Audio Research REF 80S Reviews/Comparisons

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

@bifwynne 

My 80S is due to arrive today. My Ref 150 SE remains all boxed up and taking up space in our foyer waiting for word from ARC as to an RMA. I am constantly tempted to simply take it to my local tech. ARC not willing to provide a schematic is one hurdle and the high cost of KT150's is another. 

@bifwynne

1) What did you end up doing with your 150 SE? Once repaired I need to decide if it worth selling them or just hanging on to them for a while. Between being discontinued and repaired I suspect they won’t sell for much.

2) Although every loudspeaker is (duh) different, what is the nominal impedance of your Paradigm Sig S8 V3’s and what tap did you find best?

3) Did you play around at all with power cords? And related to that, are you going to through a power conditioner or straight to the wall?

I will never know for sure, but I suspect my 150 SE failure had something to do with plugging it into an Isotek Aquarius that in turn was being fed by an Isotek EVO3 Syncro. When my startup fuse and nearby resistor blew, the fuse blew in the Aquarius and I suspect the failure was due to inadequate current supply in the face of heavy current draw though I have basically no understanding of EE. Granted, I had been using my amp this way for over three years with no problem. But this time with the new amp I am going right to the wall which has a dedicated circuit.