Audio Research Ref 3 Opinions

Hi all, I´ve just unpacked my REF 3, finally home!
Right out of the box, dead cold, hand to hand with the LS25MKII, it was a revelation in terms of sheer bass response without loosing the top end.
After 2 hours continuos operation, suddenly it changed and sounded like the scene was grouped in the middle (no, I was not in mono mode ;-) ) and harsher than the 25...one hour later (now we are at the 3rd hour) and it came back stronger than ever.
A friend of mine who knows well my setup drove to my house with his `reference´ recordings and was amazed at the clear sound, but most of all, dynamics and bass response.
Too early to say anything else, need what...100 hours? (no mention about burn in time as with the CD3).

Anyway, it is different and certainly an improvement to the 25 (sure, what else..). One of my worries about the lower gain (down from 9 db to 6 db SE on the phono section) is gone. There is enough there to drive the Krell 700cx with the Colibri at the other end (0.3 mV) at very loud levels. Back to the listening session now...bye
Marcelo
Spain

Soundoc: Which Ref2, MK1 or MK2, have you auditioned against Ref3? I am curious about Ref2 MK1 vs. Ref3 in terms of the warmness and sweetness.
Thanks.

Jshaw1004: The Ref 2 MK1 is the warmest, the Ref 2 MKII sounds differently however better, the Ref 3, at the risk that I am disparaged, sounds to "Spectral like": But it shows all, nothing remains in the dark.

I wonder what the Mark4 will sound like??

Probably pretty good.