Stereophile
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<p><img class="story_image" src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/513arc.promo_.jpg"/></p>
After I read Brian Damkroger's <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-5-se-line-preamplifier">rave review</a> of the Audio Research Corporation's Reference 5 SE line stage in the November 2012 <em>Stereophile</em>, I was excited about getting the review sample into my system so that I could do a Follow-Up (February 2013). However, the sample had already been returned to the factory, so I called ARC to see if it could be rerouted eastward to me. Chief Listener Warren Gehl answered the phone.
<p>"Sure, you can listen to the Ref 5 SE, but I'd assumed you were calling about the Reference 75 amplifier."</p>
<p>"Reference 75? What's that?"</p>
<p>"It's our newest amplifier—a half-power version of the Reference 150."</p>
<p>Hmmm. Erick Lichte had reviewed the Reference 150 in <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-150-power-amplifier">July 2012</a> and in December, <em>Stereophile</em> had named it <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/istereophileis-products-2012">Product of the Year for 2012</a>. The Ref 150 had replaced the Ref 110 in ARC's lineup; I'd reviewed the Ref 110 in <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/807ar/index.html">August 2007</a>, then bought one for my reference system. It would be interesting to compare the References 75 and 110 . . .</p>
<p>"Would you like to review it?"</p>
<p><strong>Design</strong><br/>The Reference 75 ($9000) is similar to the Ref 110 and Ref 150 in that all three use input circuits using direct-coupled JFETs and a 6H30 tube. However, the Ref 75 has only four Tungsol KT120 output tubes (in ARC's ultralinear "partially cathode coupled" topology), compared with eight in the Ref 150, and eight 6550Cs in the Ref 110. Warren Gehl told me that, compared with the 6550C, the KT120—apparently the first output tube specifically designed for audio applications—is more robust and powerful, with greater dynamics, lower distortion, better tonal balance, a larger soundstage, and a greater sense of presence. The Ref 75 shares the same oversize power supply (520 joules of energy storage) as the Ref 110, but has improved interstage coupling capacitors, and more damping material on its capacitors and heatsinks.</p>
<p>I asked Gehl what makes the Ref 75 special.</p>
<p>"Its simplicity."</p>
<p>The circuit design is straightforward, and careful attention was paid to ensure that signal paths would be as short as possible. Removing the cover and looking inside confirmed the simplicity and elegance of the circuit layout. In fact, with only one pair of output tubes per channel, there's no need for a cooling fan. Weighing only 47 lbs, the Ref 75 is the lightest tubed stereo power amp I've had in my system.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/513arc.bac.jpg" width="600" height="327" border="0"/></p>
<p>One aspect of the Ref 75's design particularly intrigued me. Some audiophiles hold that a single pair of push-pull output tubes is capable of greater sonic purity than multiple pairs of tubes, which, when ganged, can create a subtle smearing; because tubes are never precisely identical, they can't work in perfect concert. This effect can worsen as the tubes age, each deteriorating at a different rate. The advent of the more powerful KT120 provides the opportunity for avoiding this potential problem because two KT120s can replace four 6550s or EL34s in push-pull topologies.</p>
<p>The Ref 75 also sports a pair of VU meters, which give the amp a bit of the vibe of ARC's classic D79 amplifier, from the 1970s. These double as adjustment meters for biasing each of the four tubes individually. Setting bias was a snap (a bias adjustment tool is provided), and the settings remained very stable throughout my listening. ARC claims that the tube biases should need to be adjusted only when the amp is moved from one house to another (the voltages fed the different houses may vary), or when output tubes are replaced. The meters are illuminated, and their lights can be turned off; I noticed no difference in sound with lights on <em>vs</em> off. The Ref 75 comes with a burly, detachable, power cord fitted with a 20-amp plug. It has 4 and 8 ohm output taps, as well as 12V triggers for input and output. My review sample was in ARC's standard silver finish; black is available.</p>
<p><strong>Listening</strong><br/>It was difficult to get a handle on the Reference 75's sound—after many weeks of listening to a broad range of recordings, I'd heard no shortcomings whatsoever. I never noticed a single coloration, or any deficiencies in dynamics, transient articulation, soundstaging, or retrieval of detail and ambience. I decided it would be most revealing to use specific reference recordings to focus on those areas in which the Ref 75 exceeded the performance of every amplifier I've heard in my reference system.</p>
<p>I first noticed the articulate manner in which the Ref 75 delineated the dynamic envelopes of all instruments. In all tracks of Bill Evans's <em>At Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, California</em> (CD, JVC JVCXR-0036-2), the unique personality of his technique was perfectly captured—every low-level nuance of the pianist's phrasing shone through across the instrument's entire register. Transient articulation was crystal-clear and lightning-fast with all recordings, and those with significant percussion textures were stunning. Drummer Paul Motian's <em>Selected Recordings</em> (CD, :rarumECM 8016) includes several tracks featuring solos by him. Through the Ref 75, every subtle drum and cymbal texture of the late master was clearly delineated with a wide dynamic envelope; it was easy to visualize just where Motian's sticks were striking each instrument.</p>
<p>I listened to the 2009 remastering of the Beatles' <em>Abbey Road</em> (CD, Apple 3 82468-2) in its entirety, and marveled at how dynamic Ringo's drums sounded, from his crash cymbals in "Come Together" to his floor toms in "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." The ARC's transient articulation combined with its superb dynamic capabilities to make many recordings sound more dramatic than I'd ever heard them. I've described before the Ellen Test: With components capable of reproducing a broad dynamic range, I put on a recording at a normal volume level and wait for the music to hit a fortissimo passage—and for my wife to say, "Turn that down!" I expect a great component to pass the Ellen Test when I put on a big orchestral work, or even a great electronic jazz or rock recording, but I didn't expect to hear those three words during Ringo's drumming in "Octopus's Garden," as I did with the Ref 75.</p>
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-75-power-amplifier]
After I read Brian Damkroger's <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-5-se-line-preamplifier">rave review</a> of the Audio Research Corporation's Reference 5 SE line stage in the November 2012 <em>Stereophile</em>, I was excited about getting the review sample into my system so that I could do a Follow-Up (February 2013). However, the sample had already been returned to the factory, so I called ARC to see if it could be rerouted eastward to me. Chief Listener Warren Gehl answered the phone.
<p>"Sure, you can listen to the Ref 5 SE, but I'd assumed you were calling about the Reference 75 amplifier."</p>
<p>"Reference 75? What's that?"</p>
<p>"It's our newest amplifier—a half-power version of the Reference 150."</p>
<p>Hmmm. Erick Lichte had reviewed the Reference 150 in <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-150-power-amplifier">July 2012</a> and in December, <em>Stereophile</em> had named it <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/istereophileis-products-2012">Product of the Year for 2012</a>. The Ref 150 had replaced the Ref 110 in ARC's lineup; I'd reviewed the Ref 110 in <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/807ar/index.html">August 2007</a>, then bought one for my reference system. It would be interesting to compare the References 75 and 110 . . .</p>
<p>"Would you like to review it?"</p>
<p><strong>Design</strong><br/>The Reference 75 ($9000) is similar to the Ref 110 and Ref 150 in that all three use input circuits using direct-coupled JFETs and a 6H30 tube. However, the Ref 75 has only four Tungsol KT120 output tubes (in ARC's ultralinear "partially cathode coupled" topology), compared with eight in the Ref 150, and eight 6550Cs in the Ref 110. Warren Gehl told me that, compared with the 6550C, the KT120—apparently the first output tube specifically designed for audio applications—is more robust and powerful, with greater dynamics, lower distortion, better tonal balance, a larger soundstage, and a greater sense of presence. The Ref 75 shares the same oversize power supply (520 joules of energy storage) as the Ref 110, but has improved interstage coupling capacitors, and more damping material on its capacitors and heatsinks.</p>
<p>I asked Gehl what makes the Ref 75 special.</p>
<p>"Its simplicity."</p>
<p>The circuit design is straightforward, and careful attention was paid to ensure that signal paths would be as short as possible. Removing the cover and looking inside confirmed the simplicity and elegance of the circuit layout. In fact, with only one pair of output tubes per channel, there's no need for a cooling fan. Weighing only 47 lbs, the Ref 75 is the lightest tubed stereo power amp I've had in my system.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/513arc.bac.jpg" width="600" height="327" border="0"/></p>
<p>One aspect of the Ref 75's design particularly intrigued me. Some audiophiles hold that a single pair of push-pull output tubes is capable of greater sonic purity than multiple pairs of tubes, which, when ganged, can create a subtle smearing; because tubes are never precisely identical, they can't work in perfect concert. This effect can worsen as the tubes age, each deteriorating at a different rate. The advent of the more powerful KT120 provides the opportunity for avoiding this potential problem because two KT120s can replace four 6550s or EL34s in push-pull topologies.</p>
<p>The Ref 75 also sports a pair of VU meters, which give the amp a bit of the vibe of ARC's classic D79 amplifier, from the 1970s. These double as adjustment meters for biasing each of the four tubes individually. Setting bias was a snap (a bias adjustment tool is provided), and the settings remained very stable throughout my listening. ARC claims that the tube biases should need to be adjusted only when the amp is moved from one house to another (the voltages fed the different houses may vary), or when output tubes are replaced. The meters are illuminated, and their lights can be turned off; I noticed no difference in sound with lights on <em>vs</em> off. The Ref 75 comes with a burly, detachable, power cord fitted with a 20-amp plug. It has 4 and 8 ohm output taps, as well as 12V triggers for input and output. My review sample was in ARC's standard silver finish; black is available.</p>
<p><strong>Listening</strong><br/>It was difficult to get a handle on the Reference 75's sound—after many weeks of listening to a broad range of recordings, I'd heard no shortcomings whatsoever. I never noticed a single coloration, or any deficiencies in dynamics, transient articulation, soundstaging, or retrieval of detail and ambience. I decided it would be most revealing to use specific reference recordings to focus on those areas in which the Ref 75 exceeded the performance of every amplifier I've heard in my reference system.</p>
<p>I first noticed the articulate manner in which the Ref 75 delineated the dynamic envelopes of all instruments. In all tracks of Bill Evans's <em>At Shelly's Manne-Hole, Hollywood, California</em> (CD, JVC JVCXR-0036-2), the unique personality of his technique was perfectly captured—every low-level nuance of the pianist's phrasing shone through across the instrument's entire register. Transient articulation was crystal-clear and lightning-fast with all recordings, and those with significant percussion textures were stunning. Drummer Paul Motian's <em>Selected Recordings</em> (CD, :rarumECM 8016) includes several tracks featuring solos by him. Through the Ref 75, every subtle drum and cymbal texture of the late master was clearly delineated with a wide dynamic envelope; it was easy to visualize just where Motian's sticks were striking each instrument.</p>
<p>I listened to the 2009 remastering of the Beatles' <em>Abbey Road</em> (CD, Apple 3 82468-2) in its entirety, and marveled at how dynamic Ringo's drums sounded, from his crash cymbals in "Come Together" to his floor toms in "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." The ARC's transient articulation combined with its superb dynamic capabilities to make many recordings sound more dramatic than I'd ever heard them. I've described before the Ellen Test: With components capable of reproducing a broad dynamic range, I put on a recording at a normal volume level and wait for the music to hit a fortissimo passage—and for my wife to say, "Turn that down!" I expect a great component to pass the Ellen Test when I put on a big orchestral work, or even a great electronic jazz or rock recording, but I didn't expect to hear those three words during Ringo's drumming in "Octopus's Garden," as I did with the Ref 75.</p>
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-reference-75-power-amplifier]
