Best ARC Solid State power to match ARC Ref 5 Pre

Bywynne:

If you have the opportunity, try to get a darTZeel, Ayre, Rowland 625, or no-feedback triode tube amp into your system to compare to your ARC. There are indeed a lot of different factors that affect amplifier performance, but some are more important than others and global feedback is now known to be genuinely harmful to natural sound. The vast majority of designers still use it, however, because it's quite difficult to make a circuit stable, particularly a high-powered amp circuit, without global feedback, and most people buying amps don't know the difference.

Last month, I spent four nights in a row with a good friend and his all-Audio Research system, including VTM 200 monoblocks, plus big Wilsons in his large, purpose-built two-channel room. He recently demo'd a darTZeel and a new darTZeel is now on the way to him. 12 db. of global feedback is a lot, but even 2 db. changes the presentation - the difference is not subtle.

Just what we need. Another $18,000 solid state amplifier that's supposed to sound like a tube amp.

Rrog, I promised that I was not going to add anything else to this thread . . . but your comment set me off, not in a bad way but a good way. I looked over the thread yesterday and saw, as usual, everybody chiming in with their favorite amps. To me, it's like asking what is the best speaker . . . and there is a thread running asking that very question with over 1300 hits. My point, if it's not clear already, is that there is a lot of fine equipment out there. I happened to wind up with Audio Research, but that's me. I freely acknowledge that many other makes are just as good or better. I also want to reiterate what I said about system synergy. Some amps will will work better than others when driving a particular speaker, e.g., electrostats, horns, dynamic cones with unusual impedance curves and phase angles, and so forth. That's why, IMHO, I don't make equipment recommendations. Of course, if someone makes an unfair comment about a particular piece of equipment that I familiar with, I will respond, as I did above.

FWIW.

Bifwynne, I agree there are many other brands of amplifiers that are very good. I currently own amplifiers from several different manufacturers, but the OP specifically asked for recommendations from Audio Research. I also agree with you regarding system synergy, but there is more to it than just matching speakers and amplifiers. I believe matching preamp and amplifier is just as important and Audio Research is one of those brands that seems to work best together.

Rrog, I couldn't have said it better!! That is why I tried to respond to the OP with the same thoughts you just expressed, namely offer some ARC amp recommendations and observations, particularly mentioning the possibility of ARC tube amps. Further, I also agree that system synergy is an important consideration.

Finally, I couldn't help myself with respect to responding to the post which discussed interpreting and making purchase decisions based on electronic specs. I freely admit that I am NOT an electronics techie, but I have learned alot from A'gon members who are. And one thing I learned is that amp designers take a lot of factors into consideration, like the use of negative feedback, distortion, slew rate, rise time and so forth, when designing equipment. So . . . IMHO, if one is looking to buy electronics gear, I DO recommend that he/she should stick with good to excellent quality stuff from companies with good reputations (like ARC, among many many others), audition it if possible, and most importantly, make sure it will do a good job driving the speakers.

Sorry to wax philosphical again, but as I said above, when I read the various threads here and elsewhere, I find it difficult to apply advice and recommendations about gear that seems to be someone's favorite stuff when it may be impossible to even audition it, least of all understand the specs. JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION.