Tube Amps: CAT JL3's vs ARC Ref 300's

Can anyone provide a comparison of the two amplifier's based on personal experience?

greggille07-07-2005 5:00pm

raquel Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 841 posts 07-07-2005 at 07:46pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I believe Jtinn can respond to this question. Jonathan?
raquel Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 841 posts 07-08-2005 at 08:40pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Jonathan: Thanks. Greggille: The power supply of each JL-3 monoblock features over 1,000 joules of storage. I do not know about the ARC Ref. 300, but the new 600 watt/channel ARC Ref. 610 monos are described on ARC's website as also having power supplies with 1,000 joules of energy storage. This serves as yet more proof of the incredibly overbuilt nature of the CAT amps, the JL-3's being rated at 200 watts per channel into 8 Ohms. The CAT JL-3's weigh 170 lbs. each. The ARC Ref. 300's weigh 132 lbs. each. Beefy output transformers and beefy power supplies are what give tube amps their weight. All of this to say that the CAT's appear to have much better energy storage (i.e., power supplies) than the Ref. 300's.