Audio Research 160M

[Mike]

 

[joeinid]

Uh oh, more toys, but this one looks serious. I’d love to hear it in triode mode.

 

[Golum]

Love at first sight...no more no less

 

[UltraFast69]

It does look good


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[rrwmd]

Hmmm...

 

[Mike]

 

[Bobvin]

Dammit, now I’ve got an audio boner! I’ve been waiting for the next from ARC since I bought my REF75, and have always wanted to put monos on my Alexia. Plus, my room needs some new bling.

Sadly, my wife is going through a bit of career stress at this time, so I won't be buying anything with this kind of price tag until things settle down.

 

[cmalak]

As a long-time ARC user and fan, always glad to see them putting forth the next generation of products. I can’t say this is pleasing me on the aesthetics front but we each have our biases on that front.

Good to see them finally put forth features like Ultralinear/Triode modes, auto bias circuits, and output tube monitoring and protection, all of which are great to see but probably way over due given that competitors like VTL and VAC on the high end and Prima Luna in the more budget segments of the market have had these features on their tube power amps for years.

Anyway, looks like a nice product. I was worried that after Ward Fiebiger had passed in 2017, that the company would have a tough time following him with new product intros of the same caliber as the company has historically put out. He was the chief audio engineer who learned the ins and outs of audio design from Bill Johnson, absorbing much of the founder’s design DNA/principles and continuing Mr. Johnson’s audio design legacies in leading the design efforts in the:

Reference 40th Anniversary Preamp
Reference 5/5SE Preamp
Reference Phono 2 Preamp
Reference 75/150/250/750 Amps (and SE versions)
VSi 60/75 integrateds


In any case, looks like the audio design/engineering bench at ARC is deep which is good to know.

[emoji106][emoji106]

 

[Mike]

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[Mike]

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[XV-1]

Looks like they are copying the look and functionally of VTL.:lol:

 

[Jozua]

Looks like they are copying the look and functionally of VTL.:lol:

Exactly !

Visually not my cup of tea.

Hopefully, at this price point ARC will provide the option of ordering the amp with a solid aluminum fascia?

 

[Randy Myers]

Dam... I want a pair... too bad I will never be able to afford them ...

 

[Elberoth]

Dammit, now I’ve got an audio boner! I’ve been waiting for the next from ARC since I bought my REF75, and have always wanted to put monos on my Alexia. Plus, my room needs some new bling.

Sadly, my wife is going through a bit of career stress at this time, so I won't be buying anything with this kind of price tag until things settle down.

+1 on the audio boner. The amp looks spectacular.

 

[4N6]

Looks terrific and exactly what I would want if deciding to upgrade from my PrinaLuna HP monoblocks. The autobias in particular is a very welcome feature.

Now, I do wonder how much better sounding these would actually be? Worth an extra $22,000?!?

 

[Ritmo]

Any impressions of the new 160Ms at Axpona?

 

[Mike]

Any impressions of the new 160Ms at Axpona?

Excellent. Gorgeous looking and layering after layering of sound.

I can’t wait to get these in the store.


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[KeithR]

so still in the "musical" phase of current ARC amps?

I'm just hoping they don't return to the SS-ish sound of old.

 

[Mike]

so still in the "musical" phase of current ARC amps?

I'm just hoping they don't return to the SS-ish sound of old.

Oh most definitely. In spades.


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[jdandy]

I think the Audio Research 160M looks spectacular in black.