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  #31  
Old 03-24-2020, 08:26 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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FWIW the 160S and 5SE did not deliver the impressive results I heard in the local salon, so I pulled the trigger (again) on a 6SE and the result has been far beyond my expectations. Utterly different soundstage depth, resolution, presence. There is clearly a synergy between the 160S and 6SE. One can only derive so much from passive research in this hobby, and there is no substitute for listening to prospective components in your own system.
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  #32  
Old 03-24-2020, 09:24 PM
Purple991 Purple991 is offline
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Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post
Purple991... Welcome to AA!
Thank you.
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  #33  
Old 03-25-2020, 01:28 AM
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metaphacts metaphacts is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billion$Baby View Post
Well what he has on his side is his experience with all 3 GS, 160Mono, Stereo. What he has going against him is different speakers on each as well as speaker cables etc. He isn't speculating. He has no motive to lie and I know him personally so can vouch for his authenticity and honesty. I believe what he says HE hears which may not be what you or I would hear. He used the 160M with NEOLITH Speakers and not the Alexia...that's what he used the 160S on and quickly ditched it. According to him multiple ARC dealers came to the same conclusion...the Stereo version was Tweaked somehow and is an improvement..but that's all hearsay obviously
With all due respect:

Different speakers, different associated equipment. Anecdotal at best. Misleading at worst.

Actually even with the best of intentions all he is doing is speculating.

What is heard is not relevant when the test is not just flawed but a complete cluster. Does one really think that the load that the ML Neolith provides to an amplifier is remotely similar to the load of an Alexia?

Multiple ARC dealers? Really? I doubt it perhaps because I talk with many of them on a regular basis.

This is the most important part of the post "..but that's all hearsay obviously"

Obviously indeed.

Last edited by metaphacts; 03-25-2020 at 10:54 AM.
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  #34  
Old 03-25-2020, 01:38 AM
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metaphacts metaphacts is offline
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Originally Posted by Billion$Baby View Post
..
As to what Dave Gordon said...what else would you expect him to say?? Shaking my head over that comment. I would trust a reviewer before I would listen to somebody with the most skin in the game...and that's somebody who works for the manufacturer.
Naive doesn't begin to describe this.

Dave Gordon has been a competitor, a colleague, an industry voice for four decades. You do not have to agree with him but his integrity is unassailable. Always the diplomat, he will never disparage, always offering the most positive outlook of his and his competitors' products. If Dave says the REF160M is better than the REF160S, it is because he believes that, not because he works for ARC

That one would trust a reviewer more than Dave Gordon says far more about that person and the depth of their experience than it does Dave.

ymmv



Last edited by metaphacts; 03-25-2020 at 01:47 PM.
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  #35  
Old 03-25-2020, 01:33 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metaphacts View Post
Naive doesn't begin to describe this.

Dave Gordon has been a competitor, a colleague, an industry voice for four decades. You do not have to agree with him but his integrity is unassailable. Always the diplomat, he will never disparage, always offering the most positive outlook of his and his competitors products. If Dave says the REF160M is better than the REF160S, it is because he believes that, not because he works for ARC

That one would trust a reviewer more than Dave Gordon says far more about that person and the depth of their experience than it does Dave.

ymmv


Dave is such a great guy and will always, always tell you what he really believes. Of course he works for ARC and strongly believes in all their products, but he keeps it real.
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  #36  
Old 03-25-2020, 10:58 PM
jpgr4blu jpgr4blu is offline
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Dave has provided me with very reliable and accurate information about differences between ARC products on more than one occasion. When Dave says it--book it.
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  #37  
Old 06-15-2021, 08:18 PM
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Curious which setting owners are generally using with the 160s? Triode or ultra linear?
I realize it may be a bit speaker dependent but I find even with Cornwall IV’s I prefer the ultralinear setting. The triode is a bit more saturated, the ultralinear a bit more precise. Both sound great. Like having 2 excellent amps!
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  #38  
Old 06-15-2021, 10:24 PM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Originally Posted by guitardave View Post
Curious which setting owners are generally using with the 160s? Triode or ultra linear?
I realize it may be a bit speaker dependent but I find even with Cornwall IV’s I prefer the ultralinear setting. The triode is a bit more saturated, the ultralinear a bit more precise. Both sound great. Like having 2 excellent amps!
I have the monos, but I really don't care for the triode mode. Dynamics are just not there, when driving Wilson's. Ultralinear has dynamics all day long.
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  #39  
Old 06-16-2021, 02:19 PM
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George Prentice George Prentice is offline
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I have the Ref160s and always run in triode mode. I was shocked first at how little difference there is between the two… but the difference there is, I like the very slightly greater musicality.
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  #40  
Old 06-17-2021, 01:33 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by George Prentice View Post
I have the Ref160s and always run in triode mode. I was shocked first at how little difference there is between the two… but the difference there is, I like the very slightly greater musicality.
Agree, you summed up my experience as well.
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