Audio Research D400 MK2 Stereo Power Amplifier

After having one MKll I decided to go mono block. This is what reference is all about. Just having one MK ll is a joy and a pleasure to listen to. Going mono block gives much more of what’s there. The soundstage is breathtaking. Having so much current pushes my Mags(3.6r) with ease. I can even here Roy Ayers (Good Vibrations) walking in the backround on stage!
One of my reference recordings, Patricia Barber recording in half speed on vinyl, by the way this should be in every vinyl collection. This is truly a work of art and reveals the difference when you increase the current. There is more air between the instruments and I can hear the soft end of Patricia talking. I’m talking about each and every single word. In other words I didn’t have to read the liner notes to see what she said. I was able to hear it from the break!
Then came Mycoy Tyner, Land of the Giants. This is recorded using the Sonoma DSD system. From the opening track, Serra Do Mar, it grabs you and forces you to pay attention to what’s ahead. I tell you by the time I came to, I had experienced something truly special. Just to make sure that this is the real deal, I went back to vinyl. This time I went old school. Chick Correa, My Spanish Heart. Side 3 Track 0ne, Armando’s Rhumba. Stanley’s Bass and the handclapping can only come to life with the right juice pushing it. I listen to the same recording on CD. The CD sounded sloppy and couldn’t keep up where as the vinyl version had the pace and the realism in spades!
In addition to, it absolutely necessary to have the best cable if you decide to invest and take this leap. I went from MIT Shot Gun series to VHP Pure Silver by Guerilla Audio. This made all the difference in the world.
My sessions are longer than what they use to be. In my book that’s alright with me!

Customer Service

Audio Research is a class act. ARC is amoung the elite! Well over 30 years doing sound!!!

Similar Products Used:

Krell
Ayre
Mark Levinson
Music Fidelity
Conrad Johnson
Bryston

First I am not going to bore you with a bunch of specs or try to get intellectual about the D400MKII. What I will say, and this is from 32 years of experience with this hobby, that I truly love. That the D400MKII is by far a class A product. Even still after all these years. I had the pleasure owning one a few years ago. I didn’t really appreaciate and so I got rid of it. Well now I bought another one for the same amount that I paid for, which is still a great value and now I am in Nirvana. This is what makes my Mags come to life. I have long been a fan of Ayre gear, but it didn’t do what was really need for the 3.6r. All I can say in a nutshell. Get this amp if you can. The D400MKII outperforms power amps well over the 10k-15k range. You best believe the D400MKII will be with me for years to come.

Similar Products Used:

Krell Ayre Conrad Johnson Bryston

This review is for the D300,NOT the D400! I would like to say that per the product literature, the D240 and D300 are basically the same amps,but the D400mk11 is not similiar to the D300. So one cannot compare a D300 to a D400mk11! First off, I am very impressed with the build quality of the amp.First rate,as with all Audio Research products.I have been listening to my D300 a ton since I bought it and I can say I am really impressed with the bottom end on this amp. I noticed a huge improvement in bass with this amp when compared to my Pass Labs Aleph 3! But the Aleph 3 is only 30wpc. The sound of the D300 is very well rounded and smooth, not at all harsh and trebly sounding like some high end amps.I think a little of the finese of the Pass Labs Aleph 3 is missing,but it more than makes up for it in the bass area. The detail is ever so present and this amp never strains to make the music clear.I am running a Audio Research SP6b tube pre-amp and I must say that Audio Research components seem to match up great together sound wise. The soundstage is huge and the highs are crisp and clear.The bass is gigantic,always present and never lacking. Great amplifier.

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Pass Labs Aleph 3,Audio Research D52b,B&K St2140 and ST120,Linn LK100,crappy AudioSource Amp 2!

This review is for Audio Research D-300. This model came out in the same year as D-400mkII. It’ve amazed me how sweet the sound is for a solid state amp. The only different between this amp and the big bother D-400mkII is the wattage. Sonically, this amp produced very tight bass, sweet mid, and very detailed high. What else can any one ask for a $4000. Audio Research build this amp like tank and the sound only gets better with time. It would outlive you any other amp. If you can find one, you’ve got lucky.

Similar Products Used:

ARC D-400mkII, Krell, Bryston.

This review is for the original D400 (not series II)

I’ve used this amp since 1993 to drive my Apogee Caliper Signatures. I’m also using an Audio Research LS16 tube preamplifier. This amplifier gives me the best of both worlds. The liquid midrange and highs of tubes along with dependability, flexibility and high current capability to drive my Apogees.

I have to strongly disagree with the previous post mentioning that the D400 lacks low end detail compared to the mk II. I would describe the bass of the D400 as being very adequate and taut, however, does not have the ultimate slam as some other solid state amps. I’ve auditioned the D400 mk II and did find that the bass was a little tighter however the liquidity in the midrange seemed to suffer in order to get the tighter bass. I still prefer the original D400.

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Threshold S300 II amp, Mark Levinson 27.5, Audio Research D400 mk II.

I would suggest the D-400 MKII Audio Research solid State power amp as an excellent choice for a high end system that is moderately priced. I have the D-400 MKII, ARC SP9-MKIII, MIT 330 RCA ( non-network) and ARC Litzlink 1 RCA interconnects along with a pair of Vandersteen 3A signature loudspeakers in my system. Also highly recommended is having a dedicated 15-20 amp circuit for the D-400 MKII amp as well as using high grade shorting plugs in the back of the amp if RCA interconnects are used as oposed to balanced interconnects. This combo yields an outstanding midrange which emulates the sound of tube amplifiers. Also this system combo has an excellent top end and detailed bass response.I was able to buy a used Audio Research D-400 MKII amp on ebay in near mint condition for just $2270 delivered. I have seen ARC D-400 MKII’s listed used on a few web sites in the $3000-$4000 range. If you go with this amp make sure you acquire the D-400MKII and not the D-400. There is a big difference between the two. The D-400 lacks low end bass detail from what I have read on the internet and been told by folks who have auditioned these amps. The D-400 MKII has excellent low end bass detail.

Similar Products Used:

ARC SP9-MKIII, MIT 330 RCA ( non-network) and ARC Litzlink 1 RCA interconnects,Vandersteen 3A signature loudspeakers.

I use the ARC D-400 MKII as the bass amp for a set of Apogee Mini Grands. Using the ARC SDA-1 to bi amp the Stages. ARC LS3 for preamp. I find this an excellent combination. The D-400 MKII has excellent low end extension, is not grainy like many large amps, and has plenty of power for this kind of use. It seems to compliment the SDA-1 nicely, which is also an exquisite piece. Of the large amps, it is my opinion that the D-400 MKII is one of the very best. No compromises for the power and low end extension.

I have had this unit for 2 years now used with an ARC LS3 pre-amp. Have never seen any reviews or comments on the unit but to my ears, it is outstanding. Would appreciate anyone else’s opinion who has had the opportunity to hear it.