Opinions on Audio Research Ref 5SE vs. Modwright 36.5DM

nobody :(  I thought the Gon would be full of opinions on these two American heavyweights.

Fantastic reply thanks adg. I am in the UK so don't have the same access to units for audition as you might enjoy in the US, I will certainly not have the option of a comparo in my own home. With ARC's relentless model cycle the 5SE is now only 15% more than a 36.5dm hence why I asked the question. I guess  a year ago these two were not seen as the close competition they are now as used buys.

Agree with your comments on the DM power supply, it is quiet the beast. I like some of the ARC's features more (full balanced, remote and display) but its SQ that matters and I need to try and put these to the side.

truth is I probably cannot go wrong :)

If you have time I would like to hear about your tweaks, or have you posted elsewhere on that?

Cheers,
Simon

Thanks Jalant and adg. I am still trying to understand whether I have a good impedance match between either of these amps and my active speakers (10k ohms). However you have certainly helped the MW become my front runner at this point and fortunately I can home demo to confirm that she sings in my system

Cheers,
mondie

I think the 5SE is off my contender list as the input impedance match is bad. Dan has posted on these pages in the past that his 36.5's output is transformer coupled so good for loads down to 10k and below so I am comfortable with that.

Guess I need get a home demo organised. Anything else that is in the price range and capabilities of these two I should also be considering?

Cheers,
Simon

Anwar,

I have used Bent TVC's in my system since 2004 and I guess curiosity has got the better of me after so long. I want to live with a top end valve pre for a few months and see if I am missing out on anything. After I started this thread I stumbled across a long thread started by a friend back in Australia who also runs active ADAM's. He has tested quite a few top pres including Octave, Audio Note, Lindemann and quite a few others. Thread is here if interested:

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php/topic/61774-valve-preamp-recommendations-please/

He wants a 5SE after hearing it in his system numerous times,he has found it to be the best of the lot and works wonderfully with the ADAM's. I have found 2 reviews of the 5SE where its measured output impedance is less than spec at 330/450 se/bal so that gets the impedance ration to >20x fwiw. His experience and the conversations we have had since have led me to buying an ARC Ref Anniversary today so I will soon find out for myself.

Either the ARC proves a winner or the Bent continues its reign well into the second decade :)

Cheers,
Simon