Audio Research Ref 3 Opinions

Guidocorona: The Ref 2 was not unique. If you look at the release dates of Audio Research products in the Audiogon BlueBook section you will see that this practice has involved many of their products in the past, and many times the new version appeared within a year or two of the previous model.

Oh well, companies that have strong market presence with products with unique personalities will always be a little controversial and become the favorite topic of animated discussions. On the other hand, I hope we will be able to keep the bulk of the postings on this thread roughly on topic. I'd like to invite anyone who is visiting CES to comment on the Ref 3, if they have already seen it.

reb1208 could you elaborate on your statement above ?
"Still uses a digital volume control.........>>red flag."

I have just called Audio Research. I have confirmation that Ref 3's price is the same as the older Ref 2 Mk.2. This is welcome news inddeed, as I was fearing/expecting/dreading a higher price. The product is being shown in Vegas at CES as I write. I will receive a blurb in the mail during the next couple of days about it. I will OCR it and post salient passages to the thread as soon as I receive it.

I ordered a new REF 2 just before the new year, matter of fact, I didn´t know (neither my local shop) that the REF 3 was available, so originally I ordered a REF 2 and only early this week, when the shipment was suppoused to leave the States, we found out of the new REF 3. It´s on its way now, expected arrival by saturday next week toghether with a Krell 700 cx...I cannot wait!
Now, I have a question: I received the specs by fax yesterday from AR (incredible service, one call and 2 minutes later, 3 pages on my machine) and can see that there are several differences on the specs when compared to the REF 2. Specifically, the ones that rings me a bell are gain (lower than ref 2), higher impedance output than the ref 2. Can anyone enlighten me with what does these differences mean? I can post the specs here if needed, yesterday were not listed on the ARC Data Base.
thanks!
Brgds, Marcelo
Spain