Solid State to replace Audio Research REF110?

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I traded my Ref 110 for a Pass Labs XA60.5
Then, because I wanted more power, a X350.5.
I am very pleased with this swap.
Now I have no worries about tubes and save a lot of headaches, time, and money.
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Maybe it's just me, but if I had three very expensive amps from the same company require expensive repair as a consequence of an unavoidable and unpredictable aging process (output tube failures, like light bulb failures, are inevitable), I'd think long and hard before I bought another. Especially after reading about how non-user friendly tube replacement and re-biasing can be. Just my $0.02.

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.

Thanks for the answers.

I pair the REF110 with an audio research REF 3, I have owned this unit from 2005 without problems, after 9 years with audio research tube power amps I have suffered 3 crashes: in 2005 with a VT100 MKIII, in 2008 with this REF110 and now with the same unit (and the same left channel which PCB was replaced in 2008).
In the 2 first failures I could change the PCB applying warranty, now I will have repair it. I think I will have to replace 2 resistors and 1 tube socket.

My speakers are Proac D38, 4 ohm, 90 db sensitivity.
 

I hate to ask a question when I have no experience with the components, but if you like the ARC sound, and want to try a solid state amp, have you listened to any of the current ARC solid state amps in the DS series?

As for ARC reliability, I have owned three of their tube components, two preamps and one amp, and never experienced a problem.

Berning Quadrature: very reliable, maintenance free.

Again, I would recommend researching the following depending on your speakers impedance and recommended amplification/power, and of course, your wallet.

First Watt SIT-1 Monoblocks
Wells Audio Innamorata Amplifiers
Pass Labs XA.5 Series
Merrill Audio Veritas Twin or Monoblocks

Gary (Hifigeek) -- if you catch this thread, would you please weigh in on your anecdotal experiences involving ARC tube amp repairs.

Sorry, the SST recommended should have been Ampzilla 2000

I have wondered why reviewers don't comment more often about reliability problems with ARC amps. My guess is that they don't have the amps long enough to experience the melt down problems with output tubes that are past their prime.

And I want to emphasize that (1) the problem is not that ARC amps break down so frequently, it's that when they do occur the breakdowns cause damage that the average user can't fix, and (2) the ARC reliability issues are only with power amps--I have never heard of any problems with their preamps.

There are lots of great reliable tube amps out there. In the past 10 or so years I've had Berning, Atma=sphere, Lectron, RAM, Joule and VAC. I've never had a catastrophic failure. One time, one of the big Russian MIG tubes "ran away" on my Joule which was scary but after shutting it down and replacing the output tube, the amp was unscathed. I must say that some of the ARC amp layouts I've seen w the tubes installed horizontally, and stacked one over the other, seem to me to be "asking" for problems w heat-related failures. As far as a manufacturer that says their amps are not warrantied unless you use their pre-amp, I say fuggedabowdit. I say-let 'em sell integrateds.

Onhwy61: The manual for my VT-100 III said that using an aftermarket power cord would void the warranty.
Not sure if this is still ARC policy.

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.

SST Ambrosia should do a good job for you

I would not jump the ship with tube amps. Like Bojack,I have been using QS products for years and never a problem.

12-08-13: Zd542
It does say on the first page of ARC's tube amp owners manuals that: ARC tube amps must be used with ARC preamps or damage will occur. I guess they put it in bold print for a reason.

Interesting. I'm thinking that the reason for that statement, and for some of the problems that have been reported, might be the effect that Ralph (Atmasphere) described in his two posts starting here, which relates to interactions that may occur between amplifiers having very extended low frequency bandwidth and preamps having less than ideal stability in their power supplies. I note that the specified 3db bandwidth of the Ref 110 extends to a very low 0.6 Hz. I note also that Ralph mentions ARC specifically in his second post, although that experience occurred many moons ago.

Another possibility, of course, might be that ARC is anticipating that some users will not follow the proper turn-on and turn-off sequences (amp on last and off first), which might result in the amp having to process large transients that may be generated by some preamps at turn-on or turn-off.

Regards,
-- Al

JRDG 625. Great amp with sweetness and mojo. Read TAS reviews. Beautifully made and beautiful sound.

You did not mention a price point you wanted to stay within; so I will assume you are looking in the price range of the REF 110. I went from the REF 110 to a Krell 402E, but it sounds every bit the SS amp that it is. It is very articulate, great dynamics, and very extended in its high and low frequencies. I'm not sure that is the sound you may be looking for. However, I also have a VAC 160 Sigma, at 85-90 watts, it controls my W/P 8 (dips @ 2 ohms) easily. Other SS suggestions: Bells, Modwright, and Ayre. If you can help it, don't give up on tubes. There are many reliable tube amps that can serve your purposes.

Does using an ARC power amp with another brand preamp void the warranty?

Might want to check out Octave amps if you stay with tubes. I owned a V70se and traded up to the V110 integrated. I've had several tubes go bad including arc over and the protection circuit works. No damage. They also have a soft start feature to extend tube life.

"I wonder how many ARC "failures" were due to using with other-than-ARC pre-amps?"

Well that seems to makes sense. It does say on the first page of ARC's tube amp owners manuals that: ARC tube amps must be used with ARC preamps or damage will occur. I guess they put it in bold print for a reason.

I agree…don't give up on tubes, but go to a different brand that is more reliable and will not blow up on you. I have used Quicksilver amps (no PCBs) since 2006 and have had zero problems with the exception of a bad tube here or there. I had one tube in my Mini-Mites decide to put on a fireworks show, and the amp was absolutely fine, not even a blown fuse. I have also had a JJ arc on me multiple times with M60s, and again, amp was bulletproof.

As a former ARC owner, I'd try to find a mint pair of BEL 1001 monoblocks (no longer in production - Mr. Brown deceased).

Also great SS: Ayre, Pass, Krell, Spectral, BAT.

Owned ARC tubes for many years and had only one, non catastrophic, non-tube failure. Arc is great.

I did try a friend's passive pre-amp which caused all 8 6550 tubes to glow a bright blue (scary!).

I wonder how many ARC "failures" were due to using with other-than-ARC pre-amps?

Your problems are not due to having a tube amp but rather to having an Audio Research tube amp. If you do a little reading on the Agon forums, you will find many, many accounts similar to yours---a burst of sparks (if not actual flames) and a burned up resistor perhaps causing damage to the circuit board, all requiring an expensive trip back to the factory. In many of these accounts, this was the second or third time the customer had the problem.

For the life of me, I just don't see why anyone would put up with this. Other designs using the same output tubes are capable of far greater reliability and when an output tube does fail the only damage is a blown fuse that is easily replaced without the amp ever leaving home.

One example of a very good sounding tube amp that should be more reliable is the Emotive Audio Vita, which I happen to own. I have had zero problems during the 3 years I have owned the Vitas, but perhaps more importantly if I should have a catastrophic tube failure it should only pop a fuse, not take out other components. Plus there is no circuit board to be damaged. There are certainly many other good sounding yet reliable tube amps, but I mention the Emotive Vitas because Jonathan Valin of TAS had a pair in his system and said they were very similar in sound to the ARC 610T which was his reference at the time (this was around 2010). He also said the Vitas were the best medium power amps he had heard.

So don't give up on tubes. You just need to try a different brand.

Had the same problem with my ARC gear. Right now I'm using Ayre and would definitely recommend it. Pass is also good, but they don't sound anything like ARC.

Pass Labs.

That's a tough one, if your a tube fan, as I am and probably you are too. I find it very hard to find a SS amp that has the speed matched to transparency and lack of grain you seem to get with tubes.

In my limited experience you need to go Class A in SS to get these charectaristics and I have always been a Pass fan, so I would say one of the Pass Class A amps or monoblocks, that meets your speakers power requirements. The only other SS amps that have really done it for me, are integrated amps, the Lavardin IT and Dartzeel integrated. Both had a lovely fast detailed sound without harshness.

I would recommend researching the following depending on your speakers impedance and recommended amplification/power.

First Watt SIT-1 Monoblocks
Wells Audio Innamorata Amplifiers
Pass Labs XA.5 Series
Merrill Audio Veritas Twin or Monoblocks