Audio Research Pre-Amp advice

Some rather strange responses and comments here!

OP - I would have thought not many, if any, dealer would keep a 7yr old product on Dem (unless it's still current in the lineup, which I don't know). And what's your problem with the valve compliment in a Ref version? An LS28SE, which I agree would/should be high on your list, uses 4 6H30's, but a Ref version only uses two more tubes, so what's your gripe? My Ref 3 uses this compliment, and in response to @pinwa - have you been living under a rock for a few years?! 6H30's and 6550W tubes are anything but cheap! c$60 EACH for the 6H30 (rapidly becomming rare btw due to the Russian 'thing'!) and c$80/120 for the 6550W, which, IMO, does not make them cheap, unless, of course, you are rich.

I'm also VERY surprised at the comment by @ghdprentice , normally quite knowlegeable, but saying his Ref 5SE has never had a tube change in 10 YEARS!!! Don't you ever use it then?? And you comment of 'never needed' - what does that mean? It still works so doesn't need new tube(s)?! ARC recommend a change at 4000hrs, but for best sound quality, every 3000hrs! So you must be using your Ref 5SE for less than c7hrs per WEEK! Only ONE hour per day?! Or one afternoon/evening per week. It takes c2hrs for my Ref 3 to 'come on song'.

As for people mentioning the tube hours counter - this 'feature' is complete BS except for the original owner or original tube replacer (if that's a word), and unless you KNOW, for certain, when the tubes were inserted into one of these that has a tube counter, you can take the figure with a huge 'pinch of salt', as that can be zeroed at any time, VERY easily, without even taking the cover off on some models (like my Ref 3 eg) so my recommendation is to ignore what a seller says about tube hours.

@ghdprentice - I get what you're saying about working. If you only used it for <1hr, then you've never heard it at it's best, and I'm sure you'd have had a better experience with a SS amp that warms up much quicker. I wouldn't even consider serious listening to my Ref3 in under an hour or more; as I said, it really takes c2hrs to come on song. When I 1st switch on, it's either Radio Paradise (A FANTASIC radio station btw, which streams FLAC files, if anyone's not heard of it, give it a try - it has no ads, has several different streams for different genres, 5 different quality levels in case you have a poor connection, and an amazing thing for a radio station; if you don't like a track, you can press 'next' and it,,, you get it), or TV/Film duties, while it warms up. The warm up change is NOT subtle, so again I'm surprised at your usage, and given your work commitments, your choice of it.

When you changed the 6550WE, what make did you choose? There's been several comments here about that tube, and how it affects SQ.

hSounds says he went with NOS Winged C but doesn't mention maker.  Also, the Tungsol Black Plate, which he adds a 'NJ'. is that a reference to NewJersey? I'm in the UK, so not au fe(?) with US terminology. $300 for a single 6550 doesn't seem 'cheap' to me, as @pinwa seems to think - but he may be a millionaire!

@tomic601 May I ask why you change the 6550 at just 2k hrs? What part does the 6550 play in the power supply? Is it THAT important, as these tubes ain't cheap (lookin at £240 here for a pair of Winged C, which, I admit, is cheaper than the $300 each he paid for one there. Ohh, and 6k hrs on it?!? Maan, you're WAAAY over the top limit. Replace ASAP and you'll be blown away by the improvement new tubes will bring.

@romad - If you can't stretch to a 28SE, go for the vanilla 28. Don't bother with a 27 or anything earlier, especially things like LS15/16. save your money and wait for the SE IMO.

Here's a link to a REALLY useful site which gives lots of info about most ARC gear - https://www.arcdb.ws/model/LS28

LS28SE introduced in 2017 at $10k, so should be well within your budget, so just wait until one appears.

@cleeds - thanks, but what exactly is 'critical'? What part does it play - my Ref3 seems to use SS rectification, so is the 6550 the supply voltage for the 6H30 in the PS, or does it do something else? 2000hrs seems a very very low figure for replacement - what do you experience, in SQ, after that time?