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ARC Ref 5se VS ARC Ref 6

Ok i need some help and opinions. I just auditioned at my home the ARC Ref 6. All i can say is WOW. !!!!!!!!! I was truly blown away with the sound. Everything is truly there . To me there are no short comings. Ok let me start off by saying that originally i was looking for a used ARC Ref 3. Then i started reading on some forums and on here that the 5 was very close to the 3 and the 5se was truly a great sounding unit and upgrade from the 3. I really wanted to audition the 5se at my home but unfortunately he just sold his demo and only had the 6. I really cant afford the 6 right now brand new But after hearing the 6 with my system im wondering if i purchase a 5se would i be disapointed after hearing the 6. Like the 3 vs the 5se i read it was a very big difference , Is the 6 a really big difference in sound ? Should i wait for a used 6? I know that i have read great reviews on the 5se. I just wish i could of heard the 5se also in my system to compare / decide for my self. Any help would be very much appreciated . 
tattooedtrackman

Showing 3 responses by bifwynne

bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Copied over from another ARC thread:

Just traded in my ARC Ref 5SE for a ARC Ref 6 today. Here are my reactions, … FWIW.  

Is the Ref 6 a better sounding unit than the Ref 5SE? IMO, yes. Here's why. First off, bass is tighter, but not in an exaggerated sense. Just better low end and midrange detail. The sound stage is more open. I get a sense that there's less clutter to the imaging and a more coherent presentation of the musical performance. To my old ears, it is a palpable difference. To die for? No. But to appreciate and enjoy? Yes.

That said, do I think the Ref 5SE is a sonic slouch? Absolutely not! Both units share similar ARC house sound characteristics. But the Ref 6 does tease out more detail and a better sense of a uniform sound stage with few gaps.  

I surmise that the Ref 10 and Ref 40 are of similar genre to the Ref 6, ... just more of the same. Admittedly, I have never heard the Ref 10 or Ref 40, but generously assume (based on member comments) that they are a cut above the Ref 6.

As I listen to more source material, I will add more comments if I think worth passing along.  

Regards,

BIF

bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Where does one get Winged SED 6550 C tubes?  I thought the Russian factory burned down many years ago and good quality tubes are hard to come by.  I have read that the new variant 6550 is not as good as the original Winged C.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
@jonaiken 

Some years back I seem to recall a conversation with Uncle Kevin about SED Winged Cs.  Kevin said that some SED Winged Cs on the market do not spec all that well.  

I haven't checked UA's website in a while, but I seem to recall that at least for a while, Uncle Kevin had some quality SED Winged Cs in stock.  You'd have to check in with UA to know for sure if they still have  stock.

Coincidentally, I have about 8 or 10 ARC SED Winged C tubes from an old ARC amp I used town.  I am considering sending them to Rodger M for testing. If they have life, I may use them in my ARC front end components as power supply tubes.  Matching is not important since they are solos.

BIF       
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