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Pass Labs Xono vs Audio Research Ref 2

I have Pass and ARC gear in my system. Xono phonostage with my VPI reference scoutmaster/Dynavector XV1S cart and X600.5 monoblocks to drive my Magnepan 20.1 speakers. I have an ARC Ref 8 CD player and Ref 3 preamp. Should I trade in my Xono to get the ARC Ref 2 phonostage or keep what I have? I like the clean presentation of the Xono but sometimes feel I miss out on the ARC bloom. Will I lose the bass tightness? Will it be noisier since it is tube (my guess is not really given how quiet the Ref 3 and Ref 8 are)? Any thoughts?
powerdoctor

Showing 1 response by dctom

dctom
114 posts
 
Hi
I was thinking about the ARC ref2 phono and the whest RDTse, heard the whest RDT and it was very good. have not listened to the ARC wondered if you had the chance to compare. Interested as whest costs quite a bit less. I have been using BAT VKP10se.
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