2. amps-preamps
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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
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Thanks Ralph .... sure wish ARC would get where you are.

Pushing a button or replacing a fuse makes a lot more sense to me than calling my local ARC tech. I am dubious that if ARC did blind testing on a "with and without" basis, that Bill Gehl, ARC's official listener, could tell the difference.

Oh well ... in the meantime, just glad the ARC repair guy is a short drive away.
regismc
112 posts
 
Buy a Primaluna & be done with it. Euro design, premium Chinese build.
I never quite understood my buddies infatuation w/AR gear that would work
for a while then..... Big silver handles, big deal. Though I do like the early preamps, sharp edges and all, I wouldn't own one. Kinda the Chrysler of American audio. Nice motors but the rest is of questionable design build quality. You guys pretty much confirm what I've always suspected, a new
reference every 6 months...
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,577 posts
 
Bifwynne, - its 'Warren' Gehl.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Nice motors but the rest is of questionable design build quality.
I've own many high quality components and find ARC has one of the BEST build quality plus EXCELLENT service.

You guys pretty much confirm what I've always suspected, a new
reference every 6 months...
Nothing wrong if every iteration is an improvement. To my ears, current ARCs are SOTA regardless of price.

Companies generate interest by releasing new products periodically. There's a reason ARC is the oldest OPERATING audio manufacturer in US.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Ralph ... my bad. Thanks for the name correction.
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