Audio Research Corp Ref 5 SE

I know it is hard to believe, but I actually found the improvements from 500-600 hrs. to be fairly profound. Up until the, maybe, 300 hour mark, it just did not breathe as freely. It sounded a little constrained. It required a 20 minute warm-up to sound its best. I am now at 780 hrs, and it sounds better in five minutes than it used to in 40. Just more open, relaxed, transparent, free breathing, effortless, and musical. Less mechanical, if you will. Now, that said, if you don't like the sound at 300 hrs, you will likely still not like it at 600. I also have a Shindo preamp and enjoy that also. They are different, and have different presentations. I appreciate both. Would I want one with the best aspects of both? I doubt it. I like the contrasts, and the different insights they both bring.

Dbarger, I think I will stand corrected. I pulled out some LPs I haven't listened to in a while and I think there really may be a real difference. Btw, I also correct myself re the hours. It's only 285 right now. So, the Ref 5 SE is still breaking in.

In any case, I think your comment that the Ref 5 seems to "breathe [more] freely" is well put. More open and transparent. Tighter and more focused imaging and wider 3-D sound stage than before. Actually quite impressive.

I'm listening to an old London Phase 4 LP where Leo Stowkoski is conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, playing a lot of his old standards like Night on Bald Mountain, Ride of the Valkyries, etc. Wow -- I can almost see each instrument.

I may be a believer yet. I'll report back in a couple hundred hours or so. Cheers.

Dbarger, sorry to come back so soon, but I pulled out my old Miles Davis CD, Kind of Blue. I am not BS'ing when I tell you that I can "see" where the trumpet and piano are in 3-D space. Even more -- almost the piano keyboard. Not bad for my "mid-fi" speakers. Enough .... I'll be back later.

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Bif, it's comments like yours that make guys like me lose sleep at night. I'm perfectly okay with my Ref3 and I love it, but then I read your 5SE comment above and my head starts spinning. I want one.

I have to stop reading this thread and all Ref 5SE threads so the desire to upgrade goes away.
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Mitch . . . as I have already said and I repeat myself for emphasis sake, as a previous owner of a Ref 3, the Ref 3 will go down as a clssic line stage, it's just that good. I wouldn't stress myself about it.

I figure the cost to upgrade to a new Ref 5 SE will be about $7+ thousand (i.e., about $12K [assuming discount], less $5K to sell used Ref 3). It's one thing to go from a Ref 5 to the SE for about $2500. IMO, it's a whole 'nuther ball game to jump from a Ref 3 to the Ref 5 SE for $7+ thousand.