Which preamps is better? ARC REF 3 vs MC-2300

Ref 3. Cmalak's description of the differences is accurate. I test listened to the Ref 3 once against the Mac C1000. I initially preferred the C1000 but that was because I was doing the comparison in a system with a Mac amp. I purchased ithe C1000 and was in an all Mac system for a few years until I heard an all ARC system. The differences are huge. Mac has a smoother and thicker sound. Fatter in the middle. But Mac also substantially obscures detail. A dealer who sells both once told me that he sells Mac to customers who want a user friendly experience with a nice blue-lit ambience. He sells ARC to those who want a more transparent sound without the ambience and less bells and whistles.

Thanks for all your informations. Because my uncle, he has a REF-5 and to me it's sound amazing. It's soft, warm, transparent and specially very very details. But I can't afford it so looking for step lower which is Ref3. But some of my friend say try out the MC-2300. So i'm not sure which one i should go to :(

Misterldk, did you mention which amp you're using? Synergy is very important. I own ARC gear and am a major booster. I used to own the Ref 3 and loved it. This may be heresy, but I didn't think the Ref 5 was in a different league than the Ref 3. I just upgraded the Ref 5 to the SE version. Jury is still out - I'm still running it in.

But . . . here's a simple synergy Q. Do you know the input impedance of your amp. The Ref 3 should NOT be presented with a combined output load of less than 20K ohms. I say "combined" because some folks like me run the amp off Main 1 and a self powered sub woofer off Main 2. The combined output impedance presented to my Ref 5's 2 outputs is 157K ohms, which is good.

BIF

If anybody on this thread was using stock tubes in the C2300, then it's a big mistake from the get-go. Mac uses absolute junk tubes.

I have not heard the Ref 3 in my system, only an LS25MK2 which isn't in the same league

I'm having a Sonic Frontiers SFM-160 monos , ML-31.5 Cd transport and ML-30.5 DAC. Driving the Dynaudio S5.4. Do you think Ref 3 will suit in my system?