Audio Research Corp Ref 5 SE

Edison,

The bottom right corner of the face plate says "REFERENCE 5SE high definition"

Just got mine today!

Running it in now. I think they also changed one of the transformers.

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/doggiehowser/21bbd5e1.jpg

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae132/doggiehowser/c78f57ce.jpg

Doggiehowser, did you get the upgrade of the Ref 5 or is this a new "out of the box" unit? Did you have the chance to A/B the Ref 5 to the SE?

I am unsure about getting my Ref 5 upgraded. I'm concerned the SE may be way out of balance with the rest of my system. Alternatively, if I was to drop the bucks of an SE upgrdae (whatever it is) into my system, I might do better waiting to change out my PH-7.

Just not sure?? Also not sure how long ARC will do the SE upgrade. Maybe for the indefinte future???

I'm standing pat on my amp. It's too close to the Ref 110 to change it out. If I change out the amp, it only makes sense to wait for Ref 150s to hit the pre-owned market. At this point, IMO, digital "redbook" CD (actual discs) is generally just fair, so I'm not motivated to change out my CD-7 CDP. Think I'd rather get a DAC 8 instead.

Any thoughts??

BTW, my system description is listed on A'gon.

Thank you all, I'll even buy the new model, as it has changed a lot.

I switched to the CD 8, and found the wonderful change, combined with the very Ref 5, McIntosh 601 and Sonus Faber Amati Futura.