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ARC REF 10 Review (mini review)
Yesterday I received my ARC REF 10 preamp. This is a two chassis tube preamp, featuring tubes in both the audio section and power supply section. Audio Research designed the REF 10 based on things they had learned from building the Anniversary Edition, their previous flagship preamp. More on that here: Audio Research Reference 10 Company Letter | Dé Durob Audio blog – Le Blog de Durob Audio
The design, build quality and overall aesthetics are absolutely stunning. The new touch screen and overall new design characteristics are fabulous. The pictures don't do them justice. I absolutely love the new touch screen. The preamp is so configurable, from color to all normal audio preamp functions. Although I only have about 6 hours on the preamp, let me give you my first impressions. First off, this preamp is so musical. It casts the deepest soundstage I've ever heard. It has a beautiful flow to it, without being even the slightest bit slow. This preamp allows every recording (new, old, high res, vinyl, whatever) to achieve a level of completeness like I've never heard before. This preamp is so well balanced and presents a level of tonality which places it closer to a live performance than any other preamp I've ever heard. Fleetwood Mac's Landslide starts with an acoustic guitar that reveals a level of tonality realism which literally gave me goose bumps. Norah Jones' voice was so real that I could swear she was in the room. Clarity and resolution are at a level that makes many of my previous preamps seem broken, or highly veiled at best. At the finest level, this preamp exhibits control over music by placing each instrument in their own unique space. On Paul Simons Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes, each voice from the South African choir was unique. When listening to Rod Stewart singing Fly Me To The Moon, the trumpet casts such a deep soundstage that I literally envisioned the trumpet player on a street corner about 50 feet away, up and off to the right. This preamp is also very fast which likely has something to do with the monster tube power supply. It possesses such dynamics and control, while delivering a fluid and truly musical sound. I hear as much detail at a low volume as I do at higher volumes. The ARC/Pass synergy is incredible, likely only bettered by an all ARC system. I would venture to guess that this is one of the best, if not the best Preamp on the market today. No, I have not heard every preamp, but I have heard a lot and this preamp is head and shoulders above anything I have ever heard. I've always been a firm believer in a great preamp, and I have had many great preamps in my system, but nothing has taken my system to new heights like the ARC REF 10. Bravo Audio Research! Bravo! |
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More pics...
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More pics....
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Mike... Super Nice, enjoy your new ARC!
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
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Wow, congrats on your new preamp! It's gorgeous and I'm sure it sounds amazing.
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Mike,
Beautiful! I saw the Ref 10 at RMAF this year. Absolutely gorgeous. Glad you are happy with the ARC sound.
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Mike |
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Mike...congrats on the Ref 10 Just remember there will be ups and downs during the break-in period so do not feel discouraged when the "downs" come about.
I am guessing Joe will be ordering one when he sees your review, so there will be a minty Ref 10 up for sale at a great price 4 months from now Just joking Joe |
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__________________
Mike |
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Hah, similar thoughts ran through my mind.
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#10
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Mike:
A HUGE congratulations my friend! Just think, if it sounds great now, you are in for a very special piece a month or so down the road. Let it play, grab a drink if/when you hit a bump on your journey (unlike my freaking out), and enjoy. You have built quite the system in the past month or so . |
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