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Audio Research State of the Art Audio Reproduction |
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Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
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No worries. Maybe you can ask Ivan for help.
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#12
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Congratulations on the upgrade! You are blazing a trail down the exact path i may go too. I have a great Ref 5SE now and Ref Phono2 and want to make the move. A friend shocked me by saying my Fef 5SE is the weak link in my chain and said the upgrade to 40th would make ahuge difference in my system performance. Would you mind describing what difference you heard and how things changed?
Olskool |
#13
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The 5SE is not that far from the 40 or the 6, detail improvements in soundstaging, timbral clarity, and imaging, based upon my audition experiences. The 10 OTOH is a major step up from the others in every parameter. I have not heard the 6SE, but given its pricing of $17K USD a preowned 10 is a very strong alternative.
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Wilson Alexia V; ARC Ref 6SE; ARC Ref Phono 3SE; Boulder 1160; Esoteric K1X; Artisan Fidelity Garrard 301 Statement; Ikeda 407; Koetsu Leopard, Coralstone; Shunyata Denali 6000T; Shunyata AC cables; Siltech Prince speaker cables; Siltech Princess interconnects, Avondale II phono. |
#14
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Quote:
The first thing I notice is that the bass is tighter in the REF Anniversary 40 . I’m using huge Duntech C5000 speakers driven by the REF610T monoblocks in a 6 meter x 4 meter room w/ a 9 feet ceiling . When I was using the REF 5SE there was a little bass bloat , but not as bad when I was using my old ARC SP11 MK2 and my ARC Classic 150 monoblocks . Another big advantage of the REF Anniversary 40 over the REF 5SE was the palpable 3D imaging and air/ space between the musicians and the huge / expansive soundstage . I thought the REF 5SE was good , and I was given a chance to audition the REF Anniversary in my system for 1 week , and after that audition I said to myself this is it. Good thing my cousin in law grabbed my REF 5SE w/c I sold for only $4000 . If you can try it in your system you’ll hear what I’m talking about . Goodluck, tdh888 . |
#15
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Your cousin in law got one hell of a deal! I hope he appreciates it.
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#16
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My cousin in law was supposed to get an ARC LS 27 but when I told him that I was in a hurry to sell my REF 5SE and w/ the asking price of $4000 he bought it at once . His using it w/ a ARC REF Phono 2SE and a VT80 amplifier . He is very happy and grinning from ear to ear . I myself am very happy as well because I got to buy my dream linestage / preamp and got it as well for a very good price .
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#17
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tdh888 thanks for the review of the differences you’re hearing. Another audiophile friend said the experience would sound much like you explained. I’m saving my pennies for another giant leap in my system growth with a 40th anniversary or Ref 10... |
#18
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#19
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I don't believe the 40th Anniversary will be inferior in sonics to the Ref10 when the circuit boards are identical in both the pre and power units (down to the spaces provided for the larger Teflon caps in the 40th Anniversary). The only difference I could see were the coupling caps. In the 40th Anniversary, it was proprietary White Teflon caps (apparently prone to failure but any units in circulation would have failed by now and been changed) and in the Ref10, ARC uses the TRT Gold Stealth caps which are not Teflon but a hybrid cap of sorts -the material used is a TRT trade secret. The difference in sound would be marginal if any and would be due to the different coupling caps used. 40th Anniversary internals on the left, Ref10 on the right.
Last edited by triode12; 01-31-2020 at 04:03 AM. |
#20
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The Reference Anniversary was sold for one year. It was a very successful offering and ARC saw benefit to continue offering a top-end model.
If you want to read a comparison between Anniversary and the Ref 10, check this review from 2015. |
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