My ficticious dream ARC preamp

[Bavarian05]

I am curious to see how many others would purchase or prefer my dream preamp.

The cards we all fill out to register our new equipment with ARC asks what product you would like to see them build...

I'd really like to buy a stripped down, purist Ref 5SE style preamp. Meaning skip all of the value adds or user options that add costs (balance control, vacuum display, polarity invert, multiple single ended and balanced inputs, adjustable gain options, etc.). My perfect pre would be one with 12-18 db of gain (only one gain setting to save cost) a simple display - maybe similar to the current LS17SE model, 2-3 balanced XLR inputs only, a tube power supply and gain. Price it competitively in the $6-7K range. This post is not intended to state that the above options are not worth while or to argue their merits, just simply what I would love to see them build and would gladly purchase if they did.

What do you think?

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[Marck1973]

So I would love to see a two box cd player which would partner the Ref150, Ref40 series

M.

[SundayNiagara]

Originally Posted by Marck1973

So I would love to see a two box cd player which would partner the Ref150, Ref40 series

M.

Is the REF DAC gonna be 2 box?

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by SundayNiagara

Is the REF DAC gonna be 2 box?

Mark... REF DAC is a one box deal.

[SundayNiagara]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Mark... REF DAC is a one box deal.

Thanks! I was thinking separate power supply.

[Marck1973]

Oh well! I reckon they will build the two box player one day. I heard they tried to build a replacement for the Ref8 but they haven't bettered it significantly (yet!)

M.

[tunes]

Wonder what they could do with a cost-no-object phono pre? Maybe take the power supply out of the ref phono 2se and put it in a second chassis and use the newly found space to reconfigure the preamp controller. I have a feeling they might do this for their 50th anniversary

[BillK]

Originally Posted by Bavarian05

My perfect pre would be one with 12-18 db of gain (only one gain setting to save cost) a simple display - maybe similar to the current LS17SE model, 2-3 balanced XLR inputs only, a tube power supply and gain.

Who are you people who only have two to three sources?

I find six inputs limits me, resulting in the use of all kinds of outboard switchers before I even get to the preamp.

If you only need two or three, there are several Boulder preamps that might do the trick.

[Bavarian05]

Originally Posted by BillK

Who are you people who only have two to three sources?

I find six inputs limits me, resulting in the use of all kinds of outboard switchers before I even get to the preamp.

If you only need two or three, there are several Boulder preamps that might do the trick.

My two channel set up only utilizes two XLR inputs. One for vinyl and other for digital (Bryston BDP-1).
I understand that many will want or need more inputs... Just dreaming. Though I think the market would be fairly strong for a minimalist version.

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[audiot servant]

Originally Posted by Bavarian05

I am curious to see how many others would purchase or prefer my dream preamp.

The cards we all fill out to register our new equipment with ARC asks what product you would like to see them build...

I'd really like to buy a stripped down, purist Ref 5SE style preamp. Meaning skip all of the value adds or user options that add costs (balance control, vacuum display, polarity invert, multiple single ended and balanced inputs, adjustable gain options, etc.). My perfect pre would be one with 12-18 db of gain (only one gain setting to save cost) a simple display - maybe similar to the current LS17SE model, 2-3 balanced XLR inputs only, a tube power supply and gain. Price it competitively in the $6-7K range. This post is not intended to state that the above options are not worth while or to argue their merits, just simply what I would love to see them build and would gladly purchase if they did.

What do you think?

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

In principle the idea is great (and would love one) but I wonder how much stripping a REF5SE back would actually save in RRP given that the cost of parts can often seem a relatively small part in the final price of a unit.

Perhaps more interesting might be if it actually sounded better for all the stripping back... I would probably be happy to get a track version if it sounded better even if it wasn't that much cheaper...

Love your thinking Bavarian...

Graham