modifications you have done to ARC REF 3

Hansk, take a look at my recent comment on another ARC thread where I made some comments about the Ref 3 versus Ref 5. I haven't heard the Ref 5 SE yet, but I did own the Ref 3 and now the Ref 5. While the Ref 5 is slightly more refined, as I already said, NOT a day and night improvement. I think the Ref 3 will go down as a classic pre-amp.

Hello forummembers ,my latest modification is the powersupply upgrade as ARC is doing in the REF5 to SE.
Could not use the the capacitorboard , as the is no space in the REF 3 , so I had to make myself one .What did it bring me , well better basweight and response , and more detail in the middle , important for the voices .Pictures of the inside of my REF3 SE upon request.

Hans, is this a DIY upgrade?? How did you know what components to use? Did you change out the coupling caps too? Sounds like the sound from my Ref 5 may actually be improved when ARC does my SE upgrade next month if you hear a different with the Ref 3.

There's so much hype out there. When I changed out my Ref 3 for a Ref 5, I was expecting a major big time improvement. Well not to these old ears. Maybe a little more refined, but NOT a day and night difference.

Hello Bifwynne , yes it is a DIY upgrade ,I have the schematics of my REF3 and with the help of an REF5se owner
it was easy for me to see where to connect the wires and which components were used ( all components like the ARC originals easy to order at the WEB )Two years ago the coupling caps and the two output tubes were replaced by a high quality output transformer.The cheap and lowclass rectifiers in the highpowerunit were replaced by highclass ones and an extra capacitor added at the end of the 6550 output line to the two output tubes .Up until now I have not been able to compare my REF3SE with the REF5SE , but I think , and what I noticed with other audiofriends , this is a REF5SE and 6SE and 7 SE killer.

Hello forum members, yesterday i received a NOS Tungsol black plate 6550 tube , with date code 57 , replaced the smooth gey plate , and believe me , you all should do that !