Santa delivered something from Audio Research!

[LarsT]

Merry Christmas indeed!

[lem321]

I went from the 2SE to 3 too. You’ll be very happy. What a great Xmas present!

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by lem321

I went from the 2SE to 3 too. You’ll be very happy. What a great Xmas present!

Thanks! Was it a huge difference going from the 2SE to the 3? I haven’t even hooked it up yet We’ve been busy today with teaching our two girls about their Christmas presents. Hamsters!

- Buck

[lem321]

“Huge” is relative especially since the 2SE is/was no slouch. I would say it’s a moderate improvement. It was not as much a difference as going from the 5SE to the 6 linestage. To my ears, it improved upon the strengths of the 2SE, that is, soundstage and bass articulation.

[lem321]

In one review of the ARC Ref Phono 3, the writer reported a preference for the balanced output over the RCA. I’m experimenting with that right now.

[tima]

Originally Posted by lem321

In one review of the ARC Ref Phono 3, the writer reported a preference for the balanced output over the RCA. I’m experimenting with that right now.

Balanced is the way to go with ARC Ref components, particularly if you can go balanced from phono through amplifier. You'll also get 6dB more gain vs single-ended. If you have a cartridge with, say, 0.6mv output or higher, try the low gain setting - that might yield a wee bit sweeter timbre. ARC no longer publishes a break-in time for their newest Ref units (too off-putting to customers) but its still 300 hours - looks like yours is already broken-in - nice.

[SL1800]

Congrats Buck!!

[lem321]

Originally Posted by tima

Balanced is the way to go with ARC Ref components, particularly if you can go balanced from phono through amplifier. You'll also get 6dB more gain vs single-ended. If you have a cartridge with, say, 0.6mv output or higher, try the low gain setting - that might yield a wee bit sweeter timbre. ARC no longer publishes a break-in time for their newest Ref units (too off-putting to customers) but its still 300 hours - looks like yours is already broken-in - nice.

Thanks for that information Tim. I go single-ended from my turntable (Etna SL/VPI3D) to the Phono 3 and then balanced from phono to Ref 6 and Ref 6 to ARC Ref 250SE. Unfortunately I must use the high gain to get adequate volume. Even though the Ref Phono 3 only has a RCA input, theoretically would there be an advantage to going balanced from the TT to the phono stage?

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by lem321

... I go single-ended from my turntable (Etna SL/VPI3D) to the Phono 3 and then balanced from phono to Ref 6 and Ref 6 to ARC Ref 250SE ... Even though the Ref Phono 3 only has a RCA input, theoretically would there be an advantage to going balanced from the TT to the phono stage?

If you are keeping your pickup arm wires completely separate - that is, separate right and left channel wires for both both positive and negative leads and are using a separate ground wire - then you already have a balanced signal going into the phono preamp. It's the circuit that determines whether the signal is balanced, not the connector.

[tima]

Originally Posted by lem321

Thanks for that information Tim. I go single-ended from my turntable (Etna SL/VPI3D) to the Phono 3 and then balanced from phono to Ref 6 and Ref 6 to ARC Ref 250SE. Unfortunately I must use the high gain to get adequate volume. Even though the Ref Phono 3 only has a RCA input, theoretically would there be an advantage to going balanced from the TT to the phono stage?

Yes. A phono cartridge is inherently a balanced component so you should be good to go with a normal tonearm cable that has a ground wire. Cleeds has it correct.

The Ref 250SE is a great amp.