Opinions on Audio Research Ref 5SE vs. Modwright 36.5DM

Fantastic reply thanks adg. I am in the UK so don't have the same access to units for audition as you might enjoy in the US, I will certainly not have the option of a comparo in my own home. With ARC's relentless model cycle the 5SE is now only 15% more than a 36.5dm hence why I asked the question. I guess  a year ago these two were not seen as the close competition they are now as used buys.

Agree with your comments on the DM power supply, it is quiet the beast. I like some of the ARC's features more (full balanced, remote and display) but its SQ that matters and I need to try and put these to the side.

truth is I probably cannot go wrong :)

If you have time I would like to hear about your tweaks, or have you posted elsewhere on that?

Cheers,
Simon

Simon,

I have spent some time w/ the ARC Ref5 SE and it is nothing less than outstanding. Mates well w/ other tubed amps or SS power amps.
Transparent XL reference or OPUS cabling is the best for this model.

Have not seen nor heard a MW 36.5 model for comparison.
Hope this helps on 1/2 of your query. Happy Listening!

I switched out all the stock tubes which are Sovtek's. Replaced with NOS Mullard GZ34 and EH 6H30 PI from Cryoset Certified. Both sets of tubes really opened it up; sounds less SS. Also using Herbie Tube dampers on all valves. Replaced the stock fuse with a SR Black fuse which again opened things up; a lot more air and speed. Per Dan's suggestion when I bought it I bought the Daedalus DiDs from him and bought a WyWires Silver Juice II PC. The end results are astonishing to say the least. No doubt between a stock unit there is no comparison. Sounds silly to say this, but I bet it would give a stock DM a run for its money so obviously the same could be done to the DM which would be interesting to try. The non DM is a beast and I bet it alone gets real close to the Ref 5SE... I'm sure it's not but a lot less money. Either of these preamps are great preamps so it probably ends up on cost and availability. Good luck.

Thanks Jalant and adg. I am still trying to understand whether I have a good impedance match between either of these amps and my active speakers (10k ohms). However you have certainly helped the MW become my front runner at this point and fortunately I can home demo to confirm that she sings in my system

Cheers,
mondie

mondie  " ... I am still trying to understand whether I have a good impedance match between either of these amps and my active speakers (10k ohms)."


ARC says the Ref 5SE should see a minimum load of 20K ohms.