Audio Research Announces REF6SE and REF750SEL

Bifwynne said:
Mike,

It has been 6 months since your last post on this thread. Can you please share your personal impressions of how the Ref 6 SE sounds. In particular, I am sure all of us would like to know if the SE upgrade makes a significant difference in SQ.

Thanks

BIF

P.S. -- I am on the ARC SE upgrade list. Greg, ARC service rep, says ARC may be ready for my Ref 6 in late September or thereabouts.
Click to expand...

BIF - you will be delighted with the changes. We’ve been listening a lot. I was one who was very skeptical the changes would be that significant, but they are. Gone is the slightly “nervous” sound (as Joe says) of the REF6. There is more meat on the bones, a more relaxed sound and frankly and overall sonic picture that is painted very close to the REF 10. I would call the REF6SE, a REF9. It’s that close.
 
Thanks Mike.

Too bad ARC doesn't want to do a Ref 150 SE "Mark II" upgrade with new caps and wire. I surmise that a Ref 150 SE "MK II" would come too close to the Ref 160 and put a squeeze on the new Ref 160 offering.

OK , ... I too admit my skepticism that caps and wire would make all that much a difference. But if based on your "real" audiophile comments, there is a difference, then your anecdotal experience says a lot.

BTW, since my rig will be out of commission during the time my Ref 6 is being upgraded, I asked ARC to look over my Ref 150 SE and CD-8 CDP. The other units are roughly 10+ years old and I though a check-up would be a good idea. ARC said ok, although probably not necessary if everything works.

Last point. I caught a thread on Audiogon that reports some folks are having a bit of a hard time sourcing redbook CDs. Many A'gon members said a good place to pick up CDs is on Amazon. That may be. But I wonder if redbook CD media has run its course and if so, whether it is time to seriously explore streaming. My problem is that I am 68 years old and I do not understand the technical lingo re streamers, DACs, file formats and so forth.

Any thoughts and suggestions?

BIF
 
Bifwynne said:
Thanks Mike.

Too bad ARC doesn't want to do a Ref 150 SE "Mark II" upgrade with new caps and wire. I surmise that a Ref 150 SE "MK II" would come too close to the Ref 160 and put a squeeze on the new Ref 160 offering.

OK , ... I too admit my skepticism that caps and wire would make all that much a difference. But if based on your "real" audiophile comments, there is a difference, then your anecdotal experience says a lot.

BTW, since my rig will be out of commission during the time my Ref 6 is being upgraded, I asked ARC to look over my Ref 150 SE and CD-8 CDP. The other units are roughly 10+ years old and I though a check-up would be a good idea. ARC said ok, although probably not necessary if everything works.

Last point. I caught a thread on Audiogon that reports some folks are having a bit of a hard time sourcing redbook CDs. Many A'gon members said a good place to pick up CDs is on Amazon. That may be. But I wonder if redbook CD media has run its course and if so, whether it is time to seriously explore streaming. My problem is that I am 68 years old and I do not understand the technical lingo re streamers, DACs, file formats and so forth.

Any thoughts and suggestions?

BIF
Click to expand...

BIF - I’m not sure CD’s have run their course. Sounds like vinyl in the early 2000’s when most proclaimed that vinyl had “run it’s course”. If you’re looking to get into streaming, a simple one box solution like those from Lumin are the way to go. For a more “analog sound”, there is also the MSB DAC’s with the Roon Renderer modules. Another option is the new Esoteric streamer coming out next month. You just need to ensure you have an Ethernet connect in your listening room and fast internet.
 
Biketony said:
Put my name in at audio research for the ref 6se upgrade. Should be near the end of January. Really looking forward to the improved imagery.
Click to expand...

Biketony,

Did ARC complete your SE upgrade yet? I put my name on the list months ago but COVID changed the timeline. ARC is hoping to upgrade my Ref 6 late September.

If ARC did complete your SE upgrade, can you share comments on how it sounds?

Thanks

BIF
 
Bifwynne,

I got both my upgraded 6SE and Phono 3SE back from ARC in the last week. The turnaround time was about a month door-to-door. A pleasant surprise was that the upgrades included a thicker (0.236 inch) poly top cover which ARC says is much less prone to warping although mine were both flat when they were returned to the factory. It has a nicely finished beveled edge and sits slightly higher than the side panels.

It's a bit early to fully assess the changes in sound quality but from what I hear so far, it's a noticeable improvement. In particular, the 6SE's bottom end seems to have more punch and "drive" for lack of a better term. Vocals seem also more fleshed out, the soundstage is about the same width but "denser." It's somewhat harder to distinguish what improvements I hear with the 3SE phono stage compared to the Phono 3. I fully agree with Mike's comments above which better articulate what I'm hearing. In particular, "There is more meat on the bones..."

Overall, IMO, the upgrade investment was worthwhile.
 
lem321 said:
Bifwynne,

I got both my upgraded 6SE and Phono 3SE back from ARC in the last week. The turnaround time was about a month door-to-door. A pleasant surprise was that the upgrades included a thicker (0.236 inch) poly top cover which ARC says is much less prone to warping although mine were both flat when they were returned to the factory. It has a nicely finished beveled edge and sits slightly higher than the side panels.

It's a bit early to fully assess the changes in sound quality but from what I hear so far, it's a noticeable improvement. In particular, the 6SE's bottom end seems to have more punch and "drive" for lack of a better term. Vocals seem also more fleshed out, the soundstage is about the same width but "denser." It's somewhat harder to distinguish what improvements I hear with the 3SE phono stage compared to the Phono 3. I fully agree with Mike's comments above which better articulate what I'm hearing. In particular, "There is more meat on the bones..."

Overall, IMO, the upgrade investment was worthwhile.
Click to expand...

Lem321, ... thanks for the feedback. I take your point about the one month door-to-door turn-around time. I am hoping for a quicker turn. It may be that ARC was in slow down mode when your gear went in because of COVID.

As mentioned, Greg thinks he might be able to get my gear in at the end of the month. In a much earlier pre-COVID conversation, Greg thought ARC could turn my SE upgrade in a week. We'll see. I'll report back.

Lem, on another topic, you mentioned that you own a Ref 3SE phono pre. I own an ARC PH8. I don't know what (if anything) you used for a phono pre before the Ref 3, but would you care to comment, especially about your Ref 3SE. Reason for my asking: I am not sure if I want to go in the direction of direct streaming versus upgrading my existing CD and phono source media.

Thanks

BIF
 
Hi BIF,
Prior to the 3/3SE, I owned an ARC Ref Phono 2SE which I really liked. In fact, I "gave up" the legendary Vendetta SCP-2D phono stage for the 2SE. I don't stream but do listen to CDs on my ARC Ref CD9. I find analog so much more satisfying to be honest but the bulk of my audio investments has been on the analog side (TT, cartridges, phono stages) and less so with digital so the comparison may not be completely fair.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top