I own a Ref 150 SE and have to bias 8 KT-150 tubes. Can't say I love manual biasing either.
FWIW, I think ARC just came out with Ref 160 mono block amps that have an auto bias circuit. No more fuss or mess.
Interesting change of philosophy at ARC. I recall many years ago a conversation I had with either Lenard or Kal about the benefits of manual biasing. One or both of them told me that ARC thought that an auto biasing circuit would in someway degrade the purity of the signal path. Perhaps ARC's R&D folks figured out a way to insert an auto bias circuit that is more benign to the circuit, … or maybe the original philosophy was just bogus. Dunno.
Whatever the reason, I surmise that ARC's original philosophy at the time was sincere. I gotta believe that the marginal cost increase associated with adding auto biasing components was de minimis when compared to the MRSP of the amp.
Regards,
BIF
FWIW, I think ARC just came out with Ref 160 mono block amps that have an auto bias circuit. No more fuss or mess.
Interesting change of philosophy at ARC. I recall many years ago a conversation I had with either Lenard or Kal about the benefits of manual biasing. One or both of them told me that ARC thought that an auto biasing circuit would in someway degrade the purity of the signal path. Perhaps ARC's R&D folks figured out a way to insert an auto bias circuit that is more benign to the circuit, … or maybe the original philosophy was just bogus. Dunno.
Whatever the reason, I surmise that ARC's original philosophy at the time was sincere. I gotta believe that the marginal cost increase associated with adding auto biasing components was de minimis when compared to the MRSP of the amp.
Regards,
BIF