I keep falling further in the ARC hole!

[Tonepub]

Originally Posted by Ritmo

ARC and Shunyata =

There are some other options you might be more excited about...

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by cmalak

I think with ARC when you step up their line you do get what you pay for.

Cyril,

You're right and this should be a must for any audio company.
Unfortunately, as you know, this is not always the case.
I choose the Ref Phono 2 by reading the reviews and also on the ARC web site, it was obvious that this unit would go further than the PH 7 and 8's.
Each model adds very concrete improvements on the circuit, so those can only be heard.
I found the same quality with McIntosh.
I have never had any deception moving up their line. I always got what I paid for.
That is very important for the customer to feel that he's not taken for a fool.

Long Life to all the serious and respectful audio companies !

[AndyPandy]

Jef
Get yourself a pair of 57's mate. Life is too short.
Now I'm all getting gooey about arc: bet a Ref 3 + Ref 110 would get my 2905 s to behave!
Must resist....must...resist....

[SRT-10 Viper]

Originally Posted by tonepub

There are some other options you might be more excited about...

like to hear you plug recomendations. I have an ARC40 currently with Shunyata Anaconda.

[jpspock]

Originally Posted by tonepub

Using it with a pair of Pass XA160.5's right now, so I think you will be VERY happy with this combination...

So you are using a XA160.5 with a Ref5? Tell me more about... Did you compare the Ref5 with the Pass XP20?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Cyril,

You're right and this should be a must for any audio company.
Unfortunately, as you know, this is not always the case.
I choose the Ref Phono 2 by reading the reviews and also on the ARC web site, it was obvious that this unit would go further than the PH 7 and 8's.
Each model adds very concrete improvements on the circuit, so those can only be heard.
I found the same quality with McIntosh.
I have never had any deception moving up their line. I always got what I paid for.
That is very important for the customer to feel that he's not taken for a fool.

Long Life to all the serious and respectful audio companies !

ARC has been sold to an Italian Private equity firm Quadriva and they also own Sonus Faber. Management team was rumored to stay with the founder William Johnson stepping down but still being involved with some designs. Yes, I think you still do get what you pay for.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by PHC1

ARC has been sold to an Italian Private equity firm Quadriva and they also own Sonus Faber. Management team was rumored to stay with the founder William Johnson stepping down but still being involved with some designs. Yes, I think you still do get what you pay for.

Serge...they also own Wadia digital and the same outfit just announced the acquisition of Sumiko. So they now get Sonus Faber distribution in the US, as well as all the brands distributed by Sumiko here in the US. I think Bill (Metaphacts) has a separate thread on that.

The combined entity (pre-Sumiko acquisition) had $30MM in annual revenues, which is still small but relative to most high-end audio companies is quite a bit larger. Presumably as they grow through additional acquisitions and they scale up, they can gain economies of scale in purchasing, distribution, and shared services in back-office non-core processes which will result in savings across the platform and an ability to put those savings back into R&D and marketing. Hopefully, the PE management is also bringing more modern business management controls to all these platforms while allowing each each management team the independence to pursue their own R&D and product development and roll-out plans. I always wondered why rolling up a lot of these small niche companies can't work. The risk is that these small high-end audio companies are usually centered around a key personality (usually founder and chief designer) and if that key person walks after a transaction, then you lose the key asset you just purchased. But these guys seem to be doing ok managing that risk. Bill Johnson at ARC was ready to retire and monetize his ownership at ARC but there was a sufficiently deep bench at ARC that his departure was not a major issue (he had in fact become much less involved quite a few a years before selling out to Quadriva). Frank Serblin left Sonus Faber but that didn't seem to be a major issue either. Not sure, but their strategy seems to make a lot of sense as long as they can manage this risk.

[Tonepub]

Originally Posted by AndyPandy

Jef
Get yourself a pair of 57's mate. Life is too short.
Now I'm all getting gooey about arc: bet a Ref 3 + Ref 110 would get my 2905 s to behave!
Must resist....must...resist....

When my daughter is in college in about a year, I'll have a spare room for a Quad 57 system! It's on the radar...

[Tonepub]

Originally Posted by jpspock

So you are using a XA160.5 with a Ref5? Tell me more about... Did you compare the Ref5 with the Pass XP20?

Have not done that. They may send me an XP20 at some point.

But I am really enjoying the combination. I've always loved the sound of class A mixed with tubes. My first experience was back in the late 70's when I was using a Threshold 400A (one of Nelson's first amps) with a CJ PV2A and a pair of Acoustats. It was definitely one of my favorite systems!

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by tonepub

Have not done that. They may send me an XP20 at some point.

But I am really enjoying the combination. I've always loved the sound of class A mixed with tubes. My first experience was back in the late 70's when I was using a Threshold 400A (one of Nelson's first amps) with a CJ PV2A and a pair of Acoustats. It was definitely one of my favorite systems!

Jeff...you are not getting any tonal imbalances with the Ref 5 / XA160.5? I ask because the input impedance of the XA160.5 is 30/20 Kohms (Bal/SE) and while the nominal impedance output of the Ref 5 is 600/300 ohms (Bal/SE), if it's like the Ref 3 it's output impedance gets close to 1.7Kohms somewhere in the 100-200Hz range I believe, so if the partnering amp is not of sufficiently high input impedance the match up tends to sound bass shy/thin. Just curious. Thx