The main cosmetic update lies in the center inset of the faceplate. Here were reasonably priced solid-state amplifiers with a neutral tonal balance, good image density and soundstage depth, relatively little telltale graininess, and a high “musical interest” factor.The new D200i stereo ($12,500) and M250i mono amplifiers ($23,000, please see the M250i sidebar) look almost the same as the earlier versions, and they retain much of the Kristensen- designed circuit and features of the previous, non- i models. As I’d been a confirmed tube-amp guy for 20 years, the GamuT amps were a revelation. Solid-state amps which largely mitigated those qualities usually came with much higher prices. Up to that point, my experience with SS amps left me thinking that nearly all other similarly-priced SS amplifiers had relatively poor depth and somewhat dry and grainy qualities, and were often not very musically compelling. What struck me so vividly about both models was their lack of obvious solid-state character compared to almost all other SS amps priced near their respective levels at that time: $8500, stereo $11,500, mono pair.
Shortly thereafter, I bought a pair of M200 MkIII mono amps, which I still own. My own experience with GamuT power amplifiers goes back to 2006 when I had the pleasure of living with a D200 MkIII stereo amp-the predecessor to the subject of this review- for about a month.
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