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ARC Quality Issues Ref75 Ref5SE Ref10

Over the past two years I had several issues with ARC Ref gear and am wondering if I'm the only one out there having so much "bad luck"?

My issues started when I bought a Ref5SE plus Ref75.
The two meters in the Ref75 had a noticeable different color and had to be replaced by my dealer.

Two of the Ref5SE tube sockets were soldered crooked to the board. I found a loose screw bouncing around inside the chassis when I unpacked it and found that the two crooked tube sockets were not even bolted down to the metal support on the main board. ARC apologized and replaced the brand new Ref5SE.

The replacement Ref5SE blew up after 600 hrs of use. A small component in the power section exploded with a single loud bang with smoke following.

To not end up with a nearly new but repaired preamp I upgraded to Ref10. The Ref10 power section also blew up after two months and only 390 hrs of use. One or more of the smaller white caps in the power section exploded (four or five significant and loud bangs with smoke). My dealer just informed me that ARC is going to replace the failed Ref10 against a brand new one.

I can not believe I am the only one having repeated problems with ARC's new gear!?

Feedback and comments will be greatly appreciated !
decibell

Showing 4 responses by tsushima1

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
If I may inquire , Which ARC model are referring to here ? VAC most certainly utilise superbly designed and wound OPT's, probably better than equivalent ARC, however in a shoot out I would go with KT150 over 88's any day!
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
@Bifwynne,
You are not alone. A couple of weeks back I began to sense a slight imbalance between channels, lo and behold, V5 was down to 61mA , V7 On spec, V9 ON spec, V11 down to 62mA.
V5 biased back to spec and remained as such over the next couple of days, on the other hand I could not manage to persuade V11 to re bias beyond 63mA. Substituting with KT150/V7 indicated A problem with the bias circuit to V11 as that valve promptly dropped 5mA.
I advised my dealer of the problem and as I am still under warranty collection was organised PDQ.
The snake in this tale will see me without the Ref150 until after the Holidays. The ladder? Well that has manifest in the form of the Distributers own GS150 in situ For the duration!
Unfortunately, the GS has just the 60 hours on the clock, and whilst hinting of great promise, is still quite 'tight' ergo déjà veu with break in on the Ref150, however I am hoping to rack up enough hours on the GS in order to make some sort of valid comparison.

Jasper.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
@Bifwynne, a close enough 'Interperation'

I am indeed referring to the slave KT120 V11, and associated circuit, controlling bias to that particular socket, the bias resistor of which would appear to have drifted out of spec.
My commiserations on your miss-fortune. As it would seem that this particular fault is not entirely uncommon! I am considering a discussion with the engineer, requesting that he replace the factory bias resistors with one of a higher wattage rating.
Given the timing that our respective Ref150's are under the 'hand' of an ARC certified engineer, there would also appear to be a dilema shared in the 'rumoured' KT150 modification pack,

Unfortunately the GS Is with me only for the duration whilst the Ref is in the shop, however I shall pen a few thoughts, here, for your consideration.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
@Bifwynne, whilst the points that you make are known to me, however as there have been a sufficient number of instances reported where drift, or critical failure of bias resistors has occurred, and where the clock time on OPT's has past the initial phase where a weak tube may fail early and well within the usable life span of an KT120, For me, to reason, that a slight increase in current handling of the bias resistor, whilst remaining at the same ARC specification Ohmic value, may provide an increased margin of function, without compromising their additional role as a fail safe.
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