I think, it is - like everything - a personal decision. There is a Fangroup for everything and we all know the situation being in a Demo, when it is over and you analyze what the Audiophiles say about, it is like 5 Audiophiles, 6 Opinions. Fact is, AR is very long in business and they made endless units, good for Dealers, good for them, they always have something to offer. I am confident they have made some world class units in history, or Reference units but at the moment I don't know which ones. The Word "reference" can be confusing, there is no Standard for it, Reference for whom or what? For the Manufacturer? For the Customer? Reference superior to former References?
The word Reference or next SP Model will be handled individually. Each his own. All I can say is my expectation and that is very simple:
I'll have to be transported into that recording session, I have the illusion of being a part of it, a kind of communication with the Session. You know, the time jump....Unfortunately I never got that impression listening with AR gear. But I will visit their demos the next 20 years, I am always ready to learn :-)
The word Reference or next SP Model will be handled individually. Each his own. All I can say is my expectation and that is very simple:
I'll have to be transported into that recording session, I have the illusion of being a part of it, a kind of communication with the Session. You know, the time jump....Unfortunately I never got that impression listening with AR gear. But I will visit their demos the next 20 years, I am always ready to learn :-)