Berkeley Alpha Reference run direct

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.

I have an Ayre K-1xe here now. I have to strain and strain and switch back and forth and back and forth to hear the very slight differences between the K-1xe in circuit and run directly from the BAR. The KX-R Twenty would likely be a step or two above even that.

The sensitivity adjustment is explained under the heading "Left & Right Gain" on page 3 in the Preliminary Quick User Guide Software Rev 1.00.