2. amps-preamps
  3. 119486-2215

Is it really night and day

I just read that someone went from a ARC ref-5se to a Ref-6. They claim it is a night and day difference. For some reason I find that hard to believe. I can see there being a difference but night and day to me is an exaggeration. I'll tell you why I think this way. I had an ARC LS-25 for about 10 years and I always thought It was a good pre-amp. One day I got a bug up my ass and decided to upgrade to a LS-27. 

While I will agree the 27 is better than the 25 I would not say there is a night and day difference. Now that is a spread of about 10 years in a model. So of course you do expect some improvements and I have received those. 

Now going back to the Ref-5se. I think it has been around about 3 years. Now they have the Ref-6. So in 3 years there is a night and day difference between the 5Se and the 6 but after a 10 year period between the Ls-25 and the 27 there are a few minor differences. 



taters

Showing 5 responses by tattooedtrackman

tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman
887 posts
 
In my honest opinion . I owned the Ref 5 se for about 2 and a half weeks and the demoed the 6. Lets just say that i put my 5 se up for sale right away and bought a brand new 6. The 5 se is a very good sounding preamp, the 6 is like that but WAY more in every way you can think of the 5 se. It is so good i didnt want a used one. I wanted a brand new one from ARC. To me it was well worth the extra thousands. I love this 6 so much that for a single chasis preamp it will stay with me for a very very long time. And yes i totally agree that it a totally different preamp than the 5se. It is not even an upgrade to me but a totally different preamp.  
tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman
887 posts
 
tlong1958........What you said is so not true to me. I DONT have alot of money buring a hole in my pocket. I DONT like getting something new every year..I am NOT  jumping on the ARC train. This ARC Ref 6 is so AWESOME that yes to ME it is a jaw dropping difference between the 5se. I have a Krell FPB 600 and B&W Matrix 800s and never ever will sell or upgrade them . Thats the way I FEEL about the ARC 6. And Jim Morrison and Jim Hendrix came back from the dead and he appeared in my room !!!!!
tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman
887 posts
 
jafant......Thank you....And every time i turn on the 6 another great dead and alive artist appears in my room playing right in front of me !!!!. I really think this is the best audio investment i ever made with such an improvement in sound...All i can tell the people who have not heard the 6 and only up to the 5se and below they are really missing out on an awesome preamp and something very special  and dont judge the difference in sound between the 5se and the 6 if you never ever heard the 6 ..                                                                                                                                                                              mofimadness     ..........  You are exactly RIGHT ON....
tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman
887 posts
 
tlong1958........Never meant to say you had money to burn...... I know that was not meant for me. You just wrote that in general. And for me , yes i do plan to keep the 6 for a very long time if not forever. Also the Ref 40 and 10 are prob def better than the 6 but i have not interest in them as they are a 2 component set up and have no room for them ,so that is even not an option for me. Like i said TO ME it was a night and day difference between the 5se and 6 with MY ears and components. To each their own. Thats another reason why this hobby is so fun.. So many different opinions. debates , ect ect.. Its all good... The only thing that really matters is you and what you like.  
tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman
887 posts
 
Also if you read what mofinadness  said in the 4th down from top. He is exactly right about the Ref 6. The Ref 6 is a whole new unit not even an upgrade from the 5se. Like he said ,,,,,,,,,The Ref 6 is a completely different preamp from the REF 5SE. New chassis , new circuit board, new circuit design, larger power transformer, 2 more tubes, etc.. Why couldnt it be a night and day difference in sound?
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