Listening to a Ref 75 looking for advice

[pete6737]

Thanks for the input from all of you! I'm think I'm sticking with the SE Ref75. I'm thinking that my ears are very happy with this sound. The amp seems to have plenty of power. It is exciting to think that I'm going to get even better sound after the upgrade. Well it's back the Bryston, while I get the Ref75 to ARC. I appreciate all the expertise on this forum! Now if ARC would make a SACD player, I'd be in heaven. Thank you, Pete

[tima]

Originally Posted by Bavarian05

Can you deal with the fans on the Ref 150?
The Ref 75 will be quieter so that would be a very big decider for me.
If you only listen to rock music, you may not care, but if you enjoy "the music between the notes" of Jazz and Classical, you will likely hear the fans on the Ref 150.
Just my two cents.

Yep. I found the REF250s worked fine with their covers off. Fan noise largely goes away.

[Down Under]

Originally Posted by suburban

I have a pair of Salon 2s. IMO, I do not believe that you are getting near their full potential with the REF75 or REF150. Not even close.

Interesting.
Could you expand on this with suggestions.

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by Down Under

Interesting. Could you expand on this with suggestions.

I think I get it. I'm a huge fan of the ref75. I'm doing a demo right now between that and a monster amp, the D'agostino classic stereo. The ref is amazing with voices, but in every other measurement, the big solid state grabs my Sasha's by the throat and makes them work . The ref can play loud, but does lack the bottom end grip a good solid state amp can deliver. The trick is to not lose the silky midrange. For me, the D'agostino is doing it. I'm about to pull the trigger.

Trust me, I love love love my ref. this isn't something I'm tossing around lightly. But my speakers are capable of things I never heard until I hooked up a monster amp.

[Mikeoz]

Interesting sounds like the D'agostino is a good match with the Ref5. I recently bought a Ref5SE and it sounds great with my Krell 302e and Wilson Sophias. I do think about trying a higher powered tube amp at some point as a comparison.

[pete6737]

Wow. What could I possibly be missing? The Ref75 kicks my old Bryston to sleep in nearly every way. Yet the Dag kicks the Ref to sleep. What a dilemma to have.

Do you have the Ref75SE?
[QUOTE="2fastdriving;738309"] Trust me, I love love love my ref. this isn't something I'm tossing around lightly. But my speakers are capable of things I never heard until I hooked up a monster amp.[/QUOTE

[suburban]

Originally Posted by Down Under

Interesting.
Could you expand on this with suggestions.

The Salons come alive with more power in a way that you won't hear with 75WPC. I first tried them with a pair of MAC MC275s strapped as mono blocs
....150WPC. They sounded sweet but, because I was familiar with the Revel Studios, I knew I wasn't getting what they were capable of. I now use a Hegel H30 with a Mac C500T pre and there is a night and day difference. They just do everything right. The presence and dynamics are off the charts, while leaving nothing to be desired in what you get from a lower powered tube amp. I have tubes in my pre and am using a Lampizator DAC, so tube magic is there. I don't generally make blanket statements, because most things are a matter of taste, but I believe 100% that the Salons NEED power to shine.

One last thought. I know many people who are using or have used Salons in their systems and none of them have settled on low power tube amps over time. Zero. I have to say that if a dealer is telling you that a REF75 is a good match with the Salons, he either doesn't know the speakers or he is not telling you the whole story. Just do some research and you will see that what I am saying is true.

[Ritmo]

The Hegel H-30 is a terrific amp for the Salon 2s. I have a good friend that has this combination - sounds terrific. I would also consider the Pass 350.8 or the new D'Agostino stereo amp at this price point.

[signature8]

Originally Posted by jpgr4blu

You can adjust the fan speed on the ref 150. I have it so low that I cannot hear the fan with my ear 2 feet from the amp. Of course, if the amp is not in a tightly enclosed space and/or the top is off, there is little need for the fan to be on anything but the lowest setting.

I have heard both ways; you can and you cannot (or should not) keep the top off for Ref 150 and or Ref 10/40. What is really advised for better sound; cover ON or OFF. People have said need cover ON to avoid EMI/RFI, is that really true? Thanks.

[jpgr4blu]

I believe that the sound might be marginally better with the top off, but I have never listened carefully to detect difference. The main reason it is off for me is that I like to check the bias on the tubes about once a month and it's royal pain to take the top off, especially in the area where my amp is located. If I had pets or children, I would keep that top on for sure.
As for alleged benefits re EMI/RFI, I can't imagine that a three sided metal top ventilated on all sides would do much.