unfortunately once one hears the ringing, one can not un-hear
the ringing……at least to me.
I know it’s minor but it does get annoying.if you get a chance to hear them side by side you will hear for yourself.
Interesting you say that, because I had posted earlier when I went from the S300 to the M700. I thought there was a slight shrillness. Others said they hadn’t heard that. As much as I like the bigger soundstage and the broader lower and midrange, the S300 seemed to have a slightly better sound signature.
So, the upgrade and I’m looking forward to seeing if the M1200 brings it all together for me.
I know Darren is the architect behind both the M700 snd M1200 and made the decision to change out the ICE boards, so I am trusting that these will hold off my next upgrade (BHK 300/600) … at least for a while.
I am travelling these parallel upgrade paths in automobiles and accept it truly is a journey, not a destination.