Which amp? ARC GS150 or Reference 150 SE? .....

[joeinid]

ARC Ref 150 SE has no meters for biasing the tubes, but other than that, any ideas which may sound better? I suspect the Ref 150 SE will win on sound quality. Do I need my own meter to bias the Ref 150 SE? Thoughts? Thanks!

I think the Ref 75 SE may be enough. Anyone upgrading or buying a new Reference SE amp?

 

[cmalak]

With what preamp and assuming Strads?

 

[joeinid]

With what preamp and assuming Strads?

Hi Cyril,

GAT to start (possibly with an adapter or RCA to XLR cable) or Berkeley Reference DAC direct to amp. If I like what I hear, I'd consider an ARC preamp.

Strads of course, unless I still have the 40.1's.

 

[Ritmo]

Joe,

Impossible to offer an opinion at this point. If I had to choose between the current Ref150 and tbe GS150, to me, the choice is simple - the GS150. The GS is a wonderful sounding amp and, as you mentioned, the meter and bias adjustment capabilities are terrific. Lastly, the thing looks great.

Once the Ref150SE comes out, then we'll be in a position to opine.

2 cents my friend...

 

[highEndguy]

Probably they are going to sound the same
I'm keeping my GS



Sent from my iPhone

 

[cmalak]

There are some reasons to think the GS-150 will have a slight edge over the Ref150-SE even though that's still not widely available and hence little to no feedback yet on it but my reasoning is:

1) the GS-150 was designed from the outset as a KT-150 based amp so circuit design, parts selection (passive and active) were likely chosen and optimized over development period for KT-150 tube vs. the Ref150-SE was originLly designed with the KT-120 in mind and in retro-fitting the KT-150 to the amp and making a few changes to parts is likely a good but probably not an optimal set-up for KT-150 tubes.

2) the GS-150 chassis is supposedly orders of magnitude stiffer/more rigid than Ref150SE chassis, thus reducing any micro phonic vibrations reaching tubes.

The first point is largely reasoned conjecture, the second point has been widely talked about by ARC reps and in discussions on other fora.

 

[joeinid]

Thank you Mike, Cyril and Nelson. Reports are coming in slowly but ARC seems to be doing the right thing.

 

[Dizzie]

I do not understand how a more rigid chassis reduces micro-phonic vibration. Could someone please elaborate? What is the original source for the vibrations? In my mind rigid transmits vibrations. Is there increased mass in the GS chassis?

 

[microstrip]

Hi Cyril,

GAT to start (possibly with an adapter or RCA to XLR cable) or Berkeley Reference DAC direct to amp. If I like what I hear, I'd consider an ARC preamp.

Strads of course, unless I still have the 40.1's.

Joe,

Preferences are quite personnel, but I never enjoyed an ARC amplfier driven by a cj preamplifier. My last experience was trying my cj ART series 3 with the ARC REF150, but IMHO the sound signature of both brands is very clear and does not allow each of them to show their best if used together.

Again IMHO, you will need at less a REF5 Se, REF40 or REF10 to appreciate in full the capacities of the GS150! :blush:

I will say an heresy - I prefer by a wide margin the REF40 + REF150 to the GSPRE + GS150. But surely I am thinking about the REF40 + GS150 very seriously ...

 

[joeinid]

Joe,

Preferences are quite personnel, but I never enjoyed an ARC amplfier driven by a cj preamplifier. My last experience was trying my cj ART series 3 with the ARC REF150, but IMHO the sound signature of both brands is very clear and does not allow each of them to show their best if used together.

Again IMHO, you will need at less a REF5 Se, REF40 or REF10 to appreciate in full the capacities of the GS150! :blush:

I will say an heresy - I prefer by a wide margin the REF40 + REF150 to the GSPRE + GS150. But surely I am thinking about the REF40 + GS150 very seriously ...

Thank you for your opinion. Being a CJ fan, I am not sure how I will feel about ARC long term. I've heard the Ref 5se and Ref 150 in a friends system a while ago and I enjoyed what I heard. The new gear, especially with KT-150's, has me intrigued. I agree about the preamp situation. I am not in a position right now to give the ARC amp what it needs to perform at its best.