Audio Research Reference 3

Check here:

http://www.arcdb.ws/REF3/REF3.html

With the introduction of the REF 5 it's interesting to see how many are "dumping" their 3.Don't misconstrue my meaning the 3 is an awesome pre amp.

Apparently many are also concluding that the sonic differences of the Ref 5 do not justify the additional cost when compared with the Ref 3. Although obsessive compulsives will no doubt find it difficult to live without the sonic improvements regardless, and will see less glow from their Ref3 now.

I was able to hear and AB comp between a well broken in REF3 vs a fairley new REF 5 and hands down the REF 5 is a better pre-amp. I have an LS26 and would consider the REF3 demo the dealer is selling but a fellow Ag'er tels me the LS27 is on it's way. And if the LS27 has the same improvement of the 26 as the 5 over the 3 I think that is the path I would take. But it was a no question improvement on the new 5 over the 3. The sound field and information delivery was much more natural and life like.
It was noticeable with a few notes and we went back and forth a couple times and even blind it was easy to hear.
But it is a lot more money too. I would suspect there will be a few REF 3's listed soon by those that afford the leap.