Personally I would sell the ARC Ref 5 and then purchase a new Ref 5se. A 'new Ref 5se on the used market, say three years old would probably fetch around $7,000-$7,500. It would likely get more than a re-modded upgraded original Ref 5 converted to Ref 5se.
My opinion is based only on re-sale as I would imagine sonically, they would be identical. If you can purchase a new in box Ref 5se for $6,500 (including selling your unit) then financially it would be almost the same as spending $3100 for an upgrade. So things being financially even on the front end, I would go for the new Ref 5se.
My opinion is based only on re-sale as I would imagine sonically, they would be identical. If you can purchase a new in box Ref 5se for $6,500 (including selling your unit) then financially it would be almost the same as spending $3100 for an upgrade. So things being financially even on the front end, I would go for the new Ref 5se.