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ARC Quality Issues Ref75 Ref5SE Ref10

Over the past two years I had several issues with ARC Ref gear and am wondering if I'm the only one out there having so much "bad luck"?

My issues started when I bought a Ref5SE plus Ref75.
The two meters in the Ref75 had a noticeable different color and had to be replaced by my dealer.

Two of the Ref5SE tube sockets were soldered crooked to the board. I found a loose screw bouncing around inside the chassis when I unpacked it and found that the two crooked tube sockets were not even bolted down to the metal support on the main board. ARC apologized and replaced the brand new Ref5SE.

The replacement Ref5SE blew up after 600 hrs of use. A small component in the power section exploded with a single loud bang with smoke following.

To not end up with a nearly new but repaired preamp I upgraded to Ref10. The Ref10 power section also blew up after two months and only 390 hrs of use. One or more of the smaller white caps in the power section exploded (four or five significant and loud bangs with smoke). My dealer just informed me that ARC is going to replace the failed Ref10 against a brand new one.

I can not believe I am the only one having repeated problems with ARC's new gear!?

Feedback and comments will be greatly appreciated !
decibell

Showing 3 responses by dweller

dweller's avatar
dweller
3,833 posts
 
Decibell: You have stable A/C and use a power conditioner?
I've had minor issues with ARC but nothing ever exploded.

Most recently, I purchased some ARC 6H30 tubes for my BAT int.
These lasted a few months the started growling at me.
NOS 6H30 DR from BAT ($600) not only sound twice as good but so far show no signs of failure. You get what you pay for (sometimes).
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,833 posts
 
No_money: When I bought my 6H30 from ARC, they asked me "what kind of ARC product do you have?". I told them I was going to use them in a BAT integrated amp.
Do they save "the good stuff" for Ref 5SE and above?
Did I get shanked because I don't have ARC equipment?
They should not ask what equipment you own.
They should just sell you the tubes, IMO.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,833 posts
 
The 6H30 is rated for 10,000 hours of service.
Mine lasted 5 or 6 months (i.e., outside of warranty window).
I don't know why I purchased from ARC instead of BAT (my Father used to "spread his business around" -I must have been copying him).
I won't stray in the future.
Merry Christmas!
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