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Matching an Amp With ARC Reference 6 and GoldenEar Triton Ones

Having added an Audio Research Reference 6 preamp to my system (which I love), I’m interested in the community’s views on picking a compatible power amp. I’m using Cary Audio 805RS monos to power GoldenEar Triton One towers with the integrated powered subs. The rest of the system (DAC, SACD transport, PP 10 regenerator) is PS Audio.

At 27 watts of class A power, the 805s will drive the Tritons okay, but I find that I’m turning the volume on the ARC preamp up in the 45-50 range to get any decent volume.

I’ve been looking at the used market for mono blocks, and am focusing on the Audio Research 160M (at the extreme end of my budget), the older ARC Ref 210, and also came across some Brystons that seem reasonably priced. 

Thoughts on any of these?

tammanyman
ajpk1971
35 posts
 

Love my Ref 6 with McIntosh 611 Monos.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

At 27 watts of class A power, the 805s will drive the Tritons okay, but I find that I’m turning the volume on the ARC preamp up in the 45-50 range to get any decent volume

Keep in mind that volume control positioning may reflect a  "gain" issue as opposed to power.

Charles

dweller's avatar
dweller
3,786 posts
 

If your volume control is potentiometer based (mine is resistor ladder), you want it to be past the 12 o’clock position for best sound. If you speakers have powered subwoofers, I'd go with a medium-power Class A amp.

tammanyman OP
5 posts
 

Thank you all for the input. I was intrigued by the comment about gain mismatch. Well, I checked the DAC, adjusted its volume and boosted the gain. Voila! Volume problem solved. This a great forum. 

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