Audio Research I/50


Does anyone know anything tangible re: the ARC I/50 Integrated, apparently soon to be released?
There are some slick-looking pics on Instagram, and I’ve seen reference to an optional phono stage and DAC, but that’s about it. Will this be their first release post McIntosh Group spin out? 
coys21

@dweller The manual says "Upon replacing a power tube or tube set, the I/50 must be biased by a trained technician to ensure proper operating values."

@stone1 Where did you read that the I/50 has auto bias? I can’t seem to find it anywhere. May I just missed it. Thanks.

 

@rsfphil i had linked to a preview above that, at the time, said something along the lines of “like all Audio Research’s recent offerings, the I/50 will have auto bias…”. Curiously, the article has been changed and no longer references that. Can’t find it anywhere else either. Huh. 

you have it here , and also found it on other site at the time.
"The i50 also uses an auto-bias configuration, so you will not have to worry about that aspect of vacuum tube operation either."
but of course its not official and things must to be checked.
https://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-audolici-i50-swing/
and here
 

 

Ah - maybe it was there (lbtech link) all along and I missed it the second time through somehow. Thanks @stone1 

@stone1 The amp from Tone is indeed an I/50, but it isn't an ARC I/50. It's from a company in Portugal. The amp from the lbtech link is the ARC I/50 and the article does say auto bias. I think the author may have jumped the gun when he said all ARC amps are auto bias. I read the owners manuals for all of their current amps and it is true that all of the ARC power amps are auto bias, but the two integrated amps aren't. The VSi75 is user adjustable and the I/50 is not. I'm pretty sure if the bias on the I/50 was automatic or user adjustable it would say so in the manual just like it did in all the ARC amp manuals I've read. I guess when you manufacture a product to a certain price point you have to make some compromises.