What is the amplifier you are considering? The VTL has a solid state buffer that can drive low input impedance famplifiers, the REF10 is pure tube preamplfier with a dual mono tube regulated power supply.
Reference 10 preamplifier
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What is the amplifier you are considering? The VTL has a solid state buffer that can drive low input impedance famplifiers, the REF10 is pure tube preamplfier with a dual mono tube regulated power supply.
The existing amps are similar to ICE amps -- they have DSP and crossover functionality built in and are sold as part of the speakers. They are located adjacent and are a very easy load:
http://proaudiotechnology.com/pma-models.html
Later this year or early next I'll likely replace my active speakers with more traditional passive ones, at which point I'll most likely end up with either a Ref 250 or a VTL S400.
Many years ago I had a Ref 3 with VTL 750s, which I really liked. (A bit "syrupy" but with tone and dimensionality and liquidity that was highly involving.)
http://proaudiotechnology.com/pma-models.html
Later this year or early next I'll likely replace my active speakers with more traditional passive ones, at which point I'll most likely end up with either a Ref 250 or a VTL S400.
Many years ago I had a Ref 3 with VTL 750s, which I really liked. (A bit "syrupy" but with tone and dimensionality and liquidity that was highly involving.)
Ultra 5 .vs. Ultra SS
Yes, that is the way to look at it; number of technology pockets working for you. As always, though, we recommend listening to learn which sounds best. My Berning preamp and amp are both very light compared to many designs. I use Ultra SS + Ultra Base under each to very good affect. I bettered that by putting an LPI on top of each. Could Ultra 5s yield improvements? I've not tried them in that position yet as the economics of doing so are beyond me at this point, though, through experience, I suspect I would realize an improvement.
John
Yes, that is the way to look at it; number of technology pockets working for you. As always, though, we recommend listening to learn which sounds best. My Berning preamp and amp are both very light compared to many designs. I use Ultra SS + Ultra Base under each to very good affect. I bettered that by putting an LPI on top of each. Could Ultra 5s yield improvements? I've not tried them in that position yet as the economics of doing so are beyond me at this point, though, through experience, I suspect I would realize an improvement.
John
OFFS!!!
I am/was/am/was/ giving serious consideration upon a move from my incumbent Ref5SE to an Ref10 only to note that it would appear ARC have moved the current production 10's to the new green substrated PCB from the tried, tested and easy to work on PCB with uncovered traces???? FFS!!!! Once again.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jmAHEBbdnXk
I am/was/am/was/ giving serious consideration upon a move from my incumbent Ref5SE to an Ref10 only to note that it would appear ARC have moved the current production 10's to the new green substrated PCB from the tried, tested and easy to work on PCB with uncovered traces???? FFS!!!! Once again.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jmAHEBbdnXk
Harlequin, don't fret about the green, just go for it
I'm burning my new Ref10 in through about 350 hours now, and a definite upgrade from my Ref5SE, particularly if you're using monoblock amplifiers since the Ref 10 is dual mono...
Edit: Sidenote btw...i changed the Sovtec tubes to Electroharmonix-seems to have made a marked improvement to me.
Harlequin, don't fret about the green, just go for it
I'm burning my new Ref10 in through about 350 hours now, and a definite upgrade from my Ref5SE, particularly if you're using monoblock amplifiers since the Ref 10 is dual mono...
Edit: Sidenote btw...i changed the Sovtec tubes to Electroharmonix-seems to have made a marked improvement to me.
Would it possible for you to expand on the improvements Electroharmonix tubes have made and also which tubes did you change? Many thanks.
Sure, be glad to. I first replaced the Sovtek 8550's with NOS SED 8550 "winged C" tubes. There's two of those-the SED's are harder to come by these days but there's a couple of sources left (I got mine from the tube store). Apparently as they discontinued production some of the remaining, lesser performing tubes were put on the market, so be careful, but the SED Winged C tubes are what ARC used to use before they started using the Sovtek tubes.
The EH tubes are the 6H30Pi gold tubes-also got those from tube store. You'd need 10 of those for the Ref 10. Both the EH and Sovtek 6H30s are built in the same factory, but i was told that the EH's are the "Lexus" version of the tubes vs. "Toyota"/Sovtek, and read somewhere in one of the audio forums about another Ref 10 owner that was very pleased with the upgrade. In terms of 6H30's those are really the only two choices-there are some arguably better NOS (as in 30 years old) tubes (e.g., 6H30P-DR Reflektor's), but you'd be spending several thousand dollars and to be honest IDK if you could locate 10 of those anymore from a single location. The EH tubes are a noticeable upgrade from the stock Sovtek's and very reasonable-something like $35 apiece. I had put on about 100 hours on the original tubes burning in the Ref 10 and noticed an immediate improvement in the EH tubes right out of the box in terms of the typical sonic qualities you'd associate with ARC products particularly more midrange warmth and quickness in the sound.
Sure, be glad to. I first replaced the Sovtek 8550's with NOS SED 8550 "winged C" tubes. There's two of those-the SED's are harder to come by these days but there's a couple of sources left (I got mine from the tube store). Apparently as they discontinued production some of the remaining, lesser performing tubes were put on the market, so be careful, but the SED Winged C tubes are what ARC used to use before they started using the Sovtek tubes.
The EH tubes are the 6H30Pi gold tubes-also got those from tube store. You'd need 10 of those for the Ref 10. Both the EH and Sovtek 6H30s are built in the same factory, but i was told that the EH's are the "Lexus" version of the tubes vs. "Toyota"/Sovtek, and read somewhere in one of the audio forums about another Ref 10 owner that was very pleased with the upgrade. In terms of 6H30's those are really the only two choices-there are some arguably better NOS (as in 30 years old) tubes (e.g., 6H30P-DR Reflektor's), but you'd be spending several thousand dollars and to be honest IDK if you could locate 10 of those anymore from a single location. The EH tubes are a noticeable upgrade from the stock Sovtek's and very reasonable-something like $35 apiece. I had put on about 100 hours on the original tubes burning in the Ref 10 and noticed an immediate improvement in the EH tubes right out of the box in terms of the typical sonic qualities you'd associate with ARC products particularly more midrange warmth and quickness in the sound.
Fantastic! Many thanks for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback. Happy listening
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