Vitus SM-103 MK.II new mono blocks

[Easy Gliders]

Took delivery 3 days ago of the new Vitus SM-103 Mk.II mono blocks, which were ordered 2.5 months ago. I have previously been using the Vitus SIA-030 for 1.5 years, and am not sure how much improvement in performance the SM-103 MK.II would be. Have also been using the Vitus SS-103 during the last one month and a half.
Burning in the power amplifiers 24/7 now. Initial impression is the sound is very transparent with high clarity and powerful grips of the Marten Mingus Quintet 2 Statement Edition speakers.
A few photos of the setup attached below:


Vitus SM-103 Mk.II mono blocks with MSB Reference DAC and Marten Mingus Quintet 2 Statement Edition speakers. All cabling are Jorma Statement cables.






SM-103 MK.II sitting on Stillpoints Component Stands with Ultra 6 V2 footers.

 

[Thieliste]

@Easy Gliders How did you like the SS-103 and is it a serious upgrade coming from SIA-030 .
I own the SIA-025 and might upgrade later on to SL-103 + SS-103, i just hope it is even more engaging than my SIA-025 with much more grip on the speakers, my Thiels need huge amount of current to really sing.

 

[jonathanhorwich]

Took delivery 3 days ago of the new Vitus SM-103 Mk.II mono blocks, which were ordered 2.5 months ago. I have previously been using the Vitus SIA-030 for 1.5 years, and am not sure how much improvement in performance the SM-103 MK.II would be. Have also been using the Vitus SS-103 during the last one month and a half.
Burning in the power amplifiers 24/7 now. Initial impression is the sound is very transparent with high clarity and powerful grips of the Marten Mingus Quintet 2 Statement Edition speakers.
A few photos of the setup attached below:

View attachment 105392
Vitus SM-103 Mk.II mono blocks with MSB Reference DAC and Marten Mingus Quintet 2 Statement Edition speakers. All cabling are Jorma Statement cables.

View attachment 105393

View attachment 105395

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SM-103 MK.II sitting on Stillpoints Component Stands with Ultra 6 V2 footers.

Stunning.

 

[Easy Gliders]

@Easy Gliders How did you like the SS-103 and is it a serious upgrade coming from SIA-030 .
I own the SIA-025 and might upgrade later on to SL-103 + SS-103, i just hope it is even more engaging than my SIA-025 with much more grip on the speakers, my Thiels need huge amount of current to really sing.

@Thieliste, the SIA-030 is a very good amplifier by itself, so I felt going to the SS-103 was not so much of an upgrade. However, the SS-103 has more bass control and is warmer sounding. I was driving the SS-103 directly with the preamp in my MSB Reference DAC, so with the SL-103 preamp the sound characteristics maybe quite different. The SS-103 + SL-103 combination should be an excellent match for your Thiel 3.7 speakers.

 

[dcathro]

Beautiful looking system in a lovely room - love the tapestries/rugs on the front wall.

 

[Thieliste]

@Easy Gliders Can you please explain to us the nuances that you have found between your SM-103s and the SS-103 that you had on loan apart from SM having a better grip on speakers and being faster amps i would guess ?
Thanks.

 

[Easy Gliders]

@Easy Gliders Can you please explain to us the nuances that you have found between your SM-103s and the SS-103 that you had on loan apart from SM having a better grip on speakers and being faster amps i would guess ?
Thanks.

The SM-103 MK.II have higher resolution and less warm sounding than the SS-103. The sound signature of the SM-103 MK.II is closer to the sound of SIA-030 and Masterpiece MP-S201 - less mellow and warm.

 

[Amir]

Thanks for sharing beautiful pictures

 

[SeagoatLeo]

Vitus Audio Signature Series SM-103 Mk.II Mono Amplifier just came out at Munich at about $75,000 although I see they were sold in 2023. For $33,900, a pair of Westminster Labs REI are very significantly smaller, lighter, Class A and equal power in 8 an 4 ohms. They go down to 1 ohm doubling output power. Head to head competition with Vitus. My REIs are the best solid state amps I've heard and like (a tube amp guy for 46 years). The 2020 Vitus I heard didn't have much headroom. Maybe this newer one is much better than the older Vitus but still more than twice the price, larger and hotter than a pair of REIs.

 

[Lagonda]

Vitus Audio Signature Series SM-103 Mk.II Mono Amplifier just came out at Munich at about $75,000 although I see they were sold in 2023. For $33,900, a pair of Westminster Labs REI are very significantly smaller, lighter, Class A and equal power in 8 an 4 ohms. They go down to 1 ohm doubling output power. Head to head competition with Vitus. My REIs are the best solid state amps I've heard and like (a tube amp guy for 46 years). The 2020 Vitus I heard didn't have much headroom. Maybe this newer one is much better than the older Vitus but still more than twice the price, larger and hotter than a pair of REIs.

Good for you !

 

[Amir]

New Review :

http://absolutehiend.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Vitus-Audio-SL-103-SM-103-MK2-TAS-review-Oct-2024.pdf

 

[Easy Gliders]

New Review :

http://absolutehiend.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Vitus-Audio-SL-103-SM-103-MK2-TAS-review-Oct-2024.pdf

Thanks Amir for sharing this excellent review.
I have the MSB Cascade DAC directly driving the SM-103 MK.II now. I must say that with the Cascade DAC, these amplifiers showed their real potential, never running out of power with the Marten Mingus Septet speakers! The dynamics, imaging, soundstaging and resolution/details are just incredible.

 

[Amir]

Very nice pictures thank you

 

[Amir]

I think Vitus SM-103 is very special , enough power plus natural emotional sound

I love it

 

[Jackl3y]

I want to hear that system. Wow!

 

[Verdier]

I would be interested to know the specific sonic differences between the SM 103 MK I and MK II.

I was able to listen to the smaller SM 011 in great detail. An impressive amp in many respects. The positive characteristics should be well known, for example good physical representation, very contoured bass etc.

But what was a glaring flaw for me was the lack of speed and acceleration. In other words, it can indeed reproduce the differences between loud and quiet well and in loud passages there is also a sufficiently good differentiation of the components of the sound - but: the speed is very slow. This creates a very slow impression in passages with large loud-quiet differences.

Does anyone know whether this is similar with the 103 MK I and what are the differences with the MK II in this respect?

 

[Amir]

I would be interested to know the specific sonic differences between the SM 103 MK I and MK II.

I was able to listen to the smaller SM 011 in great detail. An impressive amp in many respects. The positive characteristics should be well known, for example good physical representation, very contoured bass etc.

But what was a glaring flaw for me was the lack of speed and acceleration. In other words, it can indeed reproduce the differences between loud and quiet well and in loud passages there is also a sufficiently good differentiation of the components of the sound - but: the speed is very slow. This creates a very slow impression in passages with large loud-quiet differences.

Does anyone know whether this is similar with the 103 MK I and what are the differences with the MK II in this respect?

Vitus in comparison by some ss amplifiers may give you feeling of slow but there are two things that come to mind.
One: Slow flow
two: Slow transient.

1- Slow flow of vitus shows me this amplifier is natural and accurate (pace and timing) because “fast flow” shows the design problem of high feedback amplifiers.
Vitus is Zero feedback class a.

2- Slow transient is not good but if you match speaker then vitus amplifiers do not sound slow in transient. I do not say you will get the speed of Spectral amplifier but I am sure if you find a match speaker for vitus then the transient will not be slow.

Vitus Audio is the best solidstate I know

 

[Verdier]

What I mean is the transition from piano/pianissimo to forte. It seems that this happens more slowly than with other amps. I specifically mean classical music. With the sm011, I always had the impression that the sound came on, but noticeably slower than with other good amps.

My question was not whether you @Amir think these amps are good, but whether this is similar with the 103 mkI (you should know the sm011 for that!) and how it is with the 103 mk II.

 

[Amir]

I did not compare all of them in equal condition but I think the sound of SM-011 and SM-103 mki and Mkii all are similar.

 

[SeagoatLeo]

Oh boy, a slow SS amp (in dynamic contrast and transients). After 50+ years of tube amplification, I chose zero feedback, Class A amps with plenty of power that is super fast with fabulous transients. With the Lampizator Horizon sounded too dynamically fast the one time I auditioned them. I own the Poseidon. The Westminster Labs REI monos are IT!

I heard earlier VItus SM--011 Class A/ A/B monos and was not impressed plus they are much more expensive at $85,000, large and weigh 93 lbs. each.