ARC G Series….Let's get fired up!

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Alki

I am a large ARC fan; especially their pre amps, but this look just does not do it for me. Will still be interested in how it sounds.

I'm afraid I'm on the same page. I love ARC gear but this looks like my stainless stove or the toaster oven to me. No arguing with taste I guess.

[George Prentice]

Huh, not doing much for me. Looks like early Marantz meets Macintosh meets a rounded rectangle of aluminum. Doesn't feel like a coherent set of shapes and textures.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by George Prentice

Huh, not doing much for me. Looks like early Marantz meets Macintosh meets a rounded rectangle of aluminum. Doesn't feel like a coherent set of shapes and textures.

George.......I had the exact same feelings initially but as I have viewed it more often since its introduction the style has grown on me a bit. It is a polarizing design, especially since it is such a radical departure from traditional Audio Research designs.

[Alki]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

I'm afraid I'm on the same page. I love ARC gear but this looks like my stainless stove or the toaster oven to me. No arguing with taste I guess.

I was more reserved in my comment but was thinking exactly what you wrote when I made the comment.

[antipop]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

I'm afraid I'm on the same page. I love ARC gear but this looks like my stainless stove or the toaster oven to me. No arguing with taste I guess.

You mean like this ?



I prefer the old industrial look, the new one is too clean and makes it liveless.

I'm talking on looks alone as I never heard an ARC system. The sound may change my opinion.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by antipop

You mean like this ?

Yes Georges, that's it exactly.

[jdandy]

Not necessarily this model, but this is the Audio Research design I appreciated the most. I like the looks of the recessed knobs and the recessed toggle switches. I would like to see ARC reintroduce this look with current state of the art circuit designs.

[larevoj]

This is getting interesting...yes, the design and looks are very subjective and I have heard both camps - I shamelessly vote for the new look The bottom line would still be the sound quality but that aside the previous posts also throw out an interesting question on the choice of material used.

I am sure the cost of material would have influence in its choice, including aesthetic finish plus ease of manufacturing and it's related cost - more importantly this is a tube gear and vibration is an audiophile 101 to avoid.

So what is the material characteristics of Aluminium and Stainless Steel to a full spectrum of frequencies from 20hz to 20khz? I don't have a lab at home but a thin sheet of 1 foot square, with a small hammer and a quick knock on both material will tell which will stop ringing first.

Perhaps there is a "sound" decision why so many high end components uses Aluminium instead.

[kfr01]

Looks great., but I'm not interested in paying 10k+ premium for looks over the Ref. 150.

Performance. Let's talk about performance.

Don't pull a "Wadia" on ARC, Fine Sounds.

[SOA]

Originally Posted by tima

Nothing like the ergonomic affirmation one gets from a toggle switch.

+1. I really miss the toggle switches.