Audio Research Ref 5 preamp

Having had many preamps in this category over the last 10 years to include VTL 7.5 mk1, cj ACT-2, cj Art mk-2, ARC Ref-3 twice,and Mcintosh c-500. I believe the Ref_5 tops them all by quite a margin. The first thing I noticed with the Ref 5 Is more information and greater transparency in a very relaxing musical fashion. I found the Ref 3 to be just a tad bit mechanical which is why you see the cj preamp in my history. The top end extension of the REF-5 is so clean and pristine but never fatiguing. I hear so much more information with the ref-5 and don't find myself straining to hear little bits of information in the background. Therefore my listening session is more relaxed. Everything is openly illuminated. Soundstaging and imaging are remarkable, so much depth and expansiveness. This is the kind of gear that causes you pull out old music and hear what you've been missing. A very exciting and fun piece. I think they finally got it right this time.

One can only wonder what shortcomings the Ref5 has that the Ref6 will ameliorate.

LOL, I hear ya! I guess will find that out after it comes out. Hey it may already be on the drawing board.

The moment any great high end manufacturer ceases to do R&D and make improvements to their products as significant as the Ref 5 they might as well hang it up.

In case anyone hasn't noticed amidst of all the hand wringing over economic circumstances there have been some very cool advances in almost every product category and the cost of great sound is still going down--in some cases dramatically. If manufacturers sat on their hands and did not reinvest in making the best possible products there would be more worthy issues to sit and complain about

Well, of course no one can argue with the merits of R&D. And obviously to stay in business manufacturers must manufacture. I am not clear on where the cost of great sound is going down in the high end audio business, however, considering the increased price of the Ref5.

Perhaps it is like the wine business and consumption in the U.S. in which there are now plenty of pretty darn good and improved wines to be had at reasonable prices, however the cost of Lafitte, Latour have gone to the stratosphere.