Audio Research Reference 6 Preamp Review

elem79

I have owned many old ARC pieces, but only have one SP9 MKIII left, that is not used.

I use all Pass Labs amplification now, and prefer them over ARC.

I do not like the reliability issues, and changing sound quality of tube power amps.

My Pass Labs XA.5 amps sound better than tubes.

To each their own.

600 hours to fully break in??? LOL!

The only thing ARC has done in the last 15 years is put in crazy capacitors.

Long live the old ARC classics, without long break in, and comparable sound quality.

oregonpapa

I have toured the ARC factories in the past, and they have not changed their manufacturing!

The older gear was just as good sounding IMO!

They have a slightly different flavor of sound now, that’s all.

terry9

Of course caps make a big difference, and ARC has used very good exotic caps since the 80s, in their equipment.

But only in the last 10 years did ARC preamps take 600 hours to break in. That is 10 months, at 2 hours per day, on average. Can you return the preamp if you do not like the end results?

Bill Johnson must be rolling over in his grave!