Ref10 vs 5SE question
 

The day is approaching I will be getting my new gears. I started with the idea of keeping with Einstein phono, and getting Ref250s and Ref 5SE, then decided instead to go with Ref Phono, 5SE, and Ref75.

But as I consider further, the Ref5 SE is getting a little long in the tooth, and the Ref10 is clearly the replacement. I've heard, but not auditioned the Ref10 (I never imagined being able to go there $$!)

Is it vastly superior to Ref 5se? Is the Ref10 so good as to warrant postponement of the Ref Phono?

Finally, does the Ref10 use the Teflon caps? I read somewhere ARC was moving away from those wonderful caps that have made their latest Ref components so amazing?

I haven't heard the Ref10, so I am worthless to you, but I can say that the Ref5/Ref75 paired with Sasha's is VERY good. I doubt you will pick up much additional awesomeness with the Ref10, but hey, what do I know.

ARC has stopped using the white Teflon caps in all its current generation power amps but retained them in all line stages EXCEPT, STRANGELY, for the Ref 10 which seems to have been designed without the huge white Teflon caps used in its predecessor, the Ref Anniversary. However, regardless of cap dielectric type or color, final arbiter should be how it compares vis-a-vis the ref 5SE in an actual audition if possible.

Purity Audio Design!

I must admit I was hoping there were a few folks out there who had moved from 5SE to Ref10 and could describe the differences? (After breakin, of course.) Anyone? Bueller?

I've heard the Ref 10/Ref250/Wilson Alexia combo at my dealer. Very huge soundstage. But I similarly like the room with the Sasha series 1/Ref 5SE/Ref 150.

I just took delivery of Sasha 2's, and am considering exploring ARC. I am currently using Ayre electronics. I do like the ARC sound a lot.

Do it! Ref75 all the way!

How much time do you spend listening?

My stereo is on 24x7x365, so it would be insane for me to go with ARC amps, no matter how much I love their sound.

I could almost make a case for an ARC preamp, and I have the Ref 2 SE phono stage, so it's a matter of using ARC where I can. :D

ref 10 is dual mono from power supply to output so has twice as many valves as 5se.
12 all up. high maintenance it seems...and teflon looks like still being used, so 600hr run-in.

Come on... Anyone considering spending $30k for a piece of tubed gear knows the costs associated with maintenance. And for a pre-amp, trivial due to life of tubes. Perhaps a point worthy of consideration for a pair of mono-block amps. And while I listen frequently, I never leave gear on 24-7 except my phono-pre which is solid state and doesn't even have a switch. I don't listen to 'background' music. If I am not actively listening I am not in my music room.

I am interested in hearing real users experience after moving up to Ref10 from 5SE, sonically.