Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. Would it be possible for you to expand on the differences you heard between the DAG S250 and the CH Precision M1 and between the M1 and your ARC? Would appreciate any feedback you can provide. Many thanks and hope you find a way to keep the M1.
I hate to do that because my comments might offend. I really have no dog in this fight BUT the M1 is the best amp I have ever heard, period, in my system and this after only 12 hours of burn in. Tonight's listen will give me more insight after close to 36 hours burn in. I need to also stress that I am using an almost all Gobel cable system, still waiting for the XLR and two power cords coming this week, and Gobel and Ch Precision show together and/or work together so I have to assume these great engineers have engineered their equipment for some harmony and/or synergy for each other; assuming no knowledge as these products are new to me.
I have owned ARC REF 250, 150, 75 and now what I consider the best amp they have ever made, the GS150. Of course ARC stuff is speaker dependent so what I find the "best" is subject to variability based on speaker load. When I had my Nola Baby Grand, the REF250 were far and away better than the Ref150, however, when I got the BIG guys, the Nola Concert Grands, the REF75 proved to be better than the REF250 until the GS150 came along, which was an incredible match.
Having said all of that, as I was going through my upgrade to the Nola Concert Grands, I also had purchase the Magico Q1 and Constellation Centaur Stereo amp. The system was "good" just not my taste and I sold it after living with it for three months. I only bring it up because I had the ability to try the Centaur on my Nolas and it sounded terrible. I just shook my head and said, solid state, is not ready yet. This despite the accolades being expressed on this amp.
Well fast forward 4 years and we have been trying a variety of solid state amps in system and my delusional beliefs about tubes are now eradicated.
The liquidity surrounding the midrange and vocals with the GS150 sets my standard. At reasonable listening levels, this amp is articulate as fast as one can reasonably expect from tubes and just a pleasure to listen to. As with tubes in general and no exception here, as one explores the lower octaves, not that the music becomes muddy but loses some of its cohesiveness which interferes with the rest of the spectrum of the output. Imaging is wonderful, space and 3 dimensional exceptional, and what these speakers do best.
Enter the S250 and I was immediately stunned. I wasn't expecting what I heard. I never heard more controlled tighter bass (if you look at the speakers you will see its subs built in and understand how much air they can move), faster transients and absolutely gorgeous upper end and wonderful image and sound stage even wider than my GS150. I wasn't quite as thrilled with it as the GS150 with strings and vocals, losing just a tad of air compared to the GS150 but it did everything else so well I said, I could easily live with the minor differences in what the GS150 does to get the incredible fullness the S250s add. So for me, if you ask, even though I have been a tube guy for the last 5 years, based on my experience I could and would easily recommend the S250 over tubes, again, system synergy is a caveat.
Out went the S250 and back in went the GS150. Yesterday, in came the CH Precision M1. Good luck moving that thing. This amp, IMO, is just on another playing field. I really wasn't expecting what I heard and after only 12 hours. I will obviously report back more but I am in heaven. I have never experienced these speakers as I am now. Not only does it do everything my ARC gear does, but does it better. From top to bottom incredibly transparency with an air that is surreal. My wife who could care less about this hobby, loved the look of the D'Ag but I had her listen to a Bach Cello piece by Camden Shaw, an incredible recording by the way and even she was blown away and couldn't believe what she was hearing. I can't say enough about this amp and I am in the beginning phases of my evaluation but after hearing it, I can say, there is no going back. My front end, the MSB Select II is driving it using its pre stage so the flexibility of this amp to on the fly control gain and feeback is wonderful. Timbre is as accurate as I have ever heard from any system. Spatial cues are the best I have heard, PERIOD.
I will give you more followup with time. My philosophy is that one must live with a product not just "hear it" in order to understand it and whether it is for you or not. A fly by does no justice other than a taste and often exposes one to "different" which is often equated to better until of course you get a chance to live with a piece.
Personally, from the ARC line, I think if your speaker is well suited power wise, the GS150 is their best amp and in my opinion, may be their best product ever. I have owned the REF10 as well, which is a close second for me as "best ARC product of all time". I should also mention that I have been in this game since the early 80s. However, the D'Ag is, with some caveats, a step up from the ARC amps I mention. If you are looking for that amazing mid range liquidity of the GS150 and smooth/effortless/silky vocals the D'Ag falls just a little short of the GS150 while trouncing it elsewhere. The M1 is a different league. I have no issue declaring that after just 12 hours.
Just a funny anecdote. My buddy dropped off a GS150 years ago to "burn in" until his store was ready for it and I called him up and said, find another it ain't leaving. Well I have a feeling that might happen with this as well. I can't say that for the D'Ag. That pretty much gives you my initial opinion regarding the comparisons. To be honest, I am not even sure where the prices of the D'ag and M1 lie other than they are "more expensive" than the ARC.
More to come.
