Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
I'm not familiar with that brand. How is it an improvement over your current one? Getting new gear is always fun, congrads.
Sorry to take so long to write this down, but if you want to get past the "first impression" bias then you gotta give it some time.

The MC84-AB is significantly more powerful than my old MC368-B90. While only rated at a nominal 5w greater output at 75wpc, it can easily surpass the old amps output by at least 5dB with my speakers without running out of steam. This means ~95dB is my limiting SPL now.

More focused presentation. The old amp was remarkable in it's ability to throw a huge 3d sound field, but the new amp has significantly better focus. Separating lead vocals and pulling lead instruments from the mix seem better defined. The old amp did a great job of "back lighting" leads, but this amp has a greater focus.

Blackness. While some might call it a "darker" amp, I would disagree. This amp has one of the quietest noise floor of any amp I've owned SS or tubed. Music seems to rise up out of pitch darkness. It can be quite startling at times. I've made my wife jump out of her seat a few times already!

This amp is not "lush" by any stretch. In some ways it's more SS like than the my old tube amp. The bass is much tighter and displays none of the "loose" quality some people would associate with a tube amp. There's significant "air", but I would say that the older amp with the KT88's had further HF extension than this one. That being said, the balance on this amp is better. I would say it's nearly as flat as a quality SS amp with my speakers, maybe even less than the + 0 db / - 2db it's rated at.

The real proof is in the using though. I woke up @ 2am this morning with the amp running, and just a drop of Napa cab left in my glass. I had meant to listen to just a few more tracks but obviously went too far. Life could be worse!