2. amps-preamps
  3. 1104192194

ARC Ref mark2 vc Supratek Chardonnay

I'm looking to upgrade my ARC LS15 and the two pre's I have narrowed the field down to are the Ref mark2 and the Supratek.I know there are a lot of happy Supratek owners on this site( I have posted in the asylum but get the feeling Supratek owners frequent here.) Have any of you directly compared these two pre's?I have talked to a couple of Supratek owners who are delighted. Would the chardonnay be a sideways step or a forwards one?I don't have a bias either way.I know thre is a ref3 on the way.
Accompanying gear- ARC CD3 ( balanced), Plinius SA100 ( soon to be Sa ref) and Shahinians.Music taste classical and jazz.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
ella4ever
judy426
228 posts
 
Reference Mark 2 is nice but like all AR gear is overpriced.
baranyi's avatar
baranyi
719 posts
 
You might want to post this question on the Preamp deal of the century thread where most of the Supratek owners frequent.
wc65mustang
524 posts
 
I think you're comparing apples to oranges here as the Chardonnay retails for around $2,000 and the Reference Mark 2 at $10,000. However, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if the Supratek outperformed the AR. The Ref Mk 2 is one of the most overhyped and overrated line stages on the market.
magnepanmike
57 posts
 
"overhyped and overrated line stages on the market."

WOW!
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
Wc65mustang: where did you get that info from ? are you an ex-Ref 2 mk 2 user ?

I'm just curious since i'm planning to get this pre.
More to discover