ARC VS115 has arrived

[mep]

The REF-3 is also tube rectified by a 5AR4/GZ-34 I believe.

 

[KeithR]

The REF-3 is also tube rectified by a 5AR4/GZ-34 I believe.

and I just confirmed the LS27 is ss power supply. stick with Ref 3 imo.

 

[microstrip]

As far as I know no ARC preamplfier except the REF2 used tube rectification. But some of them used triodes and tetrodes in the stabilization of the HV supply.

One great preamplfier that can be bough for a reasonable price is the LS26. Some people claim it is more full bodied that the recent LS27.

The REF1 was also a great preamplifier, but some early units were known to had a hum problem .
The REF2 was more romantic and lush sounding, but less dynamic. The REF3 went back to the type of sound of the REF1, but more full bodied and refined that the REF1. All IMH(and biased) O ...

 

[mep]

micro-I pretty damn sure the REF-3 uses a GZ-34 as a rectifier. It is a rectifier! So even though at the risk of making all of their REF-3 owners mad and telling the world that the the LS27 sounds better than the REF-3, you still think the REF-3 would be the better sounding preamp?

 

[Steve Williams]

I know you can't go wrong with their Reference Series however new technologies often come about like this and then be improved in a lesser model

 

[MylesBAstor]

Guys-Thanks for all the kind words on my decision to purchase the VS115. I did jot some notes down on the first night of listening which were all positive, but I want to spend more time with this amp before I make any statements about how it sounds. Not only am I listening to a new amp, I’m listening to a new output tube (the KT-120) which I have never heard before either. I will tell you that I’m happy with my decision so far.

I do know that the Krell KBL preamp is not the right match for this amp and I’m hindering its ultimate performance by using it. The balanced input impedance of the VS115 is very high at 300K. The KBL is not a high gain preamp. With other amps though, I never had to turn the volume knob much past 9:00 to get the volume level I like. Not so with the ARC VS115 running in balanced mode with the KBL. I have to turn the volume up to around 12:00 to get the same level which is highly unusual in my room.

The good news is the amp is dead quiet as I expected it would be. And after the Krell KSA-250 fiasco, that is quite a relief. As soon as Krell repairs the KSA-250 (or tells me it’s just fine) and the new owner pays me, I will start looking around for a tube preamp to mate up with the VS115. I want to do better than the LS-17 that I owned before (and right now wish I had back) though my opinion of it might change drastically when mated to the VS115.

I do think the VS115 is a very cool looking amp. It looks better in life than it does in the pictures. I did buy this amp used on Audiogon, but I couldn’t be happier with the condition of the amp. It looks like new to me. I did call ARC and have them send me the non-conductive bias adjustment tool.

What's this world coming to when a tube amplifier is quieter than a ss amplifier?

 

[microstrip]

Mep,

My old REF3 is living less than one mile from me and I have helped replacing all its tubes recently 5x 6h30 and one 6550C. Early REF3 were shipped with a 6L6.
But I was wrong in one point - the REF2 used an 5AR4 rectifier. I had if for such a short time I never had to replace its tubes, so I was not aware anymore.

I have no direct experience with the LS27 versus REF3 , can not be of any help there.

 

[microstrip]

What's this world coming to when a tube amplifier is quieter than a ss amplifier?

to a vacuum world ...

 

[KeithR]

micro-I pretty damn sure the REF-3 uses a GZ-34 as a rectifier. It is a rectifier! So even though at the risk of making all of their REF-3 owners mad and telling the world that the the LS27 sounds better than the REF-3, you still think the REF-3 would be the better sounding preamp?

Isn't ARC's duty to sell new product? Call me skeptical!

 

[Steve Williams]

I would agree but progress marches on

FWIW, IMHO you can't go wrong with any ARC Reference Series piece

 

[jap]

Glad to read that the ARC VS115 has solved your noise issues.

I've been looking for a tube preamp, other than the ARC units here's my short list:

Aesthetix Calypso/Calypso Signature
Modwright LS-36.5
Wavestream Kinetics LSx
TRL Dude

 

[mep]

Isn't ARC's duty to sell new product? Call me skeptical!

Of course it's their duty. However, ARC risked upsetting a bunch of REF-3 owners who have been through the REF-3 update mill and who have all paid really good money only to introduce a new line stage that is cheaper and say it's better in "virtually" every way than the REF-3. You dig?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Glad to read that the ARC VS115 has solved your noise issues.

I've been looking for a tube preamp, other than the ARC units here's my short list:

Aesthetix Calypso/Calypso Signature
Modwright LS-36.5
Wavestream Kinetics LSx
TRL Dude

What about the mini-GAT?

 

[KeithR]

Of course it's their duty. However, ARC risked upsetting a bunch of REF-3 owners who have been through the REF-3 update mill and who have all paid really good money only to introduce a new line stage that is cheaper and say it's better in "virtually" every way than the REF-3. You dig?

No, they get ref 3 owners to go ref 5. Or whatever non ending series of upgrades they release every 3 years.

 

[mep]

No, they get ref 3 owners to go ref 5. Or whatever non ending series of upgrades they release every 3 years.

Yeah, that's true, but it still doesn't expain away the fact they risked making all the REF-3 owners mad.

 

[jap]

What about the mini-GAT?

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm looking for something that doesn't invert phase and
has balanced I/Os.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

to a vacuum world ...

To a broken SS amplifier?

Tim

 

[KeithR]

so what's the verdict Mark?