Hi Brooksl,
I have only heard the Tenor 300 hybrid, in both its prototype incarnation and it recent incarnation, and only at shows. However, based on these experiences and what I know of the design and designers of the two amplifiers, I would say that both the M1.1, 1.2, 2.1, and 2.2 and the Tenor 150 are good choices and are more or less comparable in general terms.
No, I know that doesn't help, but don't worry, I won't wimp out, lol. To contrast the two, one can think about the Tenors as being mostly tube based with a little solidstate thrown in for additional power and stabilization. One can think about the Lamm as mostly solid state with some tubes thrown in for additional musicality and naturalness. They both try to use the best of both technologies. They also both run hot. The tenor is quite a bit longer than the lamm, with a somewhat more polished look. Oops, I'm back to not helping again.
I think Lamm has a more stately, majestic, romantic, powerful kind of sound (as a friend commented to me once - think of old Russian art masterpieces or the old Russian classical masters like Rachmonanov). I think of Tenor as having a voiced their amps to have a more firey, dynamic, detailed, almost adrenaline-based sound (I often think of Flamenco music when I think of Tenor).
You may find that you really do not know which of these styles you prefer - or you may find that you prefer one style sometimes and the other style another time.
Sometimes it really does come down to 1) the nitty gritty system matching issues: how does each amp work with your speaker, with your cables and room and sources and the music you like to most often play and 2) the ergonomics issues: heat, size, maintenance, attractiveness, and pride-of-ownership, etc.
Nope, I don't think that helped at all. Well, these amps are pretty comparable and you are just gonna have to do some listening. Geez, that sounds like fun, you say?. It can be - getting blown away by new gear can be quite exhilerating... But you also might be right back where you sit now if BOTH amps happen to blow you away...
Many dealers will send out amps for audition to serious inquiries - assuming they have one available. Or you can try borrowing one from a very, very, very good friend... that works too.
Enjoy!
Mike
