Wondering what the difference might be between Ref6 and SE version. Obviously what is visible are three caps on digital volume board which i got during the replacement of the digital volume board last year. For the rest i can’t see any visible changes...uper pic is Ref6 lower SE version..
If it was not for the number of tubes or heat I would have kept the ARC REF750's. Easily the best tube amplifiers I have owned, retrospectively I preferred them to the VLT Siegfried II's - more bloom and better fluidity, although the Siegfried is more "neutral".
But almost 2kW idle power and changing 40 expensive power tubes every year frightened me. My room was a real sauna when I owned them. At less I know the person who got the REF750's is enjoying them - I tried to get them back, but he was not interested at all ...
Some people I respect due to their large experience with top tube amplifiers told me recently that the latest version of the REF610T, modified to accept the KT120's, are easily on par with the REF750 in most aspects.
Wondering what the difference might be between Ref6 and SE version. Obviously what is visible are three caps on digital volume board which i got during the replacement of the digital volume board last year. For the rest i can’t see any visible changes...uper pic is Ref6 lower SE version..
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I will expect some differences in capacitors and wiring. The technical differences in the new SE versions are minimal, but produced significant effects in sound quality. Even the Audio Research people were surprised by the effect of the changes. I was listening to the CD9SE CD player/DAC recently at our distributor and was impressed with it, one more piece to listen with the Taiko Extreme!
Probably you will have to find another motif to travel there - the Siegfried II's are really reliable. Before getting them I inquired a lot and people were very positive on this aspect. Mine never had any issue and are now over 1700 hours.
No "SE" nomenclature on the faceplate??
The Ref6 is already an excellent preamp, I wonder how they will make it distinguishly better sounding with just minor details...
No "SE" nomenclature on the faceplate??
The Ref6 is already an excellent preamp, I wonder how they will make it distinguishly better sounding with just minor details...
I had the same question and according to the ARC service department:
"Summary: We are upgrading 12 capacitors in the power supply and all of the internal signal wiring with wiring that is custom designed by us."
I have my name on the waiting list for the upgrade. I believe the list price of the ARC Ref 6SE goes up $3000 ( to $17,000). Given ARC's history of notable improvements with these upgrades (e.g. Ref 5 to 5SE), I'm confident this will also improve an already excellent product.