Ref 250

[joeling]

So here's the story. Upon the advise of the local hifi guru, purchased a set of ARC ref210 end of 2010 when I moved into a new place with a dedicated room. Paired them with a ProAc D80R. After a couple of hundred hours, still sounded shrill & full of sibilance. Complained bitterly to my dealer & made him take the units back at the price he sold me for. His ref110 sounded better with less problem at the top end. Asked him to write to ARC. Of course ARC rep said nothing wrong with the amp. Maybe it was the source material etc. etc. Dealer stuck in the middle. While all these was going on, I also took a fancy on his ref 40. So did a deal with him & took the ref40 + ref110 in exchange for my ref5 non SE + ref210 + some cash top up. Quite happy with the ref40 + ref110 combo until one fine day a few weeks ago when someone came to visit.

"There's no bass, where is the bass ?" commented the visitor. My previous set of speakers at the old place was a pair of 6" full range. I didn't feel anything was amiss. Anyway, I was convinced enough to take down a fair bit of room treatment, corner traps etc. The difference was night & day. By now, the ref110 was sounding a little soft at the top. Went to my dealer's place to listen to his Gryphon Class A + Kef 207/2 combo & noticed the pair of ref210 was still lying on the floor of his room. Had him bring over to my place & bang - beautiful match. Apologised profusely to him & ordered a pair of ref250 from him a few days later.

So now, the ref 210 is still with me while I wait for the ref250. I was planning to audition the ref150 prior to this incident.

Shows how much I know...

Regards,
Joe Ling

[jdandy]

Joe.......Your dealer must be going

[cmalak]

Joe...all is well that ends well. Good luck with the Ref 250s Should be a very nice upgrade in bass extension, articulation and texture as well as overall resolution and dynamics.

[joeling]

Thanks guys. He's a patient fella bless him. There used to b 2 in town but he's seems to be the only one left still doing high end.

[Still-One]

It is good that you have a dealer that will work with you to find the sound you are looking for.

Jim

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by joeling

Thanks guys. He's a patient fella bless him. There used to b 2 in town but he's seems to be the only one left still doing high end.

Joe...I am assuming you have pretty much purchased most if not all your gear from him in which case it is to his advantage to continue to accomodate you with good service as you have spent quite a lot with him. So anything other than excellent service would be counter-productivve for him. It's good that he understands that

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by joeling

So here's the story. Upon the advise of the local hifi guru, purchased a set of ARC ref210 end of 2010 when I moved into a new place with a dedicated room. Paired them with a ProAc D80R. After a couple of hundred hours, still sounded shrill & full of sibilance. Complained bitterly to my dealer & made him take the units back at the price he sold me for. His ref110 sounded better with less problem at the top end. Asked him to write to ARC. Of course ARC rep said nothing wrong with the amp. Maybe it was the source material etc. etc. Dealer stuck in the middle. While all these was going on, I also took a fancy on his ref 40. So did a deal with him & took the ref40 + ref110 in exchange for my ref5 non SE + ref210 + some cash top up. Quite happy with the ref40 + ref110 combo until one fine day a few weeks ago when someone came to visit.

"There's no bass, where is the bass ?" commented the visitor. My previous set of speakers at the old place was a pair of 6" full range. I didn't feel anything was amiss. Anyway, I was convinced enough to take down a fair bit of room treatment, corner traps etc. The difference was night & day. By now, the ref110 was sounding a little soft at the top. Went to my dealer's place to listen to his Gryphon Class A + Kef 207/2 combo & noticed the pair of ref210 was still lying on the floor of his room. Had him bring over to my place & bang - beautiful match. Apologised profusely to him & ordered a pair of ref250 from him a few days later.

So now, the ref 210 is still with me while I wait for the ref250. I was planning to audition the ref150 prior to this incident.

Shows how much I know...

Regards,
Joe Ling

Did your Ref210 have Teflon caps? It's very possible the sound you did not was due to them not being fully burned in. It takes LONG time for them to burn in and components with them can sound dreadful during the burn-in process.

[Ritmo]

I've always said it...audio nirvana is a journey.

Mike

[thesaint519]

Originally Posted by Ritmo

I've always said it...audio nirvana is a journey.

Mike

And so it is...

[joeling]

Yes I bought quite a lot of stuff from him. All the ARC gear, Cary stuff, ProAc etc were purchase from him.

I think the ref 210 were the older model not fitted with teflon caps. As I deduced, the room was the main culprit.

Agree that it is a journey with no ending. Looking forward to the ref 250. End of the year target to pair them with Carbon Pro 8

Regards,
Joe Ling