#21
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#22
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To be honest, I am a little bit wary of the change. I have not heard ANY ARC pre-amps with 6h30 tubes. I love the fact that I can tweak the sound of my LS25 by changing its 6922 tubes. Now, I will be 'stuck' with whatever the 6h30s do to my system. However, I keep thinking that there must be something to the REF line so I took the plunge.
First, I replaced my two VT100 Mk IIs with a REF 150 and now an LS25 Mk I with a REF 5SE. This is really scary boys and girls BUT do try this at home. |
#23
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#24
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The REF 5SE will yield clearer imaging on a more credible soundstage with better instrument separation, purer pitch, improved harmonics particularly in the mids and upper frequencies, more detail, dynamic vivacity, and low end weight. You'll want to keep track of tube hours, particularly the single 6550C/WE; and you might as well buy a replacement tube set to have on hand, assuming you keep the unit. No worries, I bet you love it. |
#25
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So what are you doing with the LS25 mkI ....
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#26
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Randy - I think it would go very well with the VT50 although I do not know how it compares to the W4S STP-SE. However, you can tweak the sound because it uses 4 6922s. They aren't really expensive NOS tubes but they will give the buyer an idea of how they affect the sound.
Last edited by jdandy; 03-14-2017 at 11:27 AM. |
#27
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I had a LS15 Mk1, then MK II then, moved to LS16 with Classic 120 amps. Upgraded the LS16 to the LS26 and moved to VTM 200's. The change of preamp was very noticeable for the better each time. I moved to the Ref 3 from the LS26 and it was the biggest change of any of the other Line Stages. My speakers started with SL3's to CLS IIz's and now CLX's Considering you are going further up the Line Stage progression no doubt you will be very happy. My Ref 3 left to be replaced by the 40th Anniversary Line Stage that is closer to the Ref 5SE than the Ref 3 is. The VT200's were replaced with 610T's. I included all of this as I went through a very similar anguish to what you were trying to noodle through. I can't wait to here your thoughts once you have some listening time. My guess is 30-90 seconds and you will have that goofy grin that comes with an amazing upgrade. |
#28
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Thanks to everyone for their encouraging feedback. I am really looking forward to listening to the REF 5SE with my standard testing repertoire especially now that I have my W4S DAC-2v2SE with ESS 9038PRO chip. The DAC-2 DSDse to DAC-2v2SE was a considerable upgrade.
After the pre-amp replacement, I'll probably look to upgrading my turntable. I still have an original Rega Planar 2 albeit modified, it is still an original Planar 2.
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Digital W4S DAC-2v2SE, W4S Recovery powered by Uptone Audio LPS-1, OPPO BDP-105; Office: iFi micro iDAC2 Home Office: iFi nano iDSD with iPurifier2 Analog Rega Planar 2 (original) heavily modified; Benz Micro Ace; Aesthetix Rhea phono pre-amp Pre-amp/amp Audio Research REF 5SE, Audio Research REF 150, Martin Logan SL3s, Shunyata Research power cords throughout |
#29
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Gratz on the new pre-amp and the new W4S DAC.... awesome!
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#30
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Is my ARC LS25 Mk1 holding back the sound? If you are like most of us here, your limited income stream is holding back the sound! [emoji33]
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Avid Acutus SP, NO ARM, Benz Micro LP-S, Whest Audio PS.40RDT SE, PS Audio DSMP+DS DAC, Simaudio Moon 700i, Dali Epicon 6, Simaudio Moon Nēo 430HAD, HiFiMan HE-1000v2, Chord Sarum SA XLR, RCA, USB, Chord Sarum speaker, Nordost Vishnu power, Furutech plugs, PS Audio P10+Chord Sarum SA power, Stillpoints Ultra SS, Ultra Mini and LPI, HiFi Racks rack, Audio Desk Systeme PRO+Keith Monks Omni RCM |
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