I'm using a pair of 200s in two channel mode with an old set-up of a Sony TAE1000ES preamp powering a pair of KEF 104/2s. The only time I ever heard a hiss was in my previous home where the outlets were ungrounded. My new home has 30 amp circuits with great grounds (there is no such thing as a perfect ground).

No hiss in mine

One pair of M200's driving a pair of Onyx Rocket 750's ... no hiss, very clean and enjoyable.

Used to, but we moved a computer to a different circuit. No hiss since then on music setting (several months ago). I picked some trigger lines anyway. I just like having cool stuff. :p

NewBuyer, did you end up buying the M200s? As a prospective buyer I'm curious about your decision and the results?

I have "almost" bought them several times over the last couple of weeks, and each time at the last second, talked myself into thinking it over for another day or two!

A big concern of mine is that I only have two empty power sockets in the wall, and each of these monos will require its own socket. I would want to buy five of the monos for my system, so I don't know I would handle this issue, or how other people have handled this issue...

Also, the manual for these monos is very clear about the clearance for proper ventilation, yet I hear that people are stacking their monos in violation of these stated requirements in the manual. What's up with that?

Just a couple of my worries about the purchase... does anybody please have any thoughts or advice to share, about these specific purchase worries I'm having?

Many people use good quality power strips from companies like Tripp-Lite because they don't restrict current flow. Keep in mind that even if that duplex outlet were replaced with a quad, you are still connecting everything to one 15A circuit - same as if you picked up a multichannel amp and plugged it into a single outlet.

Outlaw has stated in the past that the M200 is designed to allow up to three amps to be safely stacked together, and I think many people have stacked as many as four (sets of 7 tend to end up in either a stack of 3 and a stack of 4 or a stack of 3 and two stacks of 2). Going beyond around three in a stack is actually more of an issue for structural strength than cooling, I believe - my pair of M200's run quite cool, but they are heavier than they look.

A third thought to help relieve some concern - there's always the 30-day return policy that will let you ship them back for only the cost of shipping if they don't fill your needs. I suspect they will, though - they're great little amps.

I've had a pair on a single strip ever since they first came out and 3 on the same strip for several months and never tripped anything. I forget exactly which power strip I have, but it's just a mid-level Circuit City one.

NewBuyer, I know exactly how you feel. Although, I've been given a reprieve on time to make a decision because I'm going to purchase the 990. When this new model pre/pro is finally available for purchase then I'll have to make a decision.

I think it comes down to the convenience of one box or the flexibility of 5 monos. If something happens to the 755 the whole system is down. All 5 M200s would have to break for the whole system to go down.

I know when I finally make my decision it will most likely be a win regardless of which way I go. In this case I don't think a bad decision can be made.

From everything I've read in magazines, review websites, and here in this forum, they're both excellent products. I'm just looking forward to the day I can hear it for myself.

Well now I have an additional concern!

I was just about to buy the M200's, and then I found this post from Steve at Outlaw Audio (I've copied it from the Sound and Vision Forums):


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Here is what Outlaw said about the model 200. I asked them if the damping factor changes from class A/B to class G.

Hello Tom,

The 200's damping factor is greater than 80 from 20 Hz to 20k Hz. Whereas the damping factor is indicative of an amp's output impedance, I believe it remains constant regardless of power output. If you are looking for an amp with a high damping factor, our 755 and 770 amps have a damping factor of greater than 850 from 10 to 400 Hz. All three are great amps but I feel that the 755 or 770 will have better control of a speaker's woofers or mid-bass drivers given their high damping and low output impedance. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Thanks and Regards,

Steve
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This reply directly from Outlaw Audio makes me very nervous that the M200's may not be as worthy an amplifier as we originally believed. A damping factor of 80 seems like an extremely poor specification, especially for a monoblock (?)