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Audio Research State of the Art Audio Reproduction

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  #11  
Old 03-03-2011, 01:14 PM
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cmalak cmalak is offline
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Originally Posted by jpgr4blu View Post
I received kt 120s from arc and dropped them in my Ref 110 with same bias.
Only have 30 hours on them. Clearly more power all around, slightly better in just about every way except perhaps presence region which is still a touch harsh on certain cds (or is it revealing a slight harshnes in my cd player-BelCanto pl-1?)----will wait for at least 100 hours tube break-in before I come to any definitive conclusions.
Cal at ARC did not mention the need to make any mods to Ref 110. I would love to know if mods would be advisable in any event.
Could it be that prototype Ref 150 with transformer changes and larger power supply was designed solely to accommodate the kt 120s or was this in the design stage prior to kt 120s and simply the first of the new generation of ARC amps which will trickle up?
Ref 150 preproduction prototype was shown at Definitive Audio in Seattle 2 weeks ago. There is a Wilson Audio video floating around showing it.
When I talked to ARC they told me the same thing that the KT-120s are a drop-in replacement for the 6550s in the Ref 110 and that they are running them at the same bias. btw, tubes do not need very long burn-in time. So your 30 hrs are more than enough to give you a sense for what the new sound with the KT-120s will be like. The reason amplifiers and other audio components often take a long time to break-in nowadays is it takes a long time to burn in caps. I believe the Ref 150 (replacement for Ref 110) is a redesign of the audio circuitry (including new transformer) and not a tweak to accomodate the KT-120s.

ps: welcome to AA jpgr4blu
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  #12  
Old 03-03-2011, 02:47 PM
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metaphacts metaphacts is offline
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We used 610Ts with Kt120s at CES. Thought Chris told us then that the KT-120s were a straight drop in, at least on the 610Ts.

I've got a call into Dave Gordon to confirm.
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  #13  
Old 03-04-2011, 11:29 PM
jpgr4blu jpgr4blu is offline
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Default Ref 110

Hi guys:
I have confirmed that the Ref 150 is a replacement for the Ref 110. The Ref 110 is enough to drive the Sashas, but the 210s do drive them better--more transparency and better bottom end. The Kt 120s are very helpful with the Sashas. The 210s are 10 to 15 percent better than the Ref 110 if I had to hazard a guess at the degree of improvement. Worth double the cost?
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  #14  
Old 03-05-2011, 12:55 AM
jpgr4blu jpgr4blu is offline
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good to be here cmalak.
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  #15  
Old 03-05-2011, 01:49 AM
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Jayhawk80 Jayhawk80 is offline
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I just bought a VS 115 and it was shipped with KT 120's. Not sure when they switched to furnishing them with their new amps, but mine came with them.

Jeff
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  #16  
Old 03-05-2011, 08:40 PM
Tonepub Tonepub is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metaphacts View Post
We used 610Ts with Kt120s at CES. Thought Chris told us then that the KT-120s were a straight drop in, at least on the 610Ts.

I've got a call into Dave Gordon to confirm.
They are a straight drop in, however of the additional performance, the new REF 150 and the other models have optimized power supplies to get more power from the tube.

I'll bet that new REF 150 and whatever the 210 and 610 (my dream amps!) become will be incredible...
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  #17  
Old 03-05-2011, 08:46 PM
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metaphacts metaphacts is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tonepub View Post
They are a straight drop in, however of the additional performance, the new REF 150 and the other models have optimized power supplies to get more power from the tube.

I'll bet that new REF 150 and whatever the 210 and 610 (my dream amps!) become will be incredible...
Hoping to have the REF150 on the Amati Futura in Montreal.
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  #18  
Old 03-05-2011, 10:33 PM
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cmalak cmalak is offline
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Hoping to have the REF150 on the Amati Futura in Montreal.
Bill let us know what you think of the REF 150 if you get it
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  #19  
Old 03-06-2011, 01:40 AM
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I'll definitely have to stop down and give it a listen!
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  #20  
Old 04-03-2011, 05:40 PM
crimsondonkey crimsondonkey is offline
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I've just ordered a set of Tung Sol KT120's for my Ref 110. I'll report back my findings when they arrive.
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