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Question For Those In The Know About Audio Research Power Amps

I've flirted with ARC gear over the years, owning an LS5 preamp some years ago but never trying their power amps.

I've always had the idea that ARC tube power was a little lean and sterile and not in the Conrad Johnson style of presentation, with tube bloominess and that glorious CJ midrange.

Of course, I realize not all ARC amps sound the same and that some are warmer and more tube-like than others.

Anyway, I recently purchased an ARC Reference 110 SE, and really like a lot about what it does. Stage depth and imaging are excellent, it's detailed and dynamic. As if to reinforce the negative stereotype, it is a little on the lean side, but not horribly so. It's a musical amp overall, and that's what counts.

Questions -
1 - this was sold to me as a "SE" model, which I understood to mean that it was modified to allow the use of KT150's, which my amp has. Was this an 'official' factory modification, and if so, is the SE designation something which can be used when I try to resell the amp? I can't seem to find others running KT150's referring to their amp as the 'SE'. Or is the SE designation relating to a different upgrade altogether? 

2 - is this 'SE' amp backwards compatible with any other tube types?

2 - what's the next model up from the Ref 110 that might exhibit a little more tube bloom (warmth) than the  Ref 110? I wouldn't want to lose the wonderful transparency and soundstage ability of this unit, but if it could be fleshed out a little more then that would be a plus. The amp is only a couple weeks old, to me, so I'm still trying cables and supports etc, to see if there's more to be had, but I would say at this stage that this is a pretty amazing amp.

Any insights would be appreciated!

Thanks
Rooze

128x128rooze

Showing 1 response by gpgr4blu

gpgr4blu
1,078 posts
 
Hi Rooze:
I was in the same boat as you. I had a Ref 110 and loved it but found it a little bit on the lean side. I thought that might be the price for the ARC bloom and holographic presentation. When I purchased the Ref 150--that all changed. Now there was meat on the bone. Images had more substance but without any loss of the other ARC attributes.That was exactly what I had been looking for.
With a  helpful word from the "inside" at ARC, I replaced the stock KT 120s with KT 150s and that was another slight foot forward (although not nearly of the magnitude of the difference between the Ref 110 and the Ref 150). A move to the Ref 150, Ref 150SE or GS150 from the Ref 110 will provide what you are looking for.
BTW, you cannot put KT150s in the Ref 110.
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