Audio Research Pre-Amp advice

@cleeds is correct, we both own the same 2 ARC components that utilize the 6550 in the power supply. Im not in front of my manual but my memory is the ARC recommendation for change interval on the 6550 is 2K hours. i change the 6550 religiously. My comment about NOS USA New Jersey Tung Sol blackplate was very specific as i worked w Andy at Vintage tube services in Michigan USA to tease out the best 6550 for the 5se AND importantly my system and tastes. i know they are “ expensive “… But not really when considering a Koetsu Urushi at $6k has about a 1,200 life…. $ or ¥ or € or £ is all relative…. Frankly a very reliable supplier of the critical 6550 is ARC themselves…stringent grading and burn in and excellent packaging. i keep 2 on hand as my phono use same.

@daveteauk I am not sure how you reached the conclusion i’ve not changed the 6H30’s. 

Best to all in music….

PS this morning i’m listening to a nice system w 20 NOS tubes in the LP playback chain including 5 x Mazda in the Phono, 4 x Orange Globes in the Line… and mostly Mullards in a not so stock… 1961 MC-240… life is fun….

Tomic601- that‘s awesome!

I get ARC select tubes from Upscale Audio.  They sound good.  I have been changing the 6550WE at about 1500 hours and the 6H30pi tubes at 3200 hours.  I notice a nice uptick in the sound at that point.  Using a Ref 5SE and Ref 2SE Phono.  I stocked up on tubes in 2020.  I noticed today tube prices are double what I paid 4 years ago- and I need to restock again soon.  

Got my first ARC preamp in 1988, a used SP-6b that I then had modified with upgraded components.  Used it for 14 years.  Got an SP-15 that I used for 18 years.  I sent it in for refurbishment by ARC in 2004.  And now the Ref 5SE/Ref 2 SE phono.  Good stuff.  Love having a remote control now that I am old and decrepit.  

@daveteauk

Audio Research preamps warm up profiles have changed substantially over the different models. I have not heard a Reference 3. But I have lived with a Ref 5SE and 6SE for a long time as well as a pre-REF one.

The warm up profile of a REF 5SE is that it goes through a big jump up in fidelity after about ten to fifteen minutes of music going through it. Turning it on an hour in advance does not change this. The improvement is very abrupt and happens over five or ten seconds. I had never heard such a thing before. I went to a forum and found a long discussion about this exact phenomenon. This changed completely with the REF 6. There is nearly no warm up period. The sound makes a very small improvement in the first few minutes and is then stable.

I have had four different REF 160 amps in my system for extended times. There is very little change in sound once the amp is turned on. My solid state Pass 350 actually had a longer warm up period. So, each component has a unique warm up characteristic.

I have found the sound profile as suggested by ARC is stable within the tube life recommended. I have found no reason to change tubes early.

While tube rolling is something fun to do with a number of brands of components. I do not do it with Audio Research. The components are exactly tuned for a very specific sound and changing tube brands would compromise that sound quality.

@tonywinga Right on man ! i was a CJ guy until i wasn’t…. I bought Brooks Berdan  “ museum “ SP-6 C from Sheila…. no remote… i resemble OLD… also…

I will look into the Pi series tubes…. i wish Modjeski was still around screening and grading tubes… his washout rates hit 90%. RIP RM

long may our beloved ARC gear run.

@ghdprentice i agree… after the long torture laden big capacitor bank breakin on initial purchase of the 5se, she comes on song for me at about a long 33 album side. I would suggest some of what others may perceive as longer might be IC cable dialectric forming…this is largely eliminated w use of a patented DBS cable… 

i realize upon reread my comment about CJ could be taken wrong… i hold anything they make or made in high esteem