Audio Research Corp Ref 5 SE

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.

One of my customers traded in his Ref 3 for a used Ref 40th Anniversary. Better, for sure, but "whole 'nuther ballgame", dunno. Could have had a V-8.

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Ok...I'll chill out. I'm content, but tempted. Thanks for the reality check Bif.
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