2. amps-preamps
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ARC REF 3 or MBL 5011 - what is better buy?

Hello, I have the opportunity to buy MBL 5011 and ARC REF 3 for a great price. I cannot demo or audition them so I would like to get the opinion of the people who have/had/tried them in their systems. My listening preferences are jazz, classical (orchestra, chamber or solo piano) music. The rest o my system:

Esoteric x-3se cdp
Plinius sb301 amp
Egglestone Andra II speakers
Stealth Metacarbon Ics (RCA)
Stealth Dream Petite (bi-wired) speaker cables

Any advice is highly appreciated. Please do not bother with recommendations to demo/audition them because it is out of the possibility.
denon1
bvdiman
491 posts
 
I bought my replacement set of ARC original factory supplied tubes for my Ref.3, tested and matched, for $330 nett.

Have to agree with Tvad, having lived with the Ref.3 for 3yrs previously, they are good partnered with SS amp--but not the greatest. Though given the choice (having briefly encountered a 6010D in a friend's system), I'd still opt for the Ref.3. IMO, they are still one of the best value pre-amp available today (considering price to sound performance ratio). Especially buying used, I believe that you'll preserve most of your dollars invested upon reselling.

If you love the sound of Plinius why not also try out their pre to maximize design synergy?
denon1 OP
345 posts
 
Glide3, my Flora has a Mundorf caps and I rolled tubes and now have NOS Tung Sol Round plates that considerd one of the best. But even with that, I feel that some transparency missing. Dont get me wrong, it ia a great pre-amp for the moeny, but I think it is has limitations. Does anybody had/have the the chance to listent MBL5011? Based on the couple reviews I found, the MBL5011 is better than ARC REF 3.
colopilot
28 posts
 
Have you researched Room Treatments?

I would look towards sorting your room out before swapping electronics. I own Andra IIs and it's been my experience that they can sound congested in a too small or too bright room.
Post removed 
denon1 OP
345 posts
 
Tvad, I hate to say but you are absolutely wrong. All I want to get as much opinions as possible to find a good choice, because for me this is the one of the best options to come up with the more or less of good choice. It does not have to be MBL 5011. As for now, I’m leaning towards ARC REF 3. The only thing that stops me from buying it the opinion of the Audiogon member( Guidocorona ) who seem reviewer for TAS and respected here on the AudioGon. He is stating on several occasions that Jeff Rowland Capri sounds close if not better (for him of course) than ARC REF 3. When I read that $3000 unit sounds as good or better than $10000 unit it make me confused at least and make me to go on another round of evaluations.
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