Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Amp/Preamp Asylum ] [ Return to Search Results ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Proto REF 6 -or cruel hoax?

Posted by Bambi B (A) on May 4, 2010 at 13:12:49

In Reply to: Audio Research 40th Anniversary Reference Preamp posted by ScrojanOC on May 4, 2010 at 09:01:23:

ScrojanOC,

The 40th Aniversary preamp- $25,000- looks to me to be a first run at a new level of REF preamps- perhaps it will become the "REF 6". I don't believe ARC would spend tall that design and development time and tooling on something they would only make for one year. And, yet, they don't want to prematurely spoil the successful REF 5 market.

-Typical lightweight ARC construction- 47 lbs. for both chassis,..

It is probably the most actually dual mono preamp I've seen -next to something like the old Bedini which had two chassis and also all separate controls fro each channel. The second chassis is like the PS of the SP10/11 and uses a 6550 and 6H30 and has separate torodial transformers and the control chassis has 6- 6H30's. You can see from the circuit board layout that the control section has a separate circuit for each channel too. Lots of Joules kept in the Joule case too!

The sound must be great, but I would never buy it- besides the price- every time you turn it on it goes through a stupid dance of counting from 1970 to 2010 and then displays "40th Aniversary Preamplifier 1970-2010". After two months of that, I'd end up throwing a brick at a couple of boxes worth as much as a new Camry,.. -I never buy products that advertise themselves after purchase! - When I had a 1928 443 Packard Dietrich convertible, I changed the hubcaps to the plain ones without the "Packard Motor Car Co." text.

Still, definitely something to hear, along with the new 200W integrated and the DS450, 450W amplifier- "Dynamic power is 900 watts into 8 ohms, 1800 into 4 ohms, and 2800 into 2 ohms, meaning the DS450 can control those big, tough-to-drive speaker systems". I know we've all been waiting for an amp with at least 2600W at 2 ohms! I've still not heard the SD135 or hybrid HD220 or whatever they're called. Perhaps we could arrange a small group of Los Angeles area inmates and visit Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica.

Have you had any thoughts about your M100 retubing?

Cheers,

Bambi B

[ARC: SP8, SP10, LS3, D115, D130 ]

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---