2. amps-preamps
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Is it really night and day

I just read that someone went from a ARC ref-5se to a Ref-6. They claim it is a night and day difference. For some reason I find that hard to believe. I can see there being a difference but night and day to me is an exaggeration. I'll tell you why I think this way. I had an ARC LS-25 for about 10 years and I always thought It was a good pre-amp. One day I got a bug up my ass and decided to upgrade to a LS-27. 

While I will agree the 27 is better than the 25 I would not say there is a night and day difference. Now that is a spread of about 10 years in a model. So of course you do expect some improvements and I have received those. 

Now going back to the Ref-5se. I think it has been around about 3 years. Now they have the Ref-6. So in 3 years there is a night and day difference between the 5Se and the 6 but after a 10 year period between the Ls-25 and the 27 there are a few minor differences. 



taters
last_lemming
638 posts
 
OP - Amen brother!!! 

The exaggerations have always had to be there for one of two reasons from what I can tell:

1. If the reviewers don't exaggerate how do they convince you to ditch that totally acceptable $5000 piece of gear to get a marginal at best or just lateral move for just $10,000. 

Or

2.  You just spent $10,000 and you need to justify how this marginal if not latteral equipment upgrade is worth it. 

This isnt to say there arnt huge leaps, but in my experience from one generation to another do not huge night and day differences make. 
gpgr4blu
1,086 posts
 
I agree with JMcGrogan. Since most people on this forum (me included) are constantly listening for ANY improvement to their systems, when we hear a marked improvement (ie 15 percent vs, say, 10 percent), we call that night and day. 
taters OP
1,149 posts
 
Ivan,

I think the comparison you gave would be night and day. But it is far from the comparison I gave.

koestner
668 posts
 
I have often found that audiophiles drop off the "in" from the front when they use the word significant.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,624 posts
 
taters-
 Ihave had the pleasure of auditioning the ARC Ref3, Ref5 & Ref5 SE models.  The Ref6 is going to have to be very "special" to top the 5SE pre-amp.
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