Dear Bobaywalla,
It mistifies me that you would blame the ARC Ref.1 for the poor sound of your friend's system. I have gotten excellent performance from my Ref.1 (admittedly with the Reference GNS mod and some vintage ECC88's). It has never sounded less than musical, with wonderful soundstage and excellent bass.
Why, oh why, are we so ready to diss the previous generations of wonderful equipment when the manufacturer sees fit to release a new version? We all know that equipment makers (yes even ARC) are not immune to market pressures to release a new version every couple of years.
Just wait a few months until the honeymoon is over and suddenly the revision 6 or 7Mk.II or whatever is not quite as magical and enchanting as everyone imagined.
Randy
It mistifies me that you would blame the ARC Ref.1 for the poor sound of your friend's system. I have gotten excellent performance from my Ref.1 (admittedly with the Reference GNS mod and some vintage ECC88's). It has never sounded less than musical, with wonderful soundstage and excellent bass.
Why, oh why, are we so ready to diss the previous generations of wonderful equipment when the manufacturer sees fit to release a new version? We all know that equipment makers (yes even ARC) are not immune to market pressures to release a new version every couple of years.
Just wait a few months until the honeymoon is over and suddenly the revision 6 or 7Mk.II or whatever is not quite as magical and enchanting as everyone imagined.
Randy