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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
tli
52 posts
 
I have three ARC equipment in the last two years.

First, it was the 40th Anniversary, the remote control failed in the first two months. I don't bother to replace it since I always use universal remote for the whole system.

Then, in the first week, Ref 250 failed to turn back on again when shut down, it took a couple of hours of cooling before it could be turned on again. I reported it in this forum. After a length discussion with local dealer and ARC, both amps were replaced after nearly 4 weeks.

Third, recently 40th Anniversary was upgraded to Ref 10. Some of the 6H30 tubes were not working after one month and 200 hours. They were replaced with EH 6H30DR gold pin. They sounded better and are problem free for 500 hours now.

So far, all my experiences with ARC were not perfect. Although I still like their sound, their reliability is a real concern.
no_money
638 posts
 
I didn't think much of it until reading this thread. I've had no issues with either of my ARC pre amps over the years, but, the last set of tubes I bought from them, one 6h30 was DOA. This makes me wonder why I'm paying a premium for these to be tested?
tli
52 posts
 
I can only said it is now Italian style, fashionable but not reliable, sensational but not stable.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,781 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.
no_money
638 posts
 
I'm not sure Dweller? I know when I buy tube sets from them they are labeled Ref2 MkII. For the prices they charge I assumed they where all well tested and matched. The argument I always heard was that many tubes wouldn't pass, thus the waste and increased charge.
But now I question that argument. This tube wouldn't even light up, totally dead.
I hope they get this straight. I want to upgrade pre amps next year and LS 27 was on the list.
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