Holy Toledo - Ref 40 preamp

Thanks she sounds awesome with the centaur. For a tube preamp it is very controlled and extended - no slop or smearing. Balance and enveloping are two words that come to mind.
 
There's no drool emoticon, but that's what your picture makes me do. That's a special piece to enjoy for many, many years. :victory:
 
Very nice. Congrats on the ref 40. Just a note of caution to check that the power unit gets adequate ventilation and doesn't get too hot. From the angle of the photo, there is not a lot of space above the unit. A simple hand check on the top plate of the power unit after an hour or so being on will do to confirm if you need to let it "breathe" any more than it is :)
 
So I was lucky enough to demo the Constellation Virgo II tonight in my system. Amazing preamp, run in direct balanced mode, it leaves no stone unturned. Every last minutia of detail is delivered with grace and impact. There is a definitive nature to the sound...effortless, nothing left behind...and the transients are to die for...so so controlled. But, I must admit as superhuman as this preamp is (and worth every penny of asking price), I prefer my ARC Ref 40, which brings a liquidity, a texture, an emotional presence and reality, that makes the balance of Centaur's SET and Class A and Tube and Solid State traits so perfectly coherent and magical....while the ARC Ref 40 may not deliver the last bit of detail and ambiance compared to the Virgo II, it delivers a magically beguiling emotional presence I have never heard in any system....with most of the credit going to the Centaur by the way.
 
Great to read Darrin!

I may eventually find my way to listen to a few more brands, Constellation is one of them. Thanks!
 
joeinid said:
Great to read Darrin!

I may eventually find my way to listen to a few more brands, Constellation is one of them. Thanks!
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Joe, I think the magic I have with the ARC/Constellation/Magico is similar to your Dart/TAD combo.
 
Dpod4 said:
Joe, I think the magic I have with the ARC/Constellation/Magico is similar to your Dart/TAD combo.
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You are probably right, but I will not know until I try it ..... :facepalm:
 
I'm convinced that a preamp stands on it's own...it casts a sonic signature irregardless of upstream or downstream components. I think tubes with a big power supply (like the ARC ref 40) delivers the goods...best of both SS and tubes. I'm equally convinced that an amp is only as good as its pairing with the speakers. After hearing Constellation Centaur paired with Magico, and competing against amps 2x in cost, I am certain the Magicos are perfectly paired with the Constellation Centuar, with all the goodness multiplied by what the ARC Ref 40 brings to the party ... it brings the pretty, the texture, roundness and presence....just goes to prove...we all need tubes somewhere in the chain...
 
Yes, "tubes somewhere in the chain", to me, is spot on. If I am using all SS, I do like a tube dac or source. It seems to give me a little more meat on the bone to the music. I have some ideas for the future, but for now, I enjoy what I am hearing.
 
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