2. amps-preamps
  3. 186701-172412

ARC amp differences.

Heya,

I got a chance to listen to some Adonis Faber Serifinos the other day and absolutely loved them. They were detailed, but also musical. It was paired with a ARC VT-80. 
 

I was actually thinking that maybe I go up a notch and look at the ARC reference 80s but it was not available for demo. They did have the ARC 160s.
 

would it be to assume ithat if I like the 160s with the Serifinos then I would also like the 80s? If I like the 160s jugs that kind of power just overkill. My listening space is 20x14 and I will rarely try and super loud. 
 

 

if anyone has other tube amp recommendations pls feel free. I am looking for that slightly warm of neutral sound that holds the detail. 
 

thanks

mbarmash
jetter
3,033 posts
 

@mbarmash Is it possible that your C22 is just ready for new tubes?  They can degrade so slowly over time you don't notice it.

mbarmash OP
4 posts
 

@jetter The pre-amp is less than a year old. I think this is just the nature of the unit.

cundare2
264 posts
 
I was just reading a comment that Alan Shaw (Harbeth) recommends that his speakers be used with SS ampllification. Interesting, if true.
yesiam_a_pirate's avatar
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yesiam_a_pirate
189 posts
 

I'm not sure why jasonbourne is so exercised about ARC. Maybe it's because he can't get a set of  Ref 160 monoblocks in his Mini Cooper :)

Tube gear is fussy- like a Ferrari is fussy. You have to pay to play. My experience with ARC has been very satisfying. Both with their gear and their service department. 

ghdprentice
6,953 posts
 

While I agree tube gear is a little bit “fussy”… I would like to add a bit of nuance to that.
 

The reason is that tube gear has that reputation… but high quality equipment like Audio Research will occasionally require re-tubing an very, very occasionally have a badly behaved tube.

So, I ran my Ref 5SE phonostage for ten years and never needed to touch it. I used it about an hour a day. Which while working was about all one can do. I have run my full system of tubed equipment for three or four years with one tube that started to whistle… it was simple to swap tubes and find the culprit, in ten minutes. That is it.

For a few decades I was put off by this reputation (for power amps)… and it was a real mistake. It is important to realize that on average they are not unreliable at all. I’m guessing I put 15,000+ component hours on my tube gear with one whistling tube. Auto-biasing in contemporary equipment and slow startup circuits for tubes makes them no-touch for long periods of time.

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