Problem with brand new black ARC Ref 6

@theo ...... Just for curiosity what were issues with your LS26 and Ref 5se.?

@theo .......... Wow thats something ......Expecially about the LS26 arrived dead with no sound. Then you mentioned that after they sent you the new LS26 you had problems with the mute circuit? And on your Ref 5 a power circuit board issue? It seems to amaze me about these problems expecially after seeing the ARC video on utube on the making of their components and the testing they do before getting sent out. But like you mentioned maybe we also pay more for quality high end gear and the price does include excellent service and like you said needs to be factored in...

@jafant ......Yes i thought it was a good idea to start a thread and post what i experienced with dealer / retailer . To me there aint a fraction of dealers -brick and mortar stores like they used to be in the 80s- 90s like i remembered when i first got in to high end audio. I go back almost 30 yrs with the owner John from Audio Connection in Verona NJ. And the only thing that changed with us is all the grey in our hair. It was like seeing a old friend after 30 yrs.  

I had 2 used ARC preamps one was a Ref 5se and the other was a Ref 6 i bought on AG , both used. The used Ref 5se worked flawless. I sold that on AG to buy a used Ref 6  on AG. That unit i had a problem with it as it kept shutting off after a few min. I contacted the seller i bought it from and i got a full refund. But instead of sending it back to the seller who was in Calif, John the owner of Audio Connection in Verona NJ who is also an ARC dealer took the unit and had it fixed and also resold it on AG for the seller in Calif which was a great idea.So that worked out great for me and the seller.  John from Audio Connection will go way out of his way for his customers. He is extremely knowledgeable and really an old school audio guy. If you live in and around NJ or in the tri state area i highly recommend going to his store and seeing him and talking to him if you are in the market for audio equipment. Like i said i go back with dealing with John for about 30 yrs. So then i went through John to buy my brand new ARC Ref 6 , i wanted it in black and had to wait for it to be built about 3 weeks. When that came in after about 20 hrs of use the unit would malfunction when i hit the tube hour display from the remote. It would either shut right off or go to a different Aux . I contacted John and spoke to Evan from ARC who suggested it might be the remote and to try and see if i could borrow Johns remote from his Ref 6 and see if it was that. I did that and still had the same problem. I contacted Evan again and told him i still had the problem and he said i will send you a brand new black Ref 6 to John from Audio Connection and to just return the defective black 6 when the new one comes in to pick it up i can just bring the defective one back to John and take the new one which also had to be made up in about 2 weeks..Right before the new black 6 unit was almost ready to ship from ARC i changed my mind about the color and decided to go with the natural silver instead of the black. I called Evan from ARC and asked him if it was to late to change the color. He said the unit was ready to be shipped that day and as long as it was not shipped out yet he could change the panels for me to silver. Once again ARC went out of their way for me to make a customer happy. There customer service was excellent and will go way beyond for any concerns requests or problems you may have. I now have the brand new Ref 6 in natural color with about 5 hrs on it and i can not be happier. My hat goes off to Audio Connection ( John) and ARC (Evan)  

@theo ......... Yes 3 does seem excessive. I just hope that i will have no new problems with my Ref 6.  And if God forbid i do at least i bought it brand new and have a 3 yr warranty. And at least i know i will be taken care of with no problem. My only other components that are worth mentioning was my Counterpoint SA 220 amp that i bought brand new in 1990 and which that had the mosfet problems which my left channel went out and could not be repaired. And as we all know what happened with Counterpoint going under. Also own Krell FPB 600 amp i bought used and have it for years now and is still running strong. Also had Mark Levinson preamps used and also never had a problem with them. As far as ARC goes they are incredible sounding gear and as long as their customer service stands by you i will never give up on them. That really means alot to me. 

@bifwynne ......... Warranty states in owners manual that it is limited to the original purchaser . And a photo copy of the dated purchase receipt. I do not think if you buy a unit second hand they will honor the limited warranty. 

@bifwynne ..... Dont mean to scare you... Im also using XLR Bal output ...Krell FPB 600 amp...B&W Matrix 800s. Rega Isis cdp.XLR interconnects.  Im telling you my average volume id say is at 25 and ill tell you thats loud.!!!...And im a classic rock guy...I never ever had to go past 30 with the volume.. And i love loud classic rock music but i listen to a wide variety also. Also i  dont use the stock PC for the 6.. I use a Shunyata King Cobra cx PC . For my amp i use a Shunyata Sigma HC  PC. And for my CDP a Shunyata Sigma digital PC. 

@bifwynne ...........  Yes the Krell is a SS amp....  and like you said your ARC Ref 150SE tube amp prob requires more juice to drive to enjoyable listening levels... Bet with the Ref 6 it sounds awesome !!!! Enjoy and happy listening !!!!

@bifwynne .......Unit pass through volume is only for when a secondary control device is integrated into the system such as a surround processor . Hitting that setting would do nothing unless there is a secondary control device hooked up. 

Also Bal Main 1 output as you...

@bifwynne .......... Yes after about 2 plus years i cant see any bugs in your 6 now. I doubt you will have any problems with it and dont ever need your warranty.. Im glad to hear that...You also stated that you run your 6 between 35 and 40 clicks ? Is that the volume? If it is all i can say is wow..I run my 6 at 23- 28 maybe 30 on some cd recordings and ill tell you that even on 23 that is loud on my rig... I cant even imagine what 35 - 40 would be. lol 

Also stock fuse and dampers. But i might try Herbies dampers one day. 

If i remember correctly when i had the 5se i had the volume up to about 35 -40 and that was like the volume as it is now with my 6 at 23-27