Arcmania: I am very impressed with your assessment. However, I am assuming you have not heard it. Am I correct? I personally think that ARC is playing catch-up with Balanced Audio Technology. I am very frustrated with ARCs policy to continuosly put out product that is not the current best, just to leave another opportunity to upgrade. For example, ARC made such a big deal with their VTM200 amps saying they were going to use the new "super tube" and it was so incredible that they were revamping their entire line. It turns out they never released the VTM200 with the super tubes. They will not be putting them in the VTMs for another year and a half (mark my words, it will be an upgrade in the near future). In the meantime, the super tubes are going into every other product they sell. ARC says that the dealers were mistaken in their communication of the VTM200 tubes. I just think they are just looking for the next way to stick it to the loyal ARC customers. They knew when they shipped them that they were not as good as the VT100 MKIII or the Reference 300 MK II.
While I do enjoy the ARC products, I have found better in the BAT lineup. I am using the BAT VK150SE monos in place of the VTM200s. I am also using the VK50SE in place of the Ref 2. I know the 6H30 tubes will improve the ARC equipment, however there are other factors involved. The ARCs still use the 6550 tubes which are not very musical while the BAT's use the 6C33 tubes that are also used in the wonderfull Lamm ML2 amps. There is much more current that runs through the BAT amps which may have something to do with the fact that they are the QUIETEST tube equipment I have ever heard. The only other product that I have heard with as low a noise floor is the Levinson Reference amps but they have no soul. The warranty is a REAL warranty - 5 years + 1 year on all tubes. ARC is 3 years with 90 days on the tubes. In my listening experience, there is no question... I will not buy ARC ever again!
While I do enjoy the ARC products, I have found better in the BAT lineup. I am using the BAT VK150SE monos in place of the VTM200s. I am also using the VK50SE in place of the Ref 2. I know the 6H30 tubes will improve the ARC equipment, however there are other factors involved. The ARCs still use the 6550 tubes which are not very musical while the BAT's use the 6C33 tubes that are also used in the wonderfull Lamm ML2 amps. There is much more current that runs through the BAT amps which may have something to do with the fact that they are the QUIETEST tube equipment I have ever heard. The only other product that I have heard with as low a noise floor is the Levinson Reference amps but they have no soul. The warranty is a REAL warranty - 5 years + 1 year on all tubes. ARC is 3 years with 90 days on the tubes. In my listening experience, there is no question... I will not buy ARC ever again!