After I had the VTL Deluxe 225's, I got the VTL Deluxe 500's and, then, the MB450's to compare. I decided I liked the 500's and sold the 450's. After a while, I saw a killer deal on a pair of 450 signatures with MIT caps, got the bug, and bought them. After a few months, I sold the 450's again.
This is not necessarily a matter of better, but different. The only way to know is to compare them in your system. If it is a friend, he ought to let you try them out. Intially, the 450's wowed me, but I kept coming back to the 500's, so do some extended listening.
The 450's have greater resolution, tighter sound. IMHO, the Deluxe amps have more of the tube magic I like. Some would say that is distortion. So be it. Certainly, there is the power difference, as well.
This is a matter of personal preference and only you can decide after hearing both.
This is not necessarily a matter of better, but different. The only way to know is to compare them in your system. If it is a friend, he ought to let you try them out. Intially, the 450's wowed me, but I kept coming back to the 500's, so do some extended listening.
The 450's have greater resolution, tighter sound. IMHO, the Deluxe amps have more of the tube magic I like. Some would say that is distortion. So be it. Certainly, there is the power difference, as well.
This is a matter of personal preference and only you can decide after hearing both.