Has anyone heard the Ref 3?

Just curious if anyone has had the opportunity to copare Audio Research's new Ref 3 preamp with the older Ref 1 or Ref 2 or even LS 25 Mk II.

kinsekd09-15-2005 3:44pm

oneobgyn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 410 posts 10-22-2005 at 09:35pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Well Ethan we should try the demo again because I would still have to disagree. I am uncertain what you mean that the Ref 3 "has a slight agenda"
ethannnn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 45 posts 10-22-2005 at 10:11pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Hi Oneobgyn, I would be glad to bring over the L2 again. To fair, we should probably use the same cables on both pres this time. By "slight agenda," I meant I noticed some coloration that accounted for the difference.
oneobgyn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 410 posts 10-22-2005 at 10:38pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Ethann I might ask you--how do you know it wasn't your L2 that was colored and the Ref 3 wasn't?
ethannnn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 45 posts 10-22-2005 at 11:58pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Well all this is subjective but one test I did was run my Lamm phono stage directly to my Lamm amp to hear what the L2 was doing to the sound. From what I can tell, the L2 was quite neutral.
oneobgyn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 410 posts 10-23-2005 at 12:04am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete we should have another a/b test then to give it a second chance. You attributed the lack of performance that day to the type of cabling used?