Audio Research REF 80S Reviews/Comparisons

Thanks dhite71 OP

My 150SE is not operable. When it does come back repaired I will  have a tough choice to make. Between the cost of repairs and a new tubeset that I am sure ARC will insist upon I am not likely to recoup a lot of money-relative to costs-on the used market so I may keep it. 

I don't expect the 80S to make a huge difference. I hope there is an incremental change for the better. Even if there is not, I will admit that the idea of less tubes to maintain, the new feature set, and the drastically better looks (the 150SE is pretty plain jane!) will be sufficient for me. But I will be frank-with the new four layer circuit board and what is claimed to be a better circuit design I am optimistic I will like the sound better. 

I would love to know who at ARC is at the helm of recent circuit design. ARC touts Warren Gehl as "design engineer" but I don't buy it. Ever since the tragic early passing of this guy, ARC (imho) has not been clear as to who the brains behind the operation is. 

The best things for me is that 80s have RCA input besides with XLR. They finally realize that both kinds of input will be more welcomed than that before with XLR only.

I am a true believer in true balanced. The Ref 6 was optimized for running balanced and even though some may disagree, running true balanced is not only about hum rejection. Since my Ref 150 SE blew, I have been using my Ampsandsound Nautilus which offers both fake-balanced (transformer coupled since on SET amp can not by definition be balanced) and SE inputs. I have tried both. Even with the transformer coupled "balanced" inputs, running XLR's rather than RCA's sounds much better. My XLR's are Cardas Clear Beyond. My RCA'S are Analysis Plus Silver Apex. No doubt "it all depends" but with the Ref 6 the scary-real soundstage depth, height, and width collapses with RCA's. Bass tonality suffers too. 

As another example, I have a Luxman 750u headphone amp. It needed a minor repair (internal fuse). The tech who repaired if for me, Steven Leckrone, emphasized to me that the Luxman circuitry on his test bench made it clear to him that running balanced from input to output (the headphones) was essential for best sound. 

@fsonicsmith I agree. If you are talking the same pre, I will choose XLR output too.

But if the pre has only RCA output, and I love that sound,then there is no choice.

We must ask the power amplifier with RCA input.

Conrad Johnson , VTSP 360 and Rega pre ,and Luxman Cl38uc ,they are all very good,but go down with RCA only.

I listen to many pres and till now,I  stay with the pre with RCA only.

At end of day, What kind of house sound let you make the decision.

@fsonicsmith - sorry if I blinked and missed something, .... but what happened to your Ref 150SE?  Did you get the Ref 80S yet?  If so, did you get a chance to compare the 150SE to the 80S?

I took the same journey.  My Ref 150SE needed an expensive repair (start-up circuit needed a thermister and solenoid switch).  I decided to go the Ref 80S route as noted above.  My 80S is pretty much broken in now and sounds terrific.  I don't have a good sonic memory, but I think it sounds incrementally better than the 150SE.  As noted by me and others, I like the circuit enhancements, especially the fuses on the KT-150s.  I suffered through blown bias resisters in the past and it is no fun to soldier in new ones.

I look forward to hearing your reactions.

BIF