@rauchman
The beauty of the 20 watt units, SV,SC, SJ and DSL is that you can crank them into power tube distortion without getting arrested or thrown out of a nightclub. The DSL20 is a little sifferent in that it can still get a pretty good overdrive without being fully cranked, although the power amp brakup certainly adds to it's character.
The bigger DSLs and JVMs are fully capable of achieving "full amp" sounds all in the preamp, allowing the masters to set your actual room volume. The two programmable masters are a cool feature. On the DSL40CR & 100HR, even when cranked enough to get the power tubes cookin' it doesn't necessarily add much and may even not be all that pleasing. Given only limited trials, I can't say much else about the JVMs.
And @BanditPanda
The DSL40 is only unfortunately available in combo form, IMHO, silly on Marshalls part. It would be nice also if the JVM2 series head was narrower like the 215C, instead of being 29 inches wide!
Just My $.02 & Likely Worth Much Less,
Gene
@rauchman
You don't list where you are located, but there is a JCM2000/DSL50 in Palm Desert, CA, for $500.
Just Sayin'
Gene
Excellent info! I'm in northeast NJ, and ironically, my mom just moved out of Palm Desert, CA a year ago. As for purchase, I very much appreciate the info on the DSL50, but having been burned with buying something from Reverb, and then not liking it, I now only buy used through Guitar Center, due to their 45 day return policy.