Has anyone heard the Ref 3?

Over the past week I've had the LS25mkII and Ref3 in my system, as I'm looking to upgrade my SP16L. Sources are a hard drive feeding an ARC DAC5 and a VPI Scout feeding an ARC PH3, and an ARC VS110 drives my Totem Hawks. I'm very happy with my system, but I'm looking for upgrades that make it sound "bigger".

Like Zargon, I found the Ref3 to be more detailed in nearly every respect. However, in the context of my system the LS25 had a far smoother and more balanced sound. It sounds to me like the rest of Zargon's system was up to the standards that the Ref3 sets. For me, I'm probably going to wait a while because I feel that the Ref3 can be ruthless.

Hmm, is ruthless the right word? Perhaps not, maybe unbalanced is better, but regardless I'd recommend thinking carefully about the context you place the Ref3 in otherwise you may find yourself in rapid upgrade mode to bring the rest of your system up to what this amazing preamp can do.

Gunther, the term 'ruthless' is probabably ruthlesly accurate when speaking about the Ref 3. The creature reveals so much information that shortcomings up and down the chain may become more apparent. By the way, was the Ref 3 fully broken in? If it were not, that may have accounted for some residual grit.

Yes, that sounds like a better description - ruthlessly accurate. The tubes had just over 400 hours on them, so I assume it's well into the break-in period.

I read in another thread here last night that there's an upgrade to the LS25 due soon (LS26) that takes a lot of cues from the Ref3 in terms of sonic quality.

Gunther, your info about an upcoming LS26 jives with what I heard. LS-26 is likely to be based on Ref 3. I haven't seen anything on the ARC external database, though.

Kinsekd,

Yes - I've heard both the Ref 2 and the Ref 3 in the system
of Audiogon member "oneobgyn":

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1049587927&read&3&4&

I believe "OB" thinks the Ref 2 --> Ref 3 was a very worthwhile
upgrade. From his response of 8/20/05 to Guido:

"To sum up in a nut shell and to avoid flowery and prosaic
paragraghs, what I have noticed with the upgrade on the
Ref 3 is a better, tighter and more articulate bass and a
smoother more enjoyable high frequency. It is however the
change in the bottom end that was the most apparent
(switching to the 6550C output tube). Adding the four bypass
caps produced a more subtle change in the upper range.

As much as I liked the ARC Ref 2 Mk ll which I previously
owned the newer ARC Ref 3 eclipses it by a huge margin. I
knew that you would like it as well. Remember that these
changes are merely rolling line changes and if ordered now,
will come with the upgrades."

I believe "OB" is quite happy with the ARC Ref 3. You can
ask him for more details in the discussion area of his
system page. He is most helpful in all things audio.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist