ARC REF 150 Review

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by MDP

Breathe Joe,breathe

Ha!

Where did I put my portable oxygen tank?

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by TMcD

I have one coming this week to replace my Ref110 which is already a fantastic sounding piece. Pretty excited.

Tim...excited for you. Let us know once you log some hours on it how it compares to the 110 (which I also currently have). Thx

[Banter]

QUOTE=Banter;430178]Wife could not stand the fumes from those transformers in Ref150. After a lot of complaints from her, I consulted the lawyer. He recommended that it would be cheaper to get rid of the AMP.



It is now with a fellow forumer here.



I am still hanging on to the Ref5se. There are days when the mirage looks nice and clear and then it gets hazy. I am hoping someday I will reach my oases.




On the art of burn in – I never felt comfortable leaving these tube gears on for more than 5 hours. I never left them on and when I was not around. I have seen fireworks on an Air Tight tube amp. You do not want to leave these on and go away. Thought I must admit, Ref150 ran cooler with the fans than the Ref5se.
If and when Ref5se settles down, I will start considering Ref.75. My volume meter rarely goes over 5. I do not need a lot of power[/QUOTE]

[stereotek]

Originally Posted by TMcD

I have one coming this week to replace my Ref110 which is already a fantastic sounding piece. Pretty excited.

I smell Arc Ref150!

[TMcD]

Originally Posted by Amado

I could only add,

But the word I'm thinking is What@#$@@ Fk, is that good !!!!
Feels like no ending power and how glorious it performs.
You can almost sense the presence of the artist you listen to.

This is truly a transformative piece, perhaps the biggest change I have heard in my system to date it is that good.

Everything is effortless, the music is in the room with you, it does not just draw you in, it draws you way in.

The 110 has an ability to unravel inner detail and really draw you into the music, this does the same, only more so with even more detail, but also with more warmth.

It only has 150 hours on it, so it should even improve. I will keep you posted.

[Banter]

Seller’s remorse!

[Banter]

Originally Posted by TMcD

This is truly a transformative piece, perhaps the biggest change I have heard in my system to date it is that good.

Everything is effortless, the music is in the room with you, it does not just draw you in, it draws you way in.

The 110 has an ability to unravel inner detail and really draw you into the music, this does the same, only more so with even more detail, but also with more warmth.

It only has 150 hours on it, so it should even improve. I will keep you posted.

Seller's big remorse!

[microstrip]

Originally Posted by Banter

On the art of burn in – I never felt comfortable leaving these tube gears on for more than 5 hours. I never left them on and when I was not around. I have seen fireworks on an Air Tight tube amp. You do not want to leave these on and go away. Thought I must admit, Ref150 ran cooler with the fans than the Ref5se.
If and when Ref5se settles down, I will start considering Ref.75. My volume meter rarely goes over 5. I do not need a lot of power

I am not a patient man - typically during burn-in my tube ARC gear stays on playing continuously for several hundred hours until they get the magical 500-600 hours. The ARC amplifiers are fused and the cases are metallic - I do not see any risk of fire. When burning-in power amplifiers I replace the speakers by two power resistors of 220 ohm - there is no advantage in obliging the output tubes to supply high current in this phase.

FIY I had no failures in my ARC equipment for years - I just replace tubes at due time, or if they became noisy or if bias of a power tube starts drifting. But I do not know if my continuous burn-in technique has any contribution to it.

[Dafos]

Banter, why sellers remorse? It seemed pretty clear that you were not happy with ARC's performance in your system.

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by Banter

Seller's big remorse!

I honestly think you had a lemon. I would have taken it to the dealer and insisted on a new one. You're the only one I've read who has had these issues. It must have been a lemon.

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but did you take the lid off to ensure there was no packing papers, plastic, little clear protective slips or foam inside?

Mike