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Audio Research Reference 150 severe distortion

My Reference 150 is emitting severe distortion in both channels. I checked the bias of the K120 tubes and one tube in both channels is reading as low as 20, rather the the standard 65 range.

Does anyone know of a possible fix that will not involve me shipping the amp back to Audio Research?

Both bad tubes are less than 3 months old.

I gotta play my Liberace Christmas music!
128x128shaq
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
czarivey"... I just follow frequent facts about Ref series.
It doesn't look like tube(s) problem. It looks like functionality problem ...
Just count facts and science becomes simple math.
Go with more facts throughout Audiogon posts about Ref series reliability: frequent premature tube blowing, bias resistor, bias DC cap etc... All these combined dictate sending unit to repair facility and back to get ripped off just like Ferrari owners do."

ARC has a tremendous reputation for long-term reliability, so I'm not sure why you feel that you have access to special "facts" just because you read A-gon. I base my opinion about ARC reliability on years of personal ownership and ownership by personal friends, rather than on hearsay posted to an online forum.

czarivey
5,680 posts
 
Your personal ownership is probably from at least 7...8 years ago. Now I feel that it's different. I haven't seen word dropped about Ref series reliability till recent and mostly on current models not ones built back than.
Tube amp designs have lots in common between each other and frequent blowing tube is functional or design problem. 
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
"Your personal ownership is probably from at least 7...8 years ago. Now I feel that it's different. I haven't seen word dropped about Ref series reliability till recent and mostly on current models not ones built back than."

No, my experience is both long-term and recent with current ARC Reference components. ARC has an enviable reputation for reliability.
taters
1,149 posts
 
I have a Vt-100 Mklll since 2001 and the only thing I have ever done is change tubes. I currently need my tubes changed so I asked my technician is there any thing else I should do because my unit is 14 years old. He said if it still works fine there is nothing I need to do but change tubes and have them biased.

i had a brother in law that had several Ferrari's that I used to have serviced for him. The amount of money he spent servicing those cars you could own any new ARC amp you wanted plus a pair of high line speakers and still have money left over. Trying to compare the maintenance of a ARC amp to a Ferrari is ridiculous.

pixelriffic's avatar
pixelriffic
26 posts
 
shaq,

The fact that both channels exhibit the same symptom, at least that is what I understand from your message, points to a power supply issue.  It may not be so serious as it seems.  I would suggest looking for an experienced servicer in driving distance if at all possible.  

And no question, Audio Research has produced some of the most significant benchmarks in tube amplifiers for more than 40 years.  I have owned and worked on more than a few, and they definitely among my favorites.  


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