New Audio Research Ref 6SE and Ref Phono 3SE have arrived.

[Lee]

Yesterday was a very good day! I received these new preamplifiers and installed them in the main system downstairs.

There is much break-in left to do but I am a bit astonished how much better they are than my Ref Phono 2 and Ref 5SE. Loads of advancement in build quality, packaging, and owner's manual as well. The only weak spot are the plastic remotes but I understand that a heavy metal version is due out any day.

Initial impressions are very positive:

1. Very low noise. This is tube gear? I cannot tell anymore because it is so damn quiet.
2. Incredibly full but taut bass. Yello sounds incredible.
3. Soundstage is deep and wide. Superb instrument separation.
4. Timbre. Instruments seem spot on. Listened to a lot of new jazz including the TonePoet Stanley Clarke Conception album with Hank Mobley.

Other things I like: the hours counter is now in a neat menu system. The remote is very responsive on volume changes which was not great on my 5SE.

Looks like Audio Research is really on a roll.

Next up is a Ref 160 Stereo amplifier which ships today. Then I am done for a while.

 

[Lee]

A few other comments if I might:

The Doshi Stereo amplifier has been simply amazing. There was no real need to replace the amp but I wondered how more power would sound. I am curious how the midrange will stack up against the Doshi. But I cannot recommend Nick Doshi's gear highly enough.

The Ref 6SE volume control is silky smooth. I much prefer this over the older up/down style switches.

The design is pleasing on the eye. I think Livio did some really stellar work here. I cannot wait to have some "ghost meters" in the room soon from the new amp too.

 

[Bobvin]

Congratulations Lee. With your Wilsons the ARC kit makes wonderful music. Regarding break in… my experience with Ref10 pre and with Ref160m was it can be a little rocky for the first few hundred hours. Some days the system will sound mid-fi or completely lacking tonal balance, next day things come back together. I didn’t feel the kit was really mature until it crossed the 1000 mark, fully run in, stabilized, realizing full potential. From about 600 hrs to 1000 the changes are very subtle, for me there just came this place where everything seemed locked in.

Enjoy the journey, when the 160s arrives you‘re in for a real treat.

 

[Lxgreen]

Yesterday was a very good day! I received these new preamplifiers and installed them in the main system downstairs.

There is much break-in left to do but I am a bit astonished how much better they are than my Ref Phono 2 and Ref 5SE. Loads of advancement in build quality, packaging, and owner's manual as well. The only weak spot are the plastic remotes but I understand that a heavy metal version is due out any day.

Initial impressions are very positive:

1. Very low noise. This is tube gear? I cannot tell anymore because it is so damn quiet.
2. Incredibly full but taut bass. Yello sounds incredible.
3. Soundstage is deep and wide. Superb instrument separation.
4. Timbre. Instruments seem spot on. Listened to a lot of new jazz including the TonePoet Stanley Clarke Conception album with Hank Mobley.

Other things I like: the hours counter is now in a neat menu system. The remote is very responsive on volume changes which was not great on my 5SE.

Looks like Audio Research is really on a roll.

Next up is a Ref 160 Stereo amplifier which ships today. Then I am done for a while.

View attachment 81783

Nice system! I currently have the phone ref 2se and was thinking of upgrading to the Ref 3se. Were you able to distinguish the improvement from the phono upgrade vs the preamp? Just trying to figure out if it is a worthwhile investment to make the jump.

 

[Lee]

Congratulations Lee. With your Wilsons the ARC kit makes wonderful music. Regarding break in… my experience with Ref10 pre and with Ref160m was it can be a little rocky for the first few hundred hours. Some days the system will sound mid-fi or completely lacking tonal balance, next day things come back together. I didn’t feel the kit was really mature until it crossed the 1000 mark, fully run in, stabilized, realizing full potential. From about 600 hrs to 1000 the changes are very subtle, for me there just came this place where everything seemed locked in.

Enjoy the journey, when the 160s arrives you‘re in for a real treat.

Thank you and the break-in information is much appreciated.

 

[Lee]

Nice system! I currently have the phone ref 2se and was thinking of upgrading to the Ref 3se. Were you able to distinguish the improvement from the phono upgrade vs the preamp? Just trying to figure out if it is a worthwhile investment to make the jump.

I can tell you the Ref Phono 2 to Ref Phono 3SE is a huge upgrade in sound. Trent suggested I try the phono stage first then add the 6SE which is what I did. But unfortunately my prior Ref Phono 2 was not at Ref Phono 2SE level. Still, I think you will hear better bass and more clarity.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Yesterday was a very good day! I received these new preamplifiers and installed them in the main system downstairs.

There is much break-in left to do but I am a bit astonished how much better they are than my Ref Phono 2 and Ref 5SE. Loads of advancement in build quality, packaging, and owner's manual as well. The only weak spot are the plastic remotes but I understand that a heavy metal version is due out any day.

Initial impressions are very positive:

1. Very low noise. This is tube gear? I cannot tell anymore because it is so damn quiet.
2. Incredibly full but taut bass. Yello sounds incredible.
3. Soundstage is deep and wide. Superb instrument separation.
4. Timbre. Instruments seem spot on. Listened to a lot of new jazz including the TonePoet Stanley Clarke Conception album with Hank Mobley.

Other things I like: the hours counter is now in a neat menu system. The remote is very responsive on volume changes which was not great on my 5SE.

Looks like Audio Research is really on a roll.

Next up is a Ref 160 Stereo amplifier which ships today. Then I am done for a while.

View attachment 81783

Absolutely stunning congratulations.

 

[Lee]

Absolutely stunning congratulations.

Thanks.

 

[tima]

I can tell you the Ref Phono 2 to Ref Phono 3SE is a huge upgrade in sound.

Congrats on your new ARC gear. There is a congruity with your new 3SE, 6SE, and 160amps that comes close to single gain stage sound. I've had all their phono models with and without SE designation (except the 3SE) in my system and understand exactly what you mean in your above statement. I daresay I like the phonos a bit more than the linestages, though the pairings closely mirror each other in design and construction.

 

[Lee]

Congrats on your new ARC gear. There is a congruity with your new 3SE, 6SE, and 160amps that comes close to single gain stage sound. I've had all their phono models with and without SE designation (except the 3SE) in my system and understand exactly what you mean in your above statement. I daresay I like the phonos a bit more than the linestages, though the pairings closely mirror each other in design and construction.

Thank you Tim, much appreciated.

The Phono 3SE is really special and I am hearing more of the synergy as the amplifier breaks-in. The preamps arrived a few weeks ago so only 40 hours on the amp. It's starting to break-in nicely.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Congratulations, Lee! The room looks great and those components are fantastic!

 

[Lee]

Congratulations, Lee! The room looks great and those components are fantastic!

Much appreciated Ron. It really has taken a leap forward in sound quality. And the ghost meters are a crowd favorite!

 

[Ron Resnick]

Much appreciated Ron. It really has taken a leap forward in sound quality. And the ghost meters are a crowd favorite!

I love the 160 amp models!

What is your current thinking about the Alexx V? Would you consider upgrading to that loudspeaker? With the Alexx V inheriting the new midrange driver of the XVX the Alexx V should be very special . . .

 

[Lee]

I love the 160 amp models!

What is your current thinking about the Alexx V? Would you consider upgrading to that loudspeaker? With the Alexx V inheriting the new midrange driver of the XVX the Alexx V should be very special . . .

I would love those but perhaps the next model of Alexias would be worth a look as well.

 

[dcathro]

Congratulations Lee, you have a superb looking (and I'm sure sounding) system!

It is amazing how Audio Research just keeps improving their amps.

 

[Lee]

Congratulations Lee, you have a superb looking (and I'm sure sounding) system!

It is amazing how Audio Research just keeps improving their amps.

They just keep getting better!

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Audio research is a legendary company that keeps on improving on the Sota.