Ref Phono 10 Review

[FlexibleAudio]

I own the Ref 10 Pre and am giving serious consideration to the Ref 10 Phono. I believe Frank750 has owned both the Ref 10, Ref 10 Phono, and the Ref 2 SE. He has told me the Ref 10 Phono is very good. His comment to me:

Don't know if you're into vinyl but quite honestly as good as the (ref 10) pre is, the Ref 10 Phono is even better. Enjoy it.

This was a specific statement about the Ref 10 Phono, but he might have a view of the delta with Ref 2 SE. Frank??

[analog brother]

depends on the rest of your system.
if the other gear is on that level, then sure you need it.

[FlexibleAudio]

From ARC's site:

"eleven stages of power supply regulation in the ref 2SE.....twenty stages of for the ref 10 phono."

"(Ref 10 Phono) has sufficient energy storage for a serious amplifier, fully twice the capacity of a Reference Phono 2, providing incredible dynamic headroom."

But can much of this this headroom be realized through the large energy reserves in the ref 10 line stage ahead of the phono given the phono is amplifying such an very low voltage initial signal?

[dkrm]

I should be able to give my view on Ref phono 10 soon. My unit just arrived but due to my travel, i will only be able to install it on coming monday. :-) my dealer just whatapps me the photo.

[Number95]

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

From ARC's site:

"eleven stages of power supply regulation in the ref 2SE.....twenty stages of for the ref 10 phono."

"(Ref 10 Phono) has sufficient energy storage for a serious amplifier, fully twice the capacity of a Reference Phono 2, providing incredible dynamic headroom."

But can much of this this headroom be realized through the large energy reserves in the ref 10 line stage ahead of the phono given the phono is amplifying such an very low voltage initial signal?

74db gain = approx 5000 times amplification of cartridge output, that looks insane
IE before line stage, if signal is not preserved at its best, Ref10 line stage's high reserves will not help. That is where phono stage comes, better the stage and more reserves better the amplification. That being said, whether it is worth spending extra dough on Ref 2 SE, it depends.
I also ordered Ref 10 phono stage, will share my experience with the unit as well as comparison to Ref 2 SE.

[FlexibleAudio]

Originally Posted by Number95

74db gain = approx 5000 times amplification of cartridge output, that looks insane
IE before line stage, if signal is not preserved at its best, Ref10 line stage's high reserves will not help. That is where phono stage comes, better the stage and more reserves better the amplification. That being said, whether it is worth spending extra dough on Ref 2 SE, it depends.
I also ordered Ref 10 phono stage, will share my experience with the unit as well as comparison to Ref 2 SE.

Very much looking forward to your impressions.

[FlexibleAudio]

Originally Posted by dkrm

I should be able to give my view on Ref phono 10 soon. My unit just arrived but due to my travel, i will only be able to install it on coming monday. :-) my dealer just whatapps me the photo.

Any update on the Ref 10 Phono?

[Number95]

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Any update on the Ref 10 Phono?

There is plenty of update under "ref phono 10 at the house" topic under Arc forum.

[FlexibleAudio]

Thanks much. I am a little slow..