Had Audio Research Gear and Moved to Solid State

[The Lost Bears]

I am interested in people who had Audio Research gear, especially their Ref gear and moved to solid state. What did you move to and why? How does it compare?

I have been playing with the idea of moving to solid state gear for awhile. I have owned Audio Research gear off and on (mostly on) since the late 1980's. Whenever I made a change I ended up missing the Audio Research sound and going back. But times are changing and I am now retired. I spend a lot more time listening. The idea of solid state gear is getting a lot more enticing. Especially a solid state amp. I am curious what people who owned Audio Research have now and are you happy with the change.

[Sharp 1080]

Funny thing is I retired in 2011 and have done the opposite. I bought a Ref5SE and have loved the change from a solid state preamp.

[The Lost Bears]

The Ref 5se is a superb preamp. I was more thinking about a solid state amp to start. Now that my wife and I are retired we are looking for a house down south where it is much warmer. That and I just had to replace the 8 KT120 and 4 6H30 tubes in my amp.

[2fastdriving]

Get a solid state power amp with a tube pre. Best of both worlds, and less tube changing.

[GeAllan70]

^^^

[Sharp 1080]

Originally Posted by The Lost Bears

The Ref 5se is a superb preamp. I was more thinking about a solid state amp to start. Now that my wife and I are retired we are looking for a house down south where it is much warmer. That and I just had to replace the 8 KT120 and 4 6H30 tubes in my amp.

That will probably make you much happier using a solid state amplifier. I have always preferred tube pre, and solid state amp. I remember the feeling when I had to retube ARC Classic 120 monoblocks. Maybe that is why I have never reconsidered purchasing tube monoblocks. It was difficult in the summer. I had to run the A/C.

[essjay]

I have both the ARC Ref 3 and Ayre KX5, i love them both and cant seem to bring myself to choose one over the other.

Both sound very good and have a different signature, what i use for pre duties depends on my mood.

[Alki]

You can place me in the same camp as using a solid state amp with my ARC Ref pre as the posters above have suggested. There are many SS amps that will play well with an ARC Ref pre. It offers the best of both worlds. The sweet sound of a tube pre with the versatility of a SS amp. I can never envision myself without an ARC Ref pre and I have no desire other then to pair it with a SS amp.

[The Lost Bears]

That might be the way to go. So what solid state amp are you using with your Audio Research preamp? Have you compared it to an ARC amp? I am looking for suggestions on amps that are good matches with ARC preamps to audition.

A few years ago I had a pair of Moon 400m Monoblocs in my system. I had to send my amp back to ARC. I thought they were very good at the time. I might give them another try.

[Soundmig]

You might want to check out the BAT VK-23SE or VK-43SE SS pre-amps. Back in the early 2000's I sold a VK-20SE (precursor to the VK-23SE) to a gentleman who plays low brass in the San Francisco Symphony, and he had me "break it in for him". I was stunned at how good it sounded and in some ways I preferred it to the VK50SE (top line tube pre) that I had on display at the time. I know that BAT gear has its fans and its critics, but their SS gear is worth a listen.