Who has heard the new ARC ref 2 phono?

Lewm

Basically what the others have said. each preamp where the gain is 6H30 to me sounded somewhat sterile and unmusical.

will be interesting how the REF phono sounds as the PH7 sounds quite good.

I have always wondered why the BAT VK-P5 and VK-P10 phonostages do not use the 6H30 tubes, as they are used in all of the SE series preamps, including the REX, as well as the VK-D5SE CD player....

Hi Sdrenslow
you say:
>>> I have always wondered why the BAT VK-P5 and VK-P10 phonostages do not use the 6H30 tubes...<<<
I actually think both are 'older' designs and pre-date the serious use of that 'MIG-fighter' tube.
Also until more recently the realisation of an improved power-supply circuit for 6H30 was not fully realized. Tube socks and what else was used to make them sound more 'harmonic'.
Only once the power-supplies issues were resolved did it improve this 'over-cooked' characteristic.
I've heard the VK31SE and it still didn't do it for me then. Those tubes, said to be very long lasting/robust yet the reason given in this case was that the tubes had 'gone'.
It sounded like a tube trying to do solid-state, as bad an idea as some SS amps tried to sound like tubes.

I guess similar events must have put some people off 6H30's, include me for the time.
Axel