Ref 5 SE HT Bypass

[dminches]

During the football season I tend to watch a pretty good amount of football on Sundays. I wasn't thrilled that the 5 SE was on for 10 hours in bypass mode adding time to the tubes. So, I purchased a Goldpoint XLR passive switch box which sits between my 5 SE and my Bryston SP-3. Now, when I am watching TV or a movie the 5 SE is off.

I wonder if anyone else has bothered to do this.

[Alki]

Very interested in this solution as I also watch increased amounts of TV during football season as well; and have an ARC Ref 40. Did you notice any difference in two channel sound by adding another path. If possible could you post a picture.

[dminches]

Here is a link to the unit. It is pretty small.

http://www.goldpt.com/sw2x.html

I haven't listened to music since I put it in today. I will let you know if I hear any noticeable differences.

[Alki]

Thanks for the link. I look forward to knowing if you hear any difference in sound. Please do let me know. Maybe somebody else may also chime in if they use a similar / other solution.

[dminches]

Will do. Are you using the stock tubes or have you upgraded? I have purchased a number of upgraded 6H30s. I wish AR would use a different tube that had more rolling options. Then I wouldn't care about putting hours in the tubes.

[Alki]

I am using the stock tubes and have only ever used stock tubes in any ARC pre. I guess it was always just easier.

[TOGA]

Does it mean extra pair of XLR is needed ?
Normally anything added in the path will degrade sound quality, be it the box or cables.
box+cables must we worse. For me, when I really want to save tubes during movie.
I just connect XLR cable from pre/pro to power amp input directly, bypassing Ref preamp altogether. Just occasionally.

Toga

[Alki]

Originally Posted by TOGA

Does it mean extra pair of XLR is needed ?
Normally anything added in the path will degrade sound quality, be it the box or cables.
box+cables must we worse. For me, when I really want to save tubes during movie.
I just connect XLR cable from pre/pro to power amp input directly, bypassing Ref preamp altogether. Just occasionally.

Toga

Yes an extra pair of XLR cables is required as you would attach both pre amps to the switch. Assuming the cables are all the same grade what you are adding is an extra connection and a switch.

The extra connection does not bother me to much but the addition of the switch would be of concern to me.

Hopefully dminches will report back with his opinion about sound quality on the 2 channel side

[doggiehowser]

I think the tubes aren't too costly to replace so I just run the Ref 5 in HT bypass almost all the time. Helped in running in

Have replaced a set from upscale audio before

[dminches]

Originally Posted by TOGA

Does it mean extra pair of XLR is needed ?
Normally anything added in the path will degrade sound quality, be it the box or cables.
box+cables must we worse. For me, when I really want to save tubes during movie.
I just connect XLR cable from pre/pro to power amp input directly, bypassing Ref preamp altogether. Just occasionally.

Toga

No doubt that adding a extra wires and connections can affect the sound. I am hoping the change is subtle. If it isn't I won't use the box. I have other characteristics to my system which also need changing including long speaker wires runs. Before I got my Ref 5 SE I had an unbalanced preamp so I went with long speaker cable runs instead of a long unbalanced interconnect run.