Berkeley Alpha Reference run direct

One factor here might be the sensitivity of the amps used. With my BAR feeding the Ayre amps, the volume control is usually in the 45-52 range. Berkeley recommends a setting of 54 if connected to a preamp, so I suspect I'm losing little data at that level. If run thru a pair of LAMM amps, my BAR volume was down around 32-34. I definitely preferred preamp when listening to the LAMMs.

Joeinid - In your opinion with the AR Ref 6, is the preamp super highly resolving, and thus makes imperfect recordings sound just that way, imperfect? Or is it distorting the signal somehow, resulting in the forward soundstage and punchy on-steroids feel?

The sensitivity of the Berkeley Reference is adjustable.  It is then possible to run the volume control at a higher setting. Since that adjustment increases the resolution that argument for the necessity of a preamp is thereby eliminated.

kodak805 - How is the sensitivity adjustable on the BAR? It says nothing about that in my owner's manual. It it something Berkeley must set?

Joeinid - In your opinion with the AR Ref 6, is the preamp super highly resolving, and thus makes imperfect recordings sound just that way, imperfect? Or is it distorting the signal somehow, resulting in the forward soundstage and punchy on-steroids feel?

The Ref 6 is NOT distorting the signal. It just doesn't let a bad recording sound good. It lets it all through, good or bad.

I have not heard the ARC Ref 5SE recently, but it's more forgiving and probably not as resolving compared to the Ref 6 (check the thread in the amp and preamp section).

I am personally thinking about the Ref 10 or KX-R Twenty to go with my MX-R Twenty amps.