Audio Research GS150 vs REF150 SE

Good point about selling my Classic 120’s prior to auditioning a 150SE in my room with my speakers as I wouldn’t want to put myself in your situation with your V70. 

A friend of mine had purchased a V70 used and he did not like the sound in his room with his speakers so it went in the closet for 15 years until he decided to part with it. He listed it on Canuck Audiomart and it sold within a couple of hours of being listed. 

You seldom see a Classic 30, 60, or 120’s for sale on agon. I haven’t seen a pair of 120’s listed here in recent years anyway. The V series is actually the Classic series with balanced input and was not in production for very long before being discontinued. 

Speaking with Chris Osanna at ARC a few years ago about using KT120 in the 120’s (which he did not recommend) he was telling me that they rarely see any of the Classic series amps coming through their repair shop other than for tubes and filter caps replacement. 
He said that those were probably the most reliable pieces (built like tanks) in their amp line. I can certainly vouch for that with the experience I have had with mine.

I had the REF 150SE amps and recently have moved into the GS150. I have never regretted selling the 150SE amps.
Forget about anyone referring to 'magic.'  That is total nonsense. The GS150 amp really delivers the goods without any need for 'magic.'
The GS150 is a far more advanced amp that previous generations like the 150SE.  It is a balanced configuration and required a balance preamp.The GS150's 155 watts provides more than adequate power with generous headroom from its four KT150 output tubes.  provides tonal richness, full bass response, and an uncanny ability to create a sense of 3 dimensional space. Its sound is liquid, sweetly musical and so very engaging. The texture of the instruments was impressively tactile and so very realistic. There is no harshness or hard analytical edginess, whatsoever.  This GS150 provides true high end audio experience.
Also, he cosmetics of the GS are awesome. The giant three illuminated meters are gorgeous and very functional. The new ARC style is a winner.

@smoffatt 

What did you end up with?

My first tube gear purchase was a pair of CL120s here about 3 years ago.  I had Parasound HCA 2200ii X 1 and X 2(bridged mono), Parasound HCA 3500 and a B&K 200.2.  

Can you believe that my system's dynamics and volume was stronger from the CL120s compared to all 3 of those setups???  Those Parasounds are 750 watts bridged and the big boy(3500)is 385 wpc.  Spec sheets can drive us crazy, we have to trust our ears and those 110 watts from the CL120 are amazing.  

I tried to like the SS amps more to eliminate maintenance and fuss, but every time I reconnected the CL120s it was like, ahhhhhhh.  

BTW, I have over 4000 hours on my 6550s and they still sound amazing!

I am very curious about a REF75, REF150 or GS150, but haven't tried one yet.  I have a friend that has heard the CL120s and he is adamant that the REF75 was a big improvement.  He has heard about every older ARC amp there is and was blown away by the REF75.  He has NOT heard the amps beyond the 75.

The REF 210s are another model I have been very curious about, but I would like to move away from having so many tubes to tend with.

The GS150 is a far more advanced amp that previous generations like the 150SE.  

This is total bunk. The two amps were functionally and operationally identical with different cosmetics. This is why ARC discontinued the GS150. It was not worth the extra production cost to sell two identical costs. 

I dont think they were the same. Many of the GS150's had to be sent back for repairs shortly after being issued. THAT could very well have been the reason they were discontinued....too much product coming back under warranty