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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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lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,602 posts
 
@jonaiken,

May I know where did you resource your 6H30P-DR from? There are so I completely agree with you on replacing the stock tubes. So far I replaced the stock 6550C in Ref 6 with Winged C SED 6550C and very pleased with the upgrade. The soundstage now bit more relaxed without the bloated bass I experienced with stock 6550WE. 
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Where does one get Winged SED 6550 C tubes?  I thought the Russian factory burned down many years ago and good quality tubes are hard to come by.  I have read that the new variant 6550 is not as good as the original Winged C.
jonaiken
53 posts
 
The 6H30P-DR’s can be purchased from the Tubestore (www.tubestore.com) out of Canada and they are currently $299.95 each - I have seen them on eBay cheaper but I rather spend a few extra dollars buying from the Tubestore.... they stand behind what they sell.  The Winged C SED 6550C on the other hand are hard to find - I stashed away a dozen a few years back.  The only place I see them now is on eBay out of Russia - don’t know the quality but might be worth taking a risk - they have a high rating. Good luck finding them they are worth it. 
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
@jonaiken 

Some years back I seem to recall a conversation with Uncle Kevin about SED Winged Cs.  Kevin said that some SED Winged Cs on the market do not spec all that well.  

I haven't checked UA's website in a while, but I seem to recall that at least for a while, Uncle Kevin had some quality SED Winged Cs in stock.  You'd have to check in with UA to know for sure if they still have  stock.

Coincidentally, I have about 8 or 10 ARC SED Winged C tubes from an old ARC amp I used town.  I am considering sending them to Rodger M for testing. If they have life, I may use them in my ARC front end components as power supply tubes.  Matching is not important since they are solos.

BIF       
jvk
6 posts
 
The Winged C 6550 are good, but even better are NOS 6550.
I am so Lucky I get my hands on some JAN GE 6550 "welded plates" which I use in my REF5, and this made a big difference in sound quality. The Stock Sovtek is trash… I also use NOS RCA 6550 together with 6H30DR in my REFCD8 With the same result. A big step up. The problem is to find this tubes...
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