I hate biasing!

Hey Liz, … is that you.  Are you back??  I've been off the Gon for some time.  If it's you, glad to see you posting again.  :)  BIF

I own a Ref 150 SE and have to bias 8 KT-150 tubes.  Can't say I love manual biasing either.  

FWIW, I think ARC just came out with Ref 160 mono block amps that have an auto bias circuit.  No more fuss or mess.  

Interesting change of philosophy at ARC. I recall many years ago a conversation I had with either Lenard or Kal about the benefits of manual biasing.  One or both of them told me that ARC thought that an auto biasing circuit would in someway degrade the purity of the signal path.  Perhaps ARC's R&D folks figured out a way to insert an auto bias circuit that is more benign to the circuit, …  or maybe the original philosophy was just bogus. Dunno. 

Whatever the reason, I surmise that ARC's original philosophy at the time was sincere. I gotta believe that the marginal cost increase associated with adding auto biasing components was de minimis when compared to the MRSP of the amp.

Regards,   

BIF

As I mentioned in another Ref 6 thread re plexi covers, I just traded in my Ref 5SE for a Ref 6.  While at the dealer, I saw that he had a pair of Ref160Ms tied into Magico S5 MK II speakers.  Didn't get a chance to take a listen.  

Has anyone had a chance to check out the new Ref 160?  Major bucks.  The pair lists for $30K.

I read the Ref 160 specs.  They are identical to the Ref 150SE.  Means nothing of course, but I am curious if anyone has a done a serious listen, especially if they are familiar with the Ref 150SE.  

Quite curious if the Ref 160s are in "another league" as compared to the Ref 150SE.  Given that  a Ref 160 pair costs twice as much as the Ref 150SE, I can only assume they will sound twice as good.  lol

Roger,

At first I thought the Ref 160 monos were a Ref 150SE split in two.  Separate power supplies and power trannies of course.  But a close look at the specs show some small differences.  So maybe the Ref 160 does have some new bells and whistles that add to SQ.  

For example, I understand that the Ref 160 can be switched to play in triode mode.  Mike, a dealer and founder of Audio Shark, reports that  triode mode is like being in heaven.

Oh, a point relevant to this thread, as I mentioned above, the Ref 160 auto biases.  That's a nice feature.

All that said, there is no way I would drop $30K on an amp (or in this case, ... amps).   Aside from space issues, after my wife got done with me, I'd be talking like Minnie Mouse.

BIF