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ARC Ref 5se VS ARC Ref 6

Ok i need some help and opinions. I just auditioned at my home the ARC Ref 6. All i can say is WOW. !!!!!!!!! I was truly blown away with the sound. Everything is truly there . To me there are no short comings. Ok let me start off by saying that originally i was looking for a used ARC Ref 3. Then i started reading on some forums and on here that the 5 was very close to the 3 and the 5se was truly a great sounding unit and upgrade from the 3. I really wanted to audition the 5se at my home but unfortunately he just sold his demo and only had the 6. I really cant afford the 6 right now brand new But after hearing the 6 with my system im wondering if i purchase a 5se would i be disapointed after hearing the 6. Like the 3 vs the 5se i read it was a very big difference , Is the 6 a really big difference in sound ? Should i wait for a used 6? I know that i have read great reviews on the 5se. I just wish i could of heard the 5se also in my system to compare / decide for my self. Any help would be very much appreciated . 
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cleeds
5,943 posts
 
ct0517
I have always equated company flagship preamps, you know, the ones that really showcase a company’s talents, to preamps with isolated power supplies and adjustable gain. These features separate the men from the boys, imo.
The Ref 10 checks both these two boxes; but why did it take ARC so long to figure it out again after the flagship models of the past that had these features ? A change in people that do the thinking ?
I’m not sure what you mean here. The SP-10, SP-11 and SP-15 were all two-box affairs, and they date to the early -80s. When ARC went to the Reference preamp series, it still used two boxes: One for the line stage, one for the phono.

I do see there is room in the REF 10, to put a phono stage. So why did they not do it; I mean if its a quest for the best sonics ?
I’m not sure what you mean here. First you argue that a preamp should be two boxes, then you suggest they should squeeze more into each box.

IMO, A separate additional box, and more cables to hookup phono when dealing with that tiny vinyl signal is not a good thing ...
It’s not a tiny phono signal once it leaves the phono preamp - it’s a line level signal just like any other. And there are advantages to having the phono preamp in a separate box, including being able to site it where it works best, such as close to the turntable.
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Cleeds - I’m not sure what you mean here


You are welcome to peruse my virtual system. The answers to your questions are there for sharing. My cards are face up. 8^0

If you still have questions after, I prefer you ask me there. You see the OP TTM has made his decision on this thread, and has no interest in vinyl, phono stages, and tiny, vibrating, resonating, signals.

asquaretail
23 posts
 
Curious if anyone has used these ARC Ref's with Clayton M300's?   Considering the next step from a NAC 272 although not sure its necessary.  I won't be moving quickly on this but always start plotting early.  
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david12
1,454 posts
 

I don't expect many to agree with me, but I have always preferred ARC's Power to it's Pre amps, or at least felt them to be better value. I have used the reference 75SE for some years now and never expect to change it. I looked around for some time for a Pre to do it justice, but couldn't really afford the Ref 5, which was available at the time, not the SE.

I tried the Ref 3 and yes it was very good, but found I preferred the sound of the Modwright 36.5 and it was cheaper. It seems to match the 75SE very well and again don't plan to change. So if like me, the 5SE and 6  are out of your price range, the Modwright might be worth a listen.

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