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ARC VS-115 vs ARC Ref-110

In light of ARC rolling out the new Ref-150 and discontinuing the old Ref-110, I am thinking about stepping up from the ARC VS-115 to the ARC Ref-110. Some prior Forum comments have said that the VS-115 is roughly 85+% of the sonic quality of the Ref-110. The cost of making the change is approximately $2+K.

Has anyone who has critically A/B'd the two amps in a position to opine whether it's worth the bucks? Check my system thread for a description of my other components. The alternative is to wait for the Ref-150 to hit the secondary market and make a jump from the VS-115 to the Ref-150.

Thanks for the advice.
bifwynne
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
I don't know if you really gain all that much. Sonically I'm sure there will be some improvements. The bigger step would be to go to the Ref-150.
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 


I own a Ref 110 and it is much better than the VS 115. I have not heard the new Ref 150 so I can't comment on it. So far my dealer does not have a demo. I would like to hear one but have no plans of replacing my Ref 110 in the near future. I do plan on using kt120 tubes on my next retube. I would also like to compare a Ref 110 using the kt120 tubes with the Ref 150.

It will probably be a while before you can find a used Ref 150 at a reasonable price.
bifwynne OP
2,206 posts
 
Lostbears, have you actually had the opportunity to critically compare the VS-115 and Ref 110. If so, in what ways does the 110 do a better job than the 115. BTW, I changed out the 6550C tubes for the KT-120s. BIG difference for the better.
lostbears's avatar
lostbears
538 posts
 

I did not have both amps in my system at the same time. I heard the Ref 110 a couple weeks after the VS 115. I owned a VT 100 mk3 at the time and was looking to upgrade. I took home a demo VS 115 for a weekend. A few weeks later my dealer said that he had a used Ref 110 that the original owner was trading in. I had not borrowed a Ref 110 because it was a bit out of my price range. When I heard the Ref 110 in my system I was just amazed at how good it was. It had this rightness that my VT 100 mk3 did not have. When I had the VS 115 in my system I did not get that same feeling.
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