Solid State to replace Audio Research REF110?


Hello,

My power amp REF110 blew resistors and damage PCB (it is the second time), in the pass my VT100 MKIII also damage the PCB had to replace it.
I like REF110 sound but I think I should move to a more reliable solid state power amp.

Which power amplifier do you recommend to substitute Audio Research REF110 without have to regret every day?

Many thanks for the advice.
jglpubli

Showing 12 responses by bifwynne

Jglpublic, I do not doubt that you experienced these unfortunate problems. I strongly suggest that you call Kal at ARC and share your problems. I believe that ARC will stand behind its products. Let us know how you make out.
I am a loyal ARC tube gear owner. This includes 4 and a half pre/linestages and 3 amps. Other than an occasional blown bias resister, never experienced the kind of problems described above. Admittedly, I always paired an ARC pre/linestage with the ARC amps I owned, but I don't recall reading the alert mentioned above about pairing an ARC pre/linestage with an ARC amp. I'll check the manual. If I see it, I'll report back.
Gary (Hifigeek) -- if you catch this thread, would you please weigh in on your anecdotal experiences involving ARC tube amp repairs.
Kevin ... Mike no doubt will answer for himself, but I can and will respond since I have owned ARC gear for many years and have *NEVER* had a serious problem. It is my experience that ARC has always been extremely responsive in responding to any technical issues and concerns that I had.

For example ... when my VS-115 blew some bias resisters, Kal (the ARC customer service rep) put me in contact with a local authorized tech who made house calls!! The first repair was under warranty and ARC honored it even though I couldn't find the receipt. Reason - because Kal knew me and remembered that he sold me the amp through an authorized dealer.

Kal or Len (his predecessor) patiently explained differences in various ARC equipment when I was interested in upgrading. This occurred with respect to every piece of equipment I own. In addition, Kal kept me apprised of when the factory was ready to update my Ref 5 to the "SE" version and efficiently got my unit through the factory.

Kal and Len were always helpful in answering technical questions about hooking up my equipment. Take a look at my posts about an impedance loading issue affecting my Ref 3 and 5. I had to buy a custom buffer from a gent by the name of Tom Tutay. Look up his name and you will see what happened.

Most recently, and then I'm done, Kal spent inordinate amounts of time with me when I was trying to understand impedance matching my amp and speakers. No need to rehash all of that again. Suffice to say, Kal was always extremely patient.

ARC has been around for over 40 years. Until just a few years ago, it was owned by the late William Z. Johnson who was a considered to be a pioneer and legend in the audio business. I won't tell you that every piece of ARC gear made was a winner over the last 40+ years, but way more often than not, ARC gear was at the very top of the audio food chain.

Not to say that there aren't many other fine brands. There are. But hopefully Kevin, you are a believer.

Cheers,

Bruce
Fair comment Salelectric. Perhaps Ralph (Atmasphere), a manufacturer, or Gary (Hifigeek), an ARC authorized tech, will weigh in.

Don't hold me to this, but I seem to recall that Kal or Len once explained that ARC deliberately chose not to use fuses or auto bias circuits because the components were artifacts that could potentially degrade the sonics. To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware that ARC used such compenents in tube amps over the last "n" number of years.

I would be quite surprised to hear that the reason ARC didn't use those components was to save money. My goodness, the VS-115 retails for $7,500 and the Ref 150 retails for $13K. I'm sure that the cost savings, if any, would be chump change.

Anyway, I don't work for ARC, nor do I own stock in its parent company. But I do like the company and the people.

Cheers,

Bruce
Swampwalker, I've been down "tube arc road" several times. Yes ... it's true, most times the tube arc took a bias resister out. But no flames, explosions, cascading oscillations that blew speakers, or Fourth of July explosions and sparks.

Yes ... it's also true that replacing the bias resisters is a PITA. Fortunately, there's an ARC authorized service tech about a 30 to 40 minute drive to my house who happens to make house call. It takes the rep about 30 minutes to pop in a new resister and I'm back in business pretty quickly.

Gary (Hifigeek) is an authorized ARC service tech. Perhaps he can bring some perspective to this issue. My guess is that this is more of a tube thing than a design thing. Tubes arc -- period. When they do, they will pop a fuse or a resister. If one owns tube gear -- this goes with the territory. Just my opinion.
Charles ...., I hear ya. Don't know what to add to what I've already said. Yes ... bias resisters may blow if a tube arcs and since I am not comfortable taking a soldiering iron to my amp, replacement is a bigger deal than it should be. My gut tells me that if -- and that's a big if -- there is a denigration in sonics, it might be worth the trade-off to insert a fuse into the signal path. Again, maybe Gary (Hifigeek) will weigh in with his reality check reactions.

Happy New Year to all.
Until we hear back from the man with the soldiering iron, let's hold judgment.

Gpgr4blu makes some fair points. ARC engineers are not amateurs and it should be a given that they know what they are doing. In furtherance of these points, I would fall out of my chair if it turned out that the reason ARC didn't use drop in fuses or similar protective components was just to save a couple of bucks. The MSRPs of the REF 150, REF 250 and REF 750 are $13K, $26K and $55K, respectively. It would be madness to think a reputable company like ARC would look to save a couple of bucks on some cheapo parts making such expensive equipment unless the designers sincerely believed that "more would be less."

Look ... I get the crabbing. I've owned ARC tube amps for quite a few years. I don't like the PITA inconvenience of calling a service tech to my house. More than the out-of-pocket repair costs, I miss not having the use of my system. So I think I get it.

Now ..., let's flip it around and ask these simple questions: How well does ARC gear work? Putting a finer point on the question, how good does it sound? The short answer to the first question is, except for the infrequent pesky open bias resister issue, I never had any other problems. And the answer to the second question is, IMO, excellent. Of course folks have their own opinions which I respect. But those are my opinions.

So where IS that elusive man with the soldiering iron??

Hey guys, it's just a hobby. Let's enjoy our systems and be grateful that we can.

Happy New Year.

Bruce
Hey Charles, did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night?? Just checking. Happy New Year again.