May have to sell Ref40 due new disc player

[Barry1]

I really could not part with my ARC Ref 40 without suffering serious depression. It really is a wonderful piece of audio equipment.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by Barry1

I really could not part with my ARC Ref 40 without suffering serious depression. It really is a wonderful piece of audio equipment.

Barry...what else are you running in your system? Tell us more. Thx

[TOGA]

If Burmester 111 doesn't work in concert with Ref40, I may keep Ref40 and find ARC REF tube amp to start a full tube amplification to use elsewhere, as I don't wanna part with it too. But I had the same feeling with Revel Salon2 before too, but eventually sold them.
So, let' s see.
Toga

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

I doubt that even the Burmester preamp section within a cdp will make music as good as the ref 40. You are, after all stuffing everything into one box.

I would not be surprised if they eventually come out with an external power supply option for the 111. It would make sense since they have that option on the higher end cd players and preamps.

[karsajid]

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

I tried feeding my Ayon CD5S which also has an analog preamp section to my ARC Ref5 and it just didn't sound good to my ears. So I can see where the OP is coming from.

I have an Ayon Skylla going into a REF5 SE. It does not sound awesome to me, although the Ayon is a very good DAC with volume control. I have tried a Reimyo DAC and also an Audio Aero Capitole Reference CDP with analog preamp/volume control. But I can say that the Ref 5 SE, after a looooong break in, does make the presentation more musical in terms of fullness and pace. But the music is more transparent when it is bypassed..

[karsajid]

Originally Posted by Barry1

I really could not part with my ARC Ref 40 without suffering serious depression. It really is a wonderful piece of audio equipment.

+1

Barry, by the way, I sold all my acoustic zen absolute silver interconnects & spk cables. It killed the sound in my system. I am happily using the absolute copper though. It is a step up from the matrix ref and holds its own/ betters two much more expensive cables I have compared it with. This comparison I have tried in 3 high end systems with the same result.

[vjayh]

toga, I'm struggling with the same thing. I have Ref40, but I don't think the 111 will have theater bypass, so really not a practical way to have no additional preamp in my combined movies/ music system, best I can tell. This is one thing that I wish the 111 would have provided.

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by karsajid

I have an Ayon Skylla going into a REF5 SE. It does not sound awesome to me, although the Ayon is a very good DAC with volume control. I have tried a Reimyo DAC and also an Audio Aero Capitole Reference CDP with analog preamp/volume control. But I can say that the Ref 5 SE, after a looooong break in, does make the presentation more musical in terms of fullness and pace. But the music is more transparent when it is bypassed..

Thing is, the Ayon performs very well as a preamp. I'd say not too shabby next to the Ref5 IMHO.

I have since upgraded the Ref5 to a 5SE and moved the Ayon to another system.

[microstrip]

Originally Posted by TOGA

If Burmester 111 doesn't work in concert with Ref40, I may keep Ref40 and find ARC REF tube amp to start a full tube amplification to use elsewhere, as I don't wanna part with it too. But I had the same feeling with Revel Salon2 before too, but eventually sold them.
So, let' s see.
Toga

Toga,

I think the answer depends a lot on what it is the whole system. I also own a REF40, consider it as a great preamplifier and I am very happy with it, but in order to get the best from it you need a system that matches it - it is not a miraculous component!

I have gone through a similar situation in the past - the Krell KPS25s, a great CD player with an integrated preamplfier. IMHO, the CD player was better than the preamplfiier. Happily the 25s had a fixed output and could be used as CD player, but the idea of having a now working preamplifier idling was not nice, and in the end I parted with it.

[klao]

Khun TOGA,

I had to sell my Ref40 a few weeks ago and have to admit I really am missing it. After the new house is done and my finance permits, I sure would love to have a Ref40 back in my system. It's a fantastic preamp; keep it, I know you can.

Klao