There is a new company who owns AR these days. They are responsible for the cheaper parts they use. Beside this the reliability is also not of the same quality anymore.
These things are more common these days, and that is not a good thing in the world of audio. We see it at all price ranges.
Audio is getting a hard time since 2008. It is a lot more difficult to compete these days. Beside this we see that the youth is less interested in better audio quality.
The positive thing is however that techniques improve and in some ways you get a higher level for less money than in the past. |
The same group that now owns McIntosh. So according to your opinion McIntosh is also using "cheaper parts"? You are really holding a grudge against Audio Research aren't you? How long did you sell their products? |
@bo1972 you have not added even one shred of value to this discussion. You have attempted to dominate someone else's thread, looking for real advice, with constant negativity about one brand in particular without ONCE offering an alternative.
But thank you to everyone else who offered advice and worthwhile opinions. I went with the Allnic L-3000 Mk II. |
Oregonpapa, your second paragraph directly above puts it perfectly!
J. Gordon Holt's first priority in music reproduction was lack of "vowel" colorations, followed by degree of transparency (concepts borrowed from photography---vowel colorations equating to inaccurate color temperature, and transparency to a high-resolution camera lens). Harry Pearson greatly valued the ability to create a three-dimensional image of an instrument, a voice, or an orchestra on a stage. Art Dudley values none of those nearly as highly as a system's ability to provide the forward momentum of music, it's "temporal" characteristic, feeling that Gordon and Harry's concerns relate to a static object, ignoring the inherent fluid nature of music, it's most important characteristic. Lots of audiophiles crave maximum low-level detail, it seems.
I can't fault any of them! But mine is "immediacy" and lightning fast micro-dynamics, the quality I find most lacking in music reproduced. Like everyone says, you can tell music is live from a block away from a stage, no matter the absence of imaging, or the amount of coloration from the live sound reinforcement system. I look for gear that does THAT the best, like the direct-to-disc LP, electrostatic loudspeakers (or horns, but they are just SO colored!), and the Decca/London phono cartridge. All of those have severe limitations and failings of their own, but you STILL can't have it all, no matter how much you spend. To each his own! |
To go back to the original question, I must say I do like the ARC Ref 5SE, but not the price. I believe ARC do better Power than Pre Amps, just my view. The Ref 75SE I use, is remarkably good.
Some excellent suggestions re alternative Pre Amps, one I haven't seen is the Modwright 36.5, which I use with the Ref 75 now. I think it is clearly better than the ARC Ref 3 and the 2 box version of the 36.5 is definitely better than the single chassis 36.5 I have. I haven't heard them side by side, but I think the 2 box Modwright will be better than the 5SE and a good bit cheaper, plus the company is great to deal with. |
Oregonpapa,
The last 2 years Randy used the Vandersteens amps. I think they were designed around their statement speakers. |
Bo1972,
If what you say is true does that mean Mcintosh is also using cheaper parts. They are both owned by the same company. |
There are many these days. It's a sad thing. It is in different price ranges.
The thing I don't like is that they use their name from the past. I can name a lot more. These days the words honesty and respect are hard to find in the world of audio.
The focus is only based on money and personal benefit. In Munic during the higend show we saw how worse the level of highend is these days.
And in the mid level it ain't different. It will influence the future of audio a lot. I think many people are not aware of it now. At the end they will, and then it is too late.
They need to focus more on the youth, the quality does not affect them. And you can't blame them.
In 5-10 years the world of audio will be a lot different than today. |
Bo1972
we are in golden age of quality and choice..never have we had such great selection of caps, res, transformers, wire, etc in components and a wide variety of price points. REF 5 SE blows away my SP-6 of old..
you might be right about the kids and ten years out..but this is good RIGHT now. |
Good is often based on a persons frame of Reference. |
@timztunz, I was just suggesting that yes, to a point it is worthwhile adding a very good tube preamp. But there is no point throwing a $20k tube linestage at your Plinius amp as imho there are better integrated amps such as the ones I mentioned. I own a Vitus SIA-025 and came from Boulder 1000 series amps as my reference point.
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If AR would be a stunning brand and would be able to show all the parts what makes highend unique and impressive it would be a different story.
The people who own AR will not be happy abouth the things I said. I can understand that.
But what would you prefer to hear? The truth or the things you would like to hear.
A name or brand does not garantee you anyything. But the best sound and quality by research and shootouts does. This is how we work.
Foccusing on the best possible instead of a brand. |
I'm quite surprised no one mentioned Ayre preamps.
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@melbguy1 You have an interesting perspective. But I was never suggesting a $20k preamp. I was asking for suggestions comparable to an ARC Ref 5SE which is $13k new. So with the Plinius total investment would be in the $33k-$35k range for amp and preamp. While I'm sure the Vitus SIA-025 integrated is a very good piece of gear, I'm not sure I would consider it at $27k and only 25 watts of Class A power compared to the other gear.
@stringreen I don't remember if it was here or not but someone did mention Ayre and I did look at them. But in the end went with the Allnic. |
Good luck with it, I heard great sounds in the Care Audio room at the NYC audio show in 2014 where they featured Allnic equipment. It was very impressive.
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@lak Since your response was really the only one with real world experience with the same amp I took your advice and got a new Allnic L-3000 Mk II. Even with only about 40 hours on it I am simply ecstatic. Thanks again for the solid advice! |
timztunz; Excellent! Let me know how you like it after you get a few hours on it. What power cord are you planning to use on the preamp?
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@lak I'm using a Silver Circle Audio Vesuvius. |
