I keep falling further in the ARC hole!

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

Heh. Me too!

! I know ! I was the first one to notice your absence Bill !

[Ritmo]

That is excellent news Jeff! Can't wait to read your perspective on the Refs 2, 5 and 150.

Mike

[Tonepub]

Actually, I found out it had 350 hours on the clock, so thanks to ARC for saving me some time!

[TMcD]

Originally Posted by tonepub

Actually, I found out it had 350 hours on the clock, so thanks to ARC for saving me some time!

It comes into its own at 500 hours a big difference even compared to 350.

[jpspock]

congrats Jeff,

the mine will arrive in a few days . It will be a big step forward

[Tonepub]

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

[AndyPandy]

I've listened extensively to ARC Ref 110 and LS17 Pre into some Quad 57's. It's one of the best combo's I have ever heard. Not at all sickly sweet its just right I feel. Palpable 3D soundstaging.

In consequence I have a very strong place in my heart for ARC equipment esp the Ref110. Interestingly I didn't care for the Ref 5 pre that much. Mind you it was only an hrs demo at a dealers. It might not even have been run it. Having said that the LS 17 out shone it on that day, and by no small margin. We were demoing CLX signatures.

[Tonepub]

I remember hearing the REF 5/REF 110 at Shunyata through a pair of Quad 57's and it was outstanding. Hmmm. Need another pair of Quad's someday!

[Ritmo]

ARC and Shunyata =

[cmalak]

I started out with the LS-26 into the Ref 110s and loved that combo. But when I stepped up from the LS-26 to the Ref 3, there was a material step change. I think with ARC when you step up their line you do get what you pay for. You are not simply ponying up extra $s for meaningless audio jewelery (there is none with ARC) or with overpriced parts that don't justify their cost but rather you get a more resolving, transparent and bigger sound presented on a larger 3D stage with more precise imaging on that stage. I have to believe the Ref 5 is a noticeable if not game-changing improvement over the Ref 3 and that the Ref 150 will similarly prove to be a noticeable improvement over my Ref 110s.

I am very much looking forward to your thoughts on the Ref 5 and the Ref 150 Jeff! As mentioned before if you get a chance to compare them to the Ref 3/Ref 110 that would be even more fruitful review but I recognize that is not always possible.

Enjoy the auditioning/reviewing the new ARC gear