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Problem with brand new black ARC Ref 6

I thought i would write telling you about my experience when i purchased my brand new black ARC Ref 6 preamp about a month ago. It was working fine for a few days and then when i went to press the tube hours on the remote to display on the preamp the unit would cut off, or go to a different auxiliary. It would not happen all the time but often enough to know something was not right. I contacted ARC personally about this and Evan from ARC said it could be the remote. He said to bring it to my ARC dealer that i had bought it from and try his remote from his Ref 6. Same results as before. I was very disappointed as this did not solve the problem. I called Evan again and told him it still was malfunctioning. He said he never ever heard of this problem before and asked me if i wanted a new preamp and said he was so sorry about that. Since it was being returned i asked him if i could get the natural silver instead of the black he said no problem . Within about a week or so my new ARC Ref came to my dealer and all is fine with this one. I just want to say that dealing with ARC they are awesome and second to none with dealing with a problem. They take care of their customers with the very best and professionalism one could ever ask for from a company. Could not be happier !!!! Also i am in NJ and my ARC dealer is Audio Connection in Verona... John is the owner and he is an awesome guy in the business.Knows his components inside and out... I have been dealing with them since 1990 when i first bought my Counterpoint SA 220 amp and SA 2000 preamp. He is and was always there for me with any questions or concerns or problems. Truly old school.  Thank you Evan from ARC and  John from Audio Connection !!!!!!!!!
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bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Just picked up a dealer demo Ref 6 with 610 hours on it and some original ARC warranty remaining.  Still getting used to the remote.  I hope my wife never throws the metal remote at me.  Darn thing is heavy.

So far I think I am ok with the unit. I have owned many ARC units over the years and have never had a problem, except for blown biasing resisters when I ran 6550 power tubes that arced in my amps (VS 115 and old Ref 150).  My Ref 150SE uses KT 150 tubes which are very robust and so far, no problems with arcing.  

Must say that I am surprised to even see a thread like this.  ARC is OCD about QC.  It is surprising indeed to read that any modern units have failed.   I guess sh*t just happens.

BIF 

P.S. - if I read the Ref 6 manual correctly, there is a setting that provides for unit pass-through volume.  If that is so, fellow Ref 6 owners should be careful to never hit that setting.  You'll likely blow your amp and speakers. 
tattooedtrackman's avatar
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tattooedtrackman OP
884 posts
 
@bifwynne .......Unit pass through volume is only for when a secondary control device is integrated into the system such as a surround processor . Hitting that setting would do nothing unless there is a secondary control device hooked up. 
tattooedtrackman's avatar
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tattooedtrackman OP
884 posts
 
@bifwynne ......... Warranty states in owners manual that it is limited to the original purchaser . And a photo copy of the dated purchase receipt. I do not think if you buy a unit second hand they will honor the limited warranty. 
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
@tattooedtrackman:  "Warranty states in owners manual that it is limited to the original purchaser . And a photo copy of the dated purchase receipt. I do not think if you buy a unit second hand they will honor the limited warranty." 

I am sure you are correct, but I bought my demo unit from an authorized ARC dealer.  Per ARC, I step into his shoes and take the balance of the dealer's warranty.   In my case, ... about 10 months.

Hopefully, I will never need it.  Have read some other threads where one or two folks had a problem.  I surmise that after 2+ years and 610 hours, if there was a bug, it would have presented itself by now.

As to your other point re the unitary pass-thru, ... please forgive me if I do not test what you just wrote.  lol  

BIF 
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Re unitary gain -- ideally you should operate your pre amp as close to unitary gain (1:1) as possible i.e. avoiding active amplification and avoiding excessive use of the volume control. To the extent you can manage gain upstream of the amp you'll find it better if you do this then if you send in too small a signal (and have to up the volume into the 6-12dB of available gain) or if you have to run the volume control at <30 on the 110 point setting. In my experience the range 40-60 (or 70) sounds best.

ps this will also obviate any risk in excessive gain in switching between sources, or inadvertently activating the pass through
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