Audio Research Reference 6 or Mark Levinson Reference n32

Haine, 

I find the Reference No. 32 to be a very composed, easy to listen to linestage.  But, like most things solid state, it lacks a little bit of a "spark" of liveliness or vividness that comes with really good tube linestages.  It also tends to not throw as expansive and enveloping a soundstage as some tube gear is capable of delivering.  Whether these tube qualities are realistic or natural, as opposed to a coloration, I don't know, but I do like those qualities.  Still, the Reference No. 32 is a very fine instrument.

Other than the two tube linestages I own, neither widely available, I have not heard any other in my system recently so I can only make rough comments about what is out there.  I've heard really nice systems with Audio Note, Kondo  and Shindo linestages, so these make good candidates, in my opinion.

In the past, I really disliked Audio Research linestages--they sounded thin, harmonically bleached and sterile to me.  But, starting with the Reference 5, they have sounded better.  I haven't heard them in a system I amp very familiar with, so it is just a case of no longer writing that brand off.

You need to hear the Ref 6 with the Ref Phono 3 phono amp. If only I had the money. I have heard this combo on big Maggies and all I can tell you is that you would be hard pressed to do significantly better in this life. The ARC line stages are significantly less tubish than other tube units. It is there but in a more refined fashion. It will be 10 years before you will hear any degradation due to tube wear. The best thing you can due with tubes is forget all about them. Tube rolling is for masochists. 

try all Aesthetix or all ARC

but i do have both

the ML is top flight gear, this is probably about preference..

enjoy the music !!!!

Educated?  Ha ha haaaaaa.   What a presumptive, cavalier and feckless term to describe the sound of audio gear. It is totally pointless and fustian.

keep the ml or you’ll have regrets. i have a ml 523 and it’s pretty incredible. 

I had a 326s and compared it to the Ref6 and would have probably gone for the Ref6 until I heard the No52 Ref. That ended the debate and now have the 52 driving a new pair of 536s. Magic!

George

I tried the ARC LS27, Cary SLP-98 and Cary SLP-05.  The SLP-05 was by far the best of the bunch, but I still preferred the 326S.

Thank you for your opinion. Which tube pre amp did you have before the ML?

I will take some more time before making a decision ;-)

"Educated" is an excellent way of describing the ML sound.  I've owned tubed pre's and do not miss them after getting my ML 326S.

Have you made a decision yet?

Today I am comparing the ML with its internal phono stage and the Audio Research Reference 6 with the Aesthetix Rhea phono stage. My cartridge is the Soundsmith PAUA MKII and the turntable is a Brinkmann Balance with its 12.1" tonearm.The power amp is a Dan D’agostino Classic Stereo.
My first impressions compared to the two setups:
I find the ML32 quieter, “educated", calm and linear and more transparent.The ML32 has more detail and has a slightly highlighted mid-high compared to Ref6. ML 32 has a larger extension at the bottom, ensuring greater control.
The Ref6 + Aesthetix Rhea combo returns a bigger soundstage both in height and in width, sometimes it seems to magnify/enlarges the instruments. It has more "physicality" and the sound seems to be less "trapped" in the speakers.

I hope I have explained well..

What amplifier are you using?  Also, by any chance would the preamp have to drive a subwoofer in addition to the amp?

Regards,
-- Al
 

Thank you roberjerman for your opinion.
The ML 32 its a very neutral preamp, detailed and refined.
I do not think it will be easy to replace it, but the ARC REF 6 had caught my attention.. :-)

Stick with the ML 32! It is, as you've found, a superb sounding preamp! A tube preamp like the ARC 6 will need future tube replacement - and on the way there will only decline in sound quality! That is the real nature of vacuum tubes (contrary to what the "golden ears" say!). Cathode emissions inevitability decline with use and noise increases. And the quality of present day tube production is NOT as good as old NOS tubes!