Audio Research Ref: CD8

ARC should know...right? They do f--k around alot with revisions.

Dweller nailed it. I've owned alot of ARC gear, including the latest reference stuff...I'm not hostile, just having flashbacks from all of the MK's I went through in the 90's:)

One thing I have noticed and mentioned many times before is that the sound of 6H30 tube based equipment is just not as musical as it's 6922 bretheren. In fact, almost any other tube based gear I've used sounded better than any of the 6H30 stuff I've owned such as the ARC Ref 3, CD 7, LS 26 and BAT VK D5 and Super tube preamps. The earlier LS 25 and ref 2MKII along with the VT100 and VT200 amps were Golden era ARC gear. The new stuff might as well be SS for me since it misses the tone color and sweetness of the 6922 based gear:O)

Ossocao, I am sorry! My VT200 was the original 6922 based amp. I had the Ref 2 and Ref 2 MKII. I started to fall out of love with the ARC sound around that time and definately didn't like my ref 3 ...thanks for pointing out my mistake:O)

You are right of course...Happy Listening!

Didn't CJ dump the 6h30's in their statement preamp for around $20k...the name escapes me, sorry! i still feel the 6H30 sound is cooler and less colorful than the 6922 based gear.