Audio Research REF 6 Preamp

[hifinutt]

After chasing and thinking of swapping my long time companion in form of ModWright LS36.5DM with REF5SE and unsuccessful chase for it across Europe I've stumbled on almost new REF6 which I could not resist to, so as of today I finally have an ARC preamp from REF series. Previously I had LS2B and LS16mkII so this should be, from my point of view, a big come back:yahoo1: to the ARC family. Unfortunately I'll have to wait for a few weeks to plug it in due to planned trips, but the longer you wait for something to happen the sweater it gets when you get it :exciting:.

interesting , I absolutely adored my ref 5 and ref 5se [ couriers lost my ref 5!] it had a beautiful textured sound . sadly had to sell for financial reasons but gradually working my way up again . had the 36.5 modwright for a while and then most recently got the 36.5dm . its good and beautifully made but aiming for the ref 6 . now they are VERY rare s/h in uk so waiting for the se to come out . anyone know when that is ?

however a well meaning dealer lent me a grandinote proemio [Italian ] pre and my word that is easily up to the dm level so might persue that as well as the ref 6 as the proemio is SS and no valves to worry about

an engineer I know is currently working on an arc anniversary pre which I saw last week , fabulous engineering !

 

[bonzo]

Phil, see if you can find the Ref 40 used. It has a separate power supply and if the ref 10 was anything to go by, it will be the dog's bollocks. Just one thing, if you are driving a SS amp (in case you still have your MSB) you might want to check impedance match and the VTL will be better to drive a SS amp.

interesting , I absolutely adored my ref 5 and ref 5se [ couriers lost my ref 5!] it had a beautiful textured sound . sadly had to sell for financial reasons but gradually working my way up again . had the 36.5 modwright for a while and then most recently got the 36.5dm . its good and beautifully made but aiming for the ref 6 . now they are VERY rare s/h in uk so waiting for the se to come out . anyone know when that is ?

however a well meaning dealer lent me a grandinote proemio [Italian ] pre and my word that is easily up to the dm level so might persue that as well as the ref 6 as the proemio is SS and no valves to worry about

an engineer I know is currently working on an arc anniversary pre which I saw last week , fabulous engineering !

 

[hifinutt]

thanks kedar . yes ref 10 are still extortionate prices and having seen the complexity of the anniversary I am a bit nervous if it needs repair . yes still using the amazing msb s200 , it really does sound good . I bet the high end grandinote would give arc pre amps a real run for their money . have you ever heard any ?

good to know re the vtl powering the ss amp

 

[bonzo]

thanks kedar . yes ref 10 are still extortionate prices and having seen the complexity of the anniversary I am a bit nervous if it needs repair . yes still using the amazing msb s200 , it really does sound good . I bet the high end grandinote would give arc pre amps a real run for their money . have you ever heard any ?

good to know re the vtl powering the ss amp

The ref 40 is similar to 10 and discontinued so available cheaper. 10 is more user friendly and a couple of caps. There is an article on audiobeat describing sonic differences but I understand they are minimal. VTL 7.5 mkII and III have low impedance and put out a lot of current to drive SS amps. I personally haven't compared VTL to ref 10 but you will see that in Roy Gregory's review.