@BIF,
Ken Kessler thinks the REF 75SE is the best amp they ever made, current lineup included. And he literally compiled/authored the latest book about ARC. So, no, I would not agree with the marketer's notion that the 160S blows away the 150SE or the 75SE. My ears, and my reading, tell me that ARC has moved 1-2 degrees away from their traditional sound to add a bit of what my teenage ears liked. But just a smidge. Then you have flat-out improvements with capacitors, resistors, wiring, etc. I wouldn't have moved to the 160S in my trophy system if I didn't like it more. I'll just say this: if they come out with a 260S, I would trade up and sacrifice the 160S for the new toy. But I will never sell my REF 75SE (or REF40).
And good call on the KT150s for OP. My 75 always had them, as has the 160S. But I played around with the EL34s v the KT150s in my PL. In that amp, I preferred the EL34s (they softened some leading edges, which you can understand me liking from my first note). But talk about oranges to apples ... the ARC amps that can accommodate KT150s all benefit from that swap, I believe it's fair to say without controversy.
Lastly, seeing the note about biasing, it's easy on the 75SE. Child's play. And gives you one more thing to monitor and kid yourself into thinking you're a participant ...
Ken Kessler thinks the REF 75SE is the best amp they ever made, current lineup included. And he literally compiled/authored the latest book about ARC. So, no, I would not agree with the marketer's notion that the 160S blows away the 150SE or the 75SE. My ears, and my reading, tell me that ARC has moved 1-2 degrees away from their traditional sound to add a bit of what my teenage ears liked. But just a smidge. Then you have flat-out improvements with capacitors, resistors, wiring, etc. I wouldn't have moved to the 160S in my trophy system if I didn't like it more. I'll just say this: if they come out with a 260S, I would trade up and sacrifice the 160S for the new toy. But I will never sell my REF 75SE (or REF40).
And good call on the KT150s for OP. My 75 always had them, as has the 160S. But I played around with the EL34s v the KT150s in my PL. In that amp, I preferred the EL34s (they softened some leading edges, which you can understand me liking from my first note). But talk about oranges to apples ... the ARC amps that can accommodate KT150s all benefit from that swap, I believe it's fair to say without controversy.
Lastly, seeing the note about biasing, it's easy on the 75SE. Child's play. And gives you one more thing to monitor and kid yourself into thinking you're a participant ...