Audio Research Ref 5 SE


Does anyone know when will the Ref 5 or 5SE be replaced?
I am considering to purchase a new Ref 5 SE but worry that a new Ref per-amp may be introduced soon because the Ref 5 has been here for 4 yrs.

Thank you.
Hifier1958
hifier1958
Czbbcl & Jmcgrogan2
Thank you for your advises.
My thinking is that the performance and outlook of a new model should be much improved.
Hifier1958
Hello, ARCDB says there's en ARC Ref. 10 out there in production. don't know what happened to the 6 - 9...
The Ref-10 is currently in production and sells for 30k. They just came out with A Ref-10 phono stage. That will also set you back 30k.
Just a guess. The Ref 10 series, with its $30K price tag, is directed for an extremely upscale market. Hence, I don't think it's relevant to include the Ref 10 and Ref 5 in the same conversation.

As far as the Ref 5 is concerned, as I said I have no inside clue about what's coming off the line at ARC. But here's my guess. The Ref 5 is a discontinued model, replaced by the Ref 5 SE, which I think was released in late 2011/early 2012. IOW, the Ref 5 SE IS the "Ref 6." Will there be a "real" Ref 6? I think yes. When? Maybe after the Ref 5 SE has run its course, possibly 2015 or so.

Just thinking out loud here about the Ref 10 series, priced at $30K. It's hard to believe that there's much of a market for gear at that price point. But maybe there is when one considers that there's a market for $100K+ Magicos and the like. Personally, even if I could afford to drop the change, I'm not sure I would. I think the bottleneck is the quality of source music.