Hi Jez,
yes it's well possible you mentioned the Mission 774 in one line with the DM 101 as being one of your faves.
That got me curious & to AOS in consequence..
My fave anecdote though is when you asked me which speakers I use.
My answer (proud): 'Isobarik, active..'
Jez: 'Yeah, well those are shit. Must be the worst speakers I have heard as yet..'
I spit my coffee against the screen in laughter when I read the answer..
And I thought: As a salesman this guy is totally crazy, but there is VERY little doubt he speaks his mind honestly.. :P
Bottom line, they are gone, killed by 'Somethin' else' through German 3 way passive Braun speakers I got from ebay for 30€.
The Braun showed there is a drummer with a brush holding tact in the background.
The Isobariks showed some strange annoing noise in the background, a bit similar a white noise I could never identify what it was.
Ok, it was the drummer & that was the last piece the Isobarik played: Somethin'else... go figure, they showed foreseing powers in their last moments.
Now I have the NS1000, which didn't like my Naim amps (that had before called a similar charming comment from you..) & off went the Naims, too.
Ok, that was a short drift into the topic gravel-bed,,
I've heard the power supply of the 101 goes bust every once and then, and read up about the motor taking itself apart in suicidal manner due some reports.
So I may think about some drive solution here at some point,,,that seems to me the one weak part of the 101.
No idea to how far the rest is up to,,,but I hope to find out soon.
PS: You know anything about the Manticore arms if you know Dough Hewitt by person ?
Not relevant for my 101 project the moment, but how capable is for example the Magician compared to the Mission in your view ?
Kind regards, T