What's a contender to an Audio Reference 5 SE?

To go back to the original question, I must say I do like the ARC Ref 5SE, but not the price. I believe ARC do better Power than Pre Amps, just my view. The Ref 75SE I use, is remarkably good.

Some excellent suggestions re alternative Pre Amps, one I haven't seen is the Modwright 36.5, which I use with the Ref 75 now. I think it is clearly better than the ARC Ref 3 and the 2 box version of the 36.5 is definitely better than the single chassis 36.5 I have. I haven't heard them side by side, but I think the 2 box Modwright will be better than the 5SE and a good bit cheaper, plus the company is great to deal with.

Oregonpapa,

The last 2 years Randy used the Vandersteens amps. I think they were designed around their statement speakers.

Bo1972,

If what you say is true does that mean Mcintosh is also using cheaper parts. They are both owned by the same company.

There are many these days. It's a sad thing. It is in different price ranges.

The thing I don't like is that they use their name from the past. I can name a lot more. These days the words honesty and respect are hard to find in the world of audio.

The focus is only based on money and personal benefit. In Munic during the higend show we saw how worse the level of highend is these days.

And in the mid level it ain't different. It will influence the future of audio a lot. I think many people are not aware of it now. At the end they will, and then it is too late.

They need to focus more on the youth, the quality does not affect them. And you can't blame them.

In 5-10 years the world of audio will be a lot different than today.

Bo1972
we are in golden age of quality and choice..never have we had such great selection of caps, res, transformers, wire, etc in components and a wide variety of price points. REF 5 SE blows away my SP-6 of old..
you might be right about the kids and ten years out..but this is good RIGHT now.