audio research REF 150

I went to a local dealer recently and had the chance to compare the new VSI75 integrated, Reference 75 and reference 110 with KT120 valves. I was hoping to get away with an integrated instead of the Reference 75, as the former is said to have similar circuitry to the ref 75.

All were played through Wilson Duete speakers. There was a very clear difference in sound quality, with marked improvements at each point.

The VSI 75 was clearly inferior to the others, in detail, soundstage, it was grainy and muddy compared with the others.

Next was the 110 with KT120 valves and much closer to it was the Reference 75, which was a clear though not night and day improvement, over the older, but more expensive model. I have the Ref 75 on order.

Ref 150 Update: Been listening to a variety of music from both CD and LP sources. Currently listening to von Karajan conducting Berlin Philharmonic, performing Schubert's 8th and 9th Symphonies (DG) on my CD player. I will dispense with the usual audiophile superlatives and simply say WOW. Outstanding!! That's it.

At first I felt guilty for dropping the cash for the Ref 150 for all the obvious reasons, especially since I always thought the ARC VS-115 did a great job. Why improve great?? Well ... there's great and then there's GREAT.

Also, let's face it. How long are any of us going to be around I rhetorically ask? If audio is my worst sin, but it makes me happy, why not splurge a little? It's not like I bought a Stingray when I already own 3 other top end sport cars parked on the street.

Well, the Jewish High Holidays are rolling in next week. Might be an opportune time to confess buying the Ref 150 along with my other 613 sins and hope I'm granted atonement. For all I know, when I knock on Heaven's door, an Angel might tell me to come back. The Heavenly Court is taking a music break, listening to its new Ref 150 pounding out Schubert's 8th and 9th. LOL!

Happy New Year to my fellow MOTs and my best to everyone else.

Cheers

Ref 150 update: still loving the amp.

I continue to be impressed by the amp's ability to negotiate (if that's proper audio-speak) complex musical passages and effortlessly handle transients. The dynamic headroom is just fantastic -- I guess that speaks to the upgraded 1000 joule power supply. Double the Ref 110's.

Even though bass slam and low end extension is somewhat better off of the 4 ohm taps (probably because it's the lowest output impedance tap), as I've posted elsewhere, so far, I think my speakers sound their overall best when plugged into the 8 ohm taps.

3-D imaging and soundstage are eerie. My speakers are just about invisible. Imaging seems to be about 2 or 3 feet behind the speaker fronts and I can almost discern where voices and instruments are located. Overall acoustic presentation is excellent.

If you're in the market for a tube amp, I highly recommend this amp. Just a caveat. As I have also commented elsewhere, electrical compatibility with your speakers is key. Do your research and try to audition a like combo if possible. There are many threads running about this issue.

Cheers,

Bruce

Ref 150 post -- Thought it was worthwhile to share one more quick reaction.

Was listening to Von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic performing Brahms 2nd and 3rd Symphonies (DG redbook CD). Let's just say that Brahms must have been feeing real good when he composed these works because when well performed the incredible dynamic range and mix of instruments could easily overwhelm any system. I was extremely impressed by the poise and control that my rig had over the music.

Not sure if the Ref 150 gets all the kudos or ARC system synergy deserves some too. I suspect the amp deserves the lion's share of the credit though.

Btw, I'm running a little experiment with the "redbook" CD side of the house. I order Gold and HD XRS (?? thinks that's the designation) quality "redbook" CDs from Acoustic Sounds (one each). These designations are supposed to show that the CDs were mastered and produced with lots of TLC and are supposed to sound better. I should receive the CDs in a few days. I'll post my comments here and on one the digital quality threads.

Good evening .

I have been having a little "FuN" switching the output taps on a REF-150 driving Martin Logan CLX's and find myself concurring with a post made by another member , sfischer1, earlier in this thread ~

"11-21-11: Sfischer1
Just spent a couple full days using a demo 150 with my Martin Logan CLX full range electrostatics. Even though the MLs have a tough impedance that drops to an ohm at high frequencies, the best sounding tap by a large margin was the 16 ohm connection"

Considering the CLX's nominal 6 Ohms impedance dipping down to 0.7 Ohms @ 20K would not our subjective findings contradict the recommendation made by John Atkinson contained within the Stereophile review ~

" All taps behaved similarly when it came to the maximum output power. Into a load twice the nominal tap value, the Ref150 clipped (defined as 1% THD) at 90W (19.6dBW, fig.4). Into the nominal tap value, it clipped at the specified 150W (21.75dBW, fig.5), but with a higher level of distortion. Into half the tap value, the amplifier clipped at 80W (13dBW, fig.6), but with even higher distortion at lower powers. It is important, therefore, to use the transformer tap that best matches your preferred loudspeaker."

" with the caveat that it performs at its best with loudspeakers that have impedances equal to or higher than the nominal output-tap impedance.—John Atkinson "

Where is that 'confused' emoticon when one needs one !