ARC Ref 250's on Revel Studio2's ? ....

joeinid

joeinid

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So Mike can you comment on this combination? I bet it would sound pretty good.
 
I carried down my REF250's this morning to try on the family room system.

A little background: I had commented to Mark that I love the Studio 2's, but if I had one tiny criticism, it would be that the vocals can sometimes seem a little recessed. He agreed that on a few recordings, he had heard what I was talking about. I told him that tubes have a unique way of highlighting vocals and drawing a great big circle around them and even giving them a nice "bump" (some call this bloom).

So, I carried the "not so light" REF 250's downstairs (of course I was paranoid about falling....something I only worried about when I was half way down the stairs! LOL!) I brought along the 20amp IEC cables I have been using upstairs. They are the same brand of cable I've been using on the Classe CAM-600's (Tara Labs). I connected the REF250's from the 4ohm taps to the Classe CP800 preamp. Everything else remained the same.

Without even warming the amps up, I turned them on and started playing through many of the songs I have previously played on the new system. All I can say is OMG! I should NEVER have done this. EVERYTHING was better. Soundstage was wider, voices were EXACTLY where I thought they would be - front and center. Instruments took on a much more realistic timber.

The REF250's added a new dimension (as in going from 2D to 3D). I also noticed how instruments had much much better spacing around them. They appeared to have their own proper place in space (in both a 2D and 3D sense). Even the bass had much better definition (although not as strong as with the Classe - certainly bettered defined).

After the amps had been on for about 30 minutes, it only got better. How did the REF250's drive the Revel's? With ease! I took video footage to show Mark and Joe that I was achieving 103db at 1 meter with LESS THAN 2 watts!!!!!!! Let me tell you - tube watts ARE more powerful than SS watts. If anyone doesn't believe this, I will send you the video. The big Power Supply and 8 KT120's in each amp - deliver phenomenal power on demand. As a side, I was able to achieve over 100db from my listening position with 2.5 watts. I also emailed Mark, Joe and Bruce the video tape of this too. Incredible.

The most important lesson this proved to me was just how GREAT the Studio 2 speakers sound. They respond in spades the better gear you have around them. The REF250's literally took them to a whole new level. I can only imagine how much better they would sound with a better source - like vinyl or the Marantz. For now, I used my MacBook pro running directly into the CP800 and using the Alpha Version of JRiver for Mac (still a little buggy by the way).

I always knew the REF250's were incredible amplifiers and the Studio2's/Salon2's incredible speakers. Today's experiment just reaffirmed this fact - so much so, that I have a new found respect for the REF250's and the Studio 2's. Definitely a winning synergistic combination.

I should never have done this experiment....my oh my....kids and REF250's in the Family Room would not mix....but oh boy...it sounded sooooo good.

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Beautiful photo and very nice write-up. Thank you Mike. We appreciate it very much. What to do, what to do? D'Agostino maybe? Ha!
 
joeinid said:
Beautiful photo and very nice write-up. Thank you Mike. We appreciate it very much. What to do, what to do? D'Agostino maybe? Ha!
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Thanks Joe. Were you able to open the video files showing the DB levels and wattage? Unbelievable huh?
 
Mike said:
Thanks Joe. Were you able to open the video files showing the DB levels and wattage? Unbelievable huh?
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Absolutely. I never would have thought the power would have been enough. Tube watts rule! More power and sweeter than SS for sure.
 
Tubes rule baby! :woot: I'll sacrifice the heat and maintenance any day for tubes.

What about putting a REF75 in the Revel system? You could always put baby gates around the perimeter! The Classe's would make a nice garage system Mike! :)
 
dlb2 said:
Tubes rule baby! :woot: I'll sacrifice the heat and maintenance any day for tubes.

What about putting a REF75 in the Revel system? You could always put baby gates around the perimeter! The Classe's would make a nice garage system Mike! :)
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Hmmm.....wheels are spinning! Would it have enough power? Is 2.5 watts from the REF250's the same as 2.5 watts from the REF75? Silly question - but with power supplies and such....
 
Mike said:
Hmmm.....wheels are spinning! Would it have enough power? Is 2.5 watts from the REF250's the same as 2.5 watts from the REF75? Silly question - but with power supplies and such....
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Interesting thought. I would think the REF250's would put out more current than the REF75 with it's "power supplies and such" but I'm not an enginneer or scientist so I really don't know. I can't imagine 75 tube watts wouldn't be enough. Maybe Nelson would know that answer.
 
My guess is no Mike but only one way to find out :D Have your local ARC dealer loan you a Ref 75 and try out on those babies. If it doesn't work, there is always the Ref 150 :D
 
cmalak said:
My guess is no Mike but only one way to find out :D Have your local ARC dealer loan you a Ref 75 and try out on those babies. If it doesn't work, there is always the Ref 150 :D
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Well....I know the 250's work! :)
 
Hmmmm. ARC Ref's on my TADs? Just a thought.


Mike,

Ref 75 on top, DS450M on bottom.
 
I'm just sick over this :disbelief: I don't want to even think about new amps. OMG I have an upset stomach :panic:
 
Mike, I have one quick question. It's not really relate to this topic.

Did you ever compare with Arc ref 210 VS 250 ? I have a friend who selling them and just got curios.
 
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