Music Reference RM9 - user comments please

I have compared it to nad it is far better,I have compared it to harmon kardon monoblocs,goldentube se 100,it is far better.The only amp that I heard that beat it was atmasphere ma-2 which cost 4 times the price.

That what I am wondering; how does the RM9 compare Atmasphere, CAT, ARC Ref Series, etc.? I willing to believe they are every bot as good (I don't care about the price difference which I think is relevant at this level). I'm listening to the RM10 MK II - the little 35 watter - and it does not give up much to higher priced stuff. Next week I'm bringing the RM10 over to compare with a fella that has the RM9Special - should be interesting as we both own the same speakers.

Back in the '80s I evaluated and bought a RM-9 to replace my restored Marantz 8B. It drove my Vandersteen 2 (whatever was latest version at the time). Beautiful sounding and looking, I might still own it except I bought larger speakers for which 100 wpc was not sufficient.

Looking back, it was one of the finest pieces of gear I've owned in over 40 years in this hobby.

I'll say one thing, I've never heard a bad word said about a MR amp by anyone who has owned one.

Nice to see a current thread about this amp. I've owned the RM9 for just a few months, after buying it from the 2nd owner here on A'gon. I'm only a couple of years in the hobby, so no expert my any means; but no complaints about this amp. Love the looks of it in the dark (never put the cage on after I got it - looks like a cityscape at night) It came with RAM labs 6550's in it and am wondering what I might expect if I changed to KT 88's. Anyone care to give an opinion?
CD source is a Shanling T80 with RCA black gates, fed directly into the amp, through some TaraLab cables to Quad 22L2 speakers.
Has anyone experimented with different driver tubes?
Thanks in advance for any input.