2. amps-preamps
  3. 1390479703

ARC Ref phono stage.

I have always enjoyed the AR2 reference system phono stage at the dealer. It is always in the reference room, with Balanced ouputs into AR reference preamp. My electronics are single ended SS, Spectral Reference. Question for those out there is whether I would experience all of the sound of the phono stage?
tennisdoc40

Showing 3 responses by bigkidz

bigkidz
3,415 posts
 
Yeah the FET in the initial stage can help to make the preamp quiet. But using a better quality power supply can make a pure tube preamp sounds quiet. It's just that tube is tube, and transistor is transistor. Pure tube always sounds better, period. (IMO).
bigkidz
3,415 posts
 
I can make you a better phono preamp than the ARC and I will send it to you for a listen.
bigkidz
3,415 posts
 
I can design a tube head amp based on Counterpoint SA-2. I would make a better power supply using tubes and chokes in a separate chassis. The main circuit should be similar to SA-2 with improvement in bias circuit, with point to point direct wiring. The gain should about 25 dB and no setup transformer needed. All parts used would be premium grades. Teflon tube sockets, gold plated RCA sockets, etc.

Using MC transformers would sound better if the transformers are designed right. MC transformers have better air, sound stage and are more musical than a tube head amp, but some people think MC transformers have more coloration than tube head amp. The choice is a matter of taste, but one thing sure is MC transformers have better noise level than tube head amp.
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