Audio Research I/50

another downside is that the voltage is not switchable.

Anyone try the manual bias procedure yet ??

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I had a chance to listen to the Audio Research I/50 at John Rutan's place last weekend. It was driving Vandersteen VLR CT's with a pair of REL T5/i's. Source was an Auralic Altair G1 I believe. 

Very engaging system that really left me wanting for nothing. When I asked Jeff what the sonic differences were between the I/50 and the Rogue Cronus Magnum III he said the I/50 was more lush, romantic and tubey in comparison. 

I may ask John for an in-house demo of the I/50, but I'll probably hold off until the winter. As my upstairs listening room can get hot!  

Somebody asked why ARC didn't "just include" auto bias in the i50.  Because it costs.  And it would then compete with the more expensive models.  

I don't know if this is how they did t, but the old Classic 30, 60, and 120 amps used a servo...an inexpensive chip...to maintain bias once set.  That's what Raven did on their $5k integrated. 

Auto bias circuits have been done for years.  But is the "auto" when it is static, while the tubes idle?  What happens when you turn up music?  Or tubes age?  Or one tube goes a LITTLE whacky? Or maybe it was whacky when you bought the amp?