Opinions on Audio Research Ref 5SE vs. Modwright 36.5DM

Anwar,

I have used Bent TVC's in my system since 2004 and I guess curiosity has got the better of me after so long. I want to live with a top end valve pre for a few months and see if I am missing out on anything. After I started this thread I stumbled across a long thread started by a friend back in Australia who also runs active ADAM's. He has tested quite a few top pres including Octave, Audio Note, Lindemann and quite a few others. Thread is here if interested:

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php/topic/61774-valve-preamp-recommendations-please/

He wants a 5SE after hearing it in his system numerous times,he has found it to be the best of the lot and works wonderfully with the ADAM's. I have found 2 reviews of the 5SE where its measured output impedance is less than spec at 330/450 se/bal so that gets the impedance ration to >20x fwiw. His experience and the conversations we have had since have led me to buying an ARC Ref Anniversary today so I will soon find out for myself.

Either the ARC proves a winner or the Bent continues its reign well into the second decade :)

Cheers,
Simon

Simon,

I believe your Bent TVC is the one using S&B TX-102 transformers. Mine is the recent model using autoformers built by Dave Slagle. They are different and I don't have any experience with the TX-102 version.

Anyway, congrats on your purchase but please wait for at least 600 hours (teflon capacitors break-in period) before any making comparison.

I'm not sure what choice you made, I owned a ARC Ref. 3 for seven years and now own a Modwright LS 36.5 DM it walks all over my ARC Ref. 3 in every single way, except for balanced inputs and outputs , it was a no brainier, I sold my Ref.3 and still own the Modwright perfect match with my Pass Labs XA 100.5 Mono's 

Hopefully your choice was to your liking, best wishes